The JPT is a strange competition summed up that by a club from the Midlands will be representing the north but that is no slight on Walsall who deserve their first ever trip to Wembley.
It is tue that Preston lost this tie at home when Beckford missed a couple of glorious opportunities to put Preston out of sight before Walsall scored with two late goals.
It was expected that Preston would go all out attack with nothing to lose to try and claim an early advantage. As fans are finding out that simply isn't Grayson's style. He has done well in his time at Deepdale but all out attack and overturning defecits is not within his vocabulary.
North End went one up fromt with Kevin Davies which dismayed many albeit injuries to others may have played a part. Ebanks Blake then replaced Davies int he second half as the formation was maintained.
Preston only had one attempt all game until the dying moments when the visitors realised that they were actually exiting the competition. The late rallying cry couldn't muster a goal although it was questioned as to why Preston did not attack earlier int he piece.
Whilst the exit is not the be all and end all of the season fans have started showing the first sign of disgruntlement int he two year reign of the manager especially with the recent run of average results.
North End now travel to Crawley where they must win to aintain any slim hope of catching the top two. Crawley played and lost last night in the league. Preston then travel to Sheff Utd next Tuesday in the FA Cup replay.