Away Day Woes Continue

Last updated : 21 August 2019 By @pnemad

North End haven't won at Swansea since 1961 so it was always going to be a tough task but the manner of the defeat has raised the same questions for Alex Neil.

North End took the lead early on through Joe Rafferty who was having to play as an emergency left back due to an injury to Andrew Hughes. Injuries have impacted Preston massively over the past two seasons and already complications have emerged with Preston not signing a left back during the summer and allowing Earl to go out on loan at Bolton although he is currently injured as well.

Preston bossed the first half. Plenty of psosession and chances. Neil summised that they should have been four up. The problem is that Preston are not clinical enough. North End have no one who is capable of hitting high double figures in a season.

Last season's top scorer has left for the Premier League and even he missed a large chunk of last season. Neil has signed attacking wide players and his formation lends itself to possession and chances but quite simply there is no one capable of converting multiple chances.

North End paid the price. Defensively they were abject for all three goals. The equaliser came on the stroke of half time when Baston converted from close range with no marker in site.

Swansea took the lead in the second period when Byers scored. Johnson did equalise soon after from the spot but moments later Baston restored the lead for the home side when he was yet again allowed free space in the box.

The same issues seem to be repeating themselves for Preston. Injuries are not a main concern at the moment but lack of firepower and defensive mistakes mean that any chance of moving up the table will be impossible.

Preston face Stoke who have had an equally miserable start to the season and with two league home games in a row followed by a home cup game Preston will try to restore some early season momentum.