A wrong penalty decision meant Preston lost to Derby in January with the year ending with the referee giving a corner rather than a goal kick leading to Cardiff's equaliser and thus shifting the momentum in the match.
In between times Preston were abysmal away from home as they fell from their lofty position at the top to seventh in the league under Paul Simspon who appeared to lose faith in his players.
Goals for Nugent dried up despite an international call up and goal against Andorra. Preston faltered and failed to make the play offs by one single point. Nugent was sold to Portsmouth in the summer for £6 million and the pre-season never took off.
Defeats to Bamber Bridge and Blackburn as well as a disastrous US tour on astro turf put Preston in poor shape for the start of the season. Results failed to materialise with no away wins and poor home performances. Simpson brought in svereal strikers and released defenders as Preston searched for inspiration.
No away wins saw the downfall of Simpson after an awful away day at Hull. Alan Irvine was appointed from Everton with a change in style of play but results still alluded the Whites. Preston looked to be heading on a high after their first away wins of the season but they were set back with two late home defeats over the festive period leaving Preston second bottom.
Preston have not been in a relegation battle for over a decade as they have to find some consistency in the New Year of they are to survivce in the Championship as the longstanding club along with Burnley.