PNE in numbers: Rarity for Preston to lose after going ahead

For good reason too, as doing so has stood them in good stead for a while now.

It was a rare event when PNE finished on the losing side against Queens Park Rangers last Saturday having scored the opening goal of the Deepdale contest through Daniel Johnson.

Only once before had that happened this season, back in August when Joe Rafferty found the net at Swansea and North End lost 3-2.

Before that, you had to go back to April 14, 2017, when Simon Grayson was still at the helm, for similar to have happened in a Championship fixture.

Aiden McGeady opened the scoring for North End in their visit to Huddersfield, producing a fine finish from distance.

Unfortunately, Town fought back to eventually win 3-2.

That was the only time in the 2016/17 that happened in the league although PNE were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal in the FA Cup in January of that campaign.

Going further back, just once in 2015/16 did they take the lead and lose.

That was at Brentford in September 2015 when Johnson put them in front in the first minute only for the Bees to win 2-1.

In last season’s Carabao Cup, PNE did take the lead against Middlesbrough at Deepdale through Callum Robinson and ended the night as the losing side.

The tie finished in a 2-2 draw but they lost to Boro on penalties.

In general though, the statistics weigh heavily in favour of a good result for North End if they get their noses in front.