Fans are growing restless: Tom Sandells looks at the talking points from yesterday’s latest home defeat for Preston

Preston North End's Alan Browne can't hide his disappointment as his team go down to another home defeat

North End were sloppy in the opening few minutes, failing to deal with a long ball down the channel and Riley McGree fired into the net.

Jayden Stockley equalised with stunner from 30 yards but Gary Gardner, off the bench, nodded home from close range to take the points.

TOM SANDELLS looks at four talking points from the game.

1. Home away from home.

PNE have now lost five league games at home in a row, the last time that happened was during the 1958/59 season.

It doesn’t take a genius to point out that it’s a terrible run of form with some drab performances. It also doesn’t take a genius to point out that it must improve.

Nevertheless it cannot be glossed over and it’s a situation that is seriously holding PNE back.

If their home form was even serviceable they would find themselves right near the top of the table, boasting the best away record in the league. Tactics, personnel and the general approach are all things now being brought into question but whatever the answer, Alex Neil needs to find it ASAP.

2. Creating little once again.

Again it’s not a new development that this is an issue for the Lilwhites, but it was another day where they weren’t exactly free flowing.

There were chances in the game and they did create the odd moment, but it always seems like such hard work.

Tom Barkhuizen should have done better with an opportunity in the second half from the corner of the six yard box, but his closest chance sums things up.

Barkhuizen looked to find the top corner from the edge of the box and as Stockley’s goal may attest to, it seems that it takes the spectacular - or a dead ball - to find the net.

The solution will most likely require more fiddling, more tinkering, but that may disrupt other areas.

Finding the right balance is difficult. Daniel Johnson and Paul Gallagher were used against the Blues but neither really left their mark, despite their creative potential.

3. Injury concerns.

Of the starting XI, one was taken off through injury and two more ended the game with issues. Darnell Fisher couldn’t finish the game on his return to the side, due to cramp, and issues with Declan Rudd and Andrew Hughes may need monitoring.

Neil spoke last week about the need for five subs to return and it may be the case that his squad will be pushed nearer and nearer to its limit.

With a few already sidelined, games not slowing up and more issues arising, managing his squad could be as big a test for Neil as winning games.

4. Neil out?

Though not my opinion, it can’t be ignored that there are growing calls for the PNE boss’ head.

It is undeniable that the squad has come on a long way since Neil has taken over and his frustrations over a lack of activity in the transfer market hasn’t been hidden.

It is not a straight forward job for any manager, as the Scot has sold his best player on multiple occasions witho ut seeing the money reinvested.But there is growing unrest in the fanbase over the style and results.

It leads to further questions: who could do better? Who do you get in? Can he do any more?

No manager will always get things right, and every side will go through bad spells and good spells but given the bizarre circumstances we live in, it may be worth taking a step back and taking stock.0