Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

In league and cup this season, the Lilywhites have been awarded nine penalties and given away nine.

They have scored seven of them and the opposition have put away eight of the spot-kicks awarded in their favour.

Things have accelerated on the penalty front since the calendar flipped over into 2021.

Paul Gallagher takes Preston North End's penalty against Cardiff City

North End have given away six penalties since January 2.

They have been awarded three in that period, two of which they missed within 60 seconds of one another at Cardiff on Saturday.

Paul Gallagher and Ched Evans were the two players to miss from the spot, both their efforts parried by Bluebirds goalkeeper Dillon Phillips.

Missing two in a game is not unique to PNE, the great Sir Tom Finney did so in March 1958. That double miss came in a 4-1 win over Leicester City at Deepdale, Sir Tom finding the net in open play.

Ched Evans gets ready to take PNE's second penalty at Cardiff

Of the nine penalties North End have conceded this season, eight have been in league action.

That is the second-highest in the Championship behind Coventry who have conceded nine in league action.

The other penalty they gave away was at Wycombe in the FA Cup.

Only Reading have missed from the spot against PNE, Luca Joao firing wide.

At the other end of the pitch, seven of Preston’s nine penalties have come in the Championship – the third-highest behind Watford (9) and Norwich (8).

They won their first of the season at Derby in the Carabao Cup, with another coming their way in the FA Cup tie at Wycombe.

They have had five penalty takers – Daniel Johnson, Scott Sinclair, Emil Riis, Gallagher and Evans.

Johnson and Sinclair both scored from the spot in the 2-0 win over QPR in October.

The next one awarded to North End was missed by Johnson at Reading – a game PNE went on to win 3-0.

DJ was back in the penalty groove before Christmas, netting from the spot against Bristol City at Deepdale.

He had been substituted at Cardiff by the time PNE were awarded their penalties.

With Sinclair on the bench, Gallagher was the obvious choice to take the first one.

It had been a year since he last stepped up, scoring from the spot in a 2-1 victory over Hull City.

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 per month for the first two months. Try us today by clicking here

Penalties have played a big part in Preston North End's season