John Roper’s Preston North End Fans’ Panel verdict: Lacklustre and tired after recent exertions

PNE had enough chances in the first 20 minutes to easily win this game but a mixture of good goalkeeping and poor finishing means that Millwall have done the double over North End this season and we haven’t managed to score a goal against them. We had a penalty turned down early on and then Barkhuizen, Johnson and Nugent all had good chances to score the goal that would have changed the game.

However credit must go to the visitors for the way they fought back and took control of the game for some periods. They were winning the second balls as a very off-colour North End struggled with the conditions and the tactics of the Lions and eventually paid the price by conceding a late goal through Shaun Hutchinson.

Alex Neil made two changes from the side that won at Stoke in midweek with Tom Clarke coming in at right back to replace Darnell Fisher and David Nugent leading the line with Sean Maguire relegated back to the bench.

Preston started very brightly and there were huge shouts for a penalty after just five minutes when Barkhuizen had his heels clipped but Mr Harrington was unmoved and waved play on.

North End were losing far too many 50/50 balls in the middle of the park and looked sluggish in their attacking movement and build up. Millwall should have taken the lead on the hour after Bradshaw got away from Ben Davies but he hit the bar after beating Declan Rudd.

Gallagher and Harrop were thrown into the action but to no avail really and the same can be said when Maguire was brought on to replace Nugent, with most fans thinking it should have been Stockley.

The goal came with just over 10 minutes left as a recycled ball eventually found Hutchinson at the far post and he headed past Rudd from a few yards out.

PNE had one last chance with a Gallagher free-kick but it was well saved by the keeper and the points, deservedly went back to South Bermondsey.

Not the result we were looking for after a great week on the road, although results elsewhere meant we stay in the play-off positions with just 13 games to go. Millwall were not spectacular but were organised, physical and closed North End down quickly, something that we were very much lacking in.

I think the manager will have to hold his hands up on this one and say that he was out-manouvered tactically by Gary Rowett and that if he had the chance to make his substitutions again he may have brought on different players.

We were very mediocre after the first 20 minutes and looked tired and lethargic. Anyway what’s done is done and we must quickly put this out of our minds and prepare for the game against Hull next Saturday.

We had a get out of jail free card with the other results this week but that won’t happen every week and a win is a must against the Tigers.