It is not a strange sight to see Preston towards the bottom reaches of the table in the opening coupe of months of the season. North End have been notoriously poor starters since their return to the Championship several years ago under Simon Grayson.
Once again there is discontentment amongst some of the fan base and questions are being raised at numerous levels but the immediate concern is how Preston can extricate themselves from their current predicament.
After defeat on the opening day at home to Hull a visit to Reading proved no easier. Reading took the lead before the half hour mark. A ball was played in from the left wing. Iversen had to try to deflect the ball but it ended up at the back post. Some how Hughes was outdone by Azeez who managed to poke home.
Preston did equalise in the second half after the referee awarded a penalty for handball. Johnson fired home but it wasn't enough as Swift restored the lead with a shot which went in off the post.
North End probably had their best period towards the end of the game when they were chasing but ultimately they could not rescue a point which thus leaves them with no points at the bottom of the table.
It is still early days but there are concerns. Defensively Preston have been easily cut open in comparison with the more solid performances at the back end of last season. This will have to be rectified if Preston are to stand any chance of moving up the table.
Further, Preston have yet to play a side who are favourites to challenge for a top six spot. In both games they have looked second best for most parts and will face a lot stiffer challenges.
Questions are being raised over recruitment and whether the replacements for players who left in January are sufficient to move this club forward after several years of mid-table Championship football.
There is growing frustration over the direction of the club and Preston now face Huddersfield on Tuesday. A lack of a result in the next match could add to the increasing sense of anger around the fans.