Opportunity missed for Preston PNE fan Tim Mercer has his say on the defeat to QPR

Up to the 61st minute everything was going to plan Leading from a first half penalty with the hosts dominating and perhaps ruing not being further ahead.

This included a Sean Maguire shot that had bounced back off the post before the later foul on Darnel Fisher which gave Daniel Johnson the task of scoring from the penalty spot.

It all felt rather comfortable and I was already dreaming of putting 4four points between ourselves and Bristol City in seventh spot as they had already drawn against Fulham in the lunchtime kick-off.

But being of the immediate post-Finney generation that has followed the team through the thick and thin of tiers two to four, there is always that nagging doubt in the back of your mind as you carry the scars of ‘no floodlights’, being ‘threatened with expulsion’ and the ignominy of having to go cap in hand to ‘apply for re-election’ in our then first ever dip into the bottom flight.

However, even when the visitors equalised with their first shot on target in that 61st minute it still felt like North End were going to go on and win right up to the moment QPR had a man sent off for a second yellow card.

Strangely, it appeared to put Preston on the back foot as the Londoners found space going forward as if they were the ones with a player advantage. Two more shots on target and two more goals followed in what was their total tally in the ‘on target’ column of the day’s stats and overall a thoroughly deserved win for the Hoops.

Yes, Preston could have been more than one goal to the good before the QPR rally, but it’s goals in the onion bag that count, not near misses or hitting the woodwork, as Maguire did again with a lovely header when the scores were level.

We must try to stay positive and remember that, so far, some real progress has been made this season.