Cameron Archer and Milutin Osmajic show Preston North End what they're missing this season

Three former Preston North End strikers have nine goals between them so far in the 2026-27 season, while the club have scored just 10 times in 12 Championship games.

There was a lot to be optimistic about after such a full-blooded and spirited draw with promotion-chasing West Brom on Saturday, with Graham Alexander being left delighted with how his side imposed themselves on a quality team and created plenty of chances by winning the ball with aggressive pressing.

Yet, only a point was earned after Andrew Hughes’ opener was cut out just four minutes later and similar problems remained for Preston, even if they came in a markedly improved performance.

A defensive mishap led to points being lost late on and a series of squandered chances meant North End weren’t out of sight to ensure a mistake didn’t prove costly.

Preston's poor finishing came back to bite them against West Brom

Preston had 19 shots on goal and an xG of 1.78 shows they were chances of higher quality than in recent weeks. Yet, only four of those shots actually hit the target, a telling stat that shows where improvements must be made.

Leo Leroy dragged a first-half effort wide and Andy Moran, otherwise impressive off the bench, flicked a great chance past the post shortly after coming on, but Delano Burgzorg and Jusef Erabi were the biggest offenders.

The on-loan attacking duo actually earned a lot of plaudits for their displays.

Burgzorg started and ran relentlessly, his energy and movement helping to press and stretch the West Brom defence. The Dutchman also created a couple of good chances for teammates in his own right.

Erabi came on with 20 to go and ensured his effort matched those already on the pitch by charging at the opposition and fighting for every ball. He won the corner Hughes scored from and should have been awarded a penalty after being tripped up.

Both made important contributions to the performance, and they weren't the only ones guilty of missing chances, but, as strikers, they need to deliver composed quality in the crucial moment and neither managed to do so.

The golden chance for Burgzorg came when Stanley Mills delivered the ball on a plate with a spectacular cross, but he opted to slide for the chance, lacked control with his effort, and stuck it wide. He also could have done better with a chance early in the second-half when played through by Johnny Kenny, but his shot was at a good height for the goalkeeper at his near-post rather than cut back across him.

Erabi, meanwhile, did so well to win the ball back off a defender and put himself clean through on goal, but his wild effort from a slightly tight angle ended up going out on the opposite flank for a throw-in.

It was a moment that perfectly articulated how Alexander wants his side to attack, and the lack of cutting-edge that will make it difficult for it to result in goals.

Hopefully, with more hard work on the training field, they will become more clinical and confident when presented with such priceless opportunities.

However, as Alexander said after the 4-1 defeat at Wrexham: “I don't think we'll improve their technique, that doesn't happen over night.”

Seeing such great chances go wanting is especially frustrating given the quality Preston had up front last season.

How Preston's former strikers are performing this season

Preston's main strike force grabbed 24 goals between them last season in the Championship. Lewis Dobbin led the way on 10, Milutin Osmajic grabbed eight and Daniel Jebbison six. Only one, from Osmajic, came from the penalty spot.

On top of that, Michael Smith and Will Keane added another four.

All five have left and with them, 28 goals. Over half of the number North End scored in the campaign. It looks unlikely they will be replaced, despite Kenny’s obvious talent.

There have been mixed fortunes for the starring trio since. Osmajic, sold to Genoa for £2.1m, has been enjoying life in Serie A. Despite making a significant step-up, he already has three goals and an assist, netting against Fiorentina, Parma and Como.

Osmajic may have looked miles off the pace in his last North End appearance at Bolton Wanderers, in which he was caught off-side three times and squandered a great chance, but you have to think he's the sort of rough-and-tumble striker with an eye for goal Alexander would love to have.

Two of Osmajic's goals in Italy have been emphatic first-time finishes, while for the other he was sent through on goal and calmly curled the ball past the goalkeeper from distance. It's the sort of finishing Preston have not seen this season.

Dobbin was signed for big money by Southampton in the summer, but it wasn't until this past weekend, his 10th league appearance, did he finally score. In what turned out to be the winner against West Ham, he nicely controlled a rebounded shot before poking it home.

Dobbin has at least been playing regularly, even if goals have been hard to come by. Jebbison meanwhile, has managed just 43 minutes of action after staying at Bournemouth in the summer.

However, another former North End hit man who is enjoying a great campaign is Cameron Archer.

The 24-year-old spent the latter half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Deepdale, scoring an impressive seven goals in 20 appearances, but has endured a stop-start career since then.

Preston were said to be interested in a move this past summer, but he instead joined French side Auxerre. What Preston would give to have sealed that signing now after he's netted five goals in just 524 minutes in Ligue 1.

Like Osmajic, Archer has been displaying the instinctive, deadly finishing Preston have sorely lacked.

Three goals have come by playing on the shoulder of the defence, racing through and coolly beating the goalkeeper (twice by actually going round them).

There has also been a header on the rebound and, on debut against Lyon, a brilliant finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The success of Osmajic and Archer especially this season, both of whom have moved to top divisions, has really highlighted what Preston are missing in contrast: Strikers who you believe will actually find the back of the net when the great chances arrive.

North End will have to wait until at least January to try and change that but, if things don't improve in the league before then, they will struggle to attract a striker nearly as good.