Preston North End to appeal 'perfect storm' red card for Tom Barkhuizen says Alex Neil

Barkhuizen got his marching orders in the 22nd minute for a sliding challenge on Morgan Fox.

Neil jumped to the winger's defence and hopes an appeal can save Barkhuizen from a three-match suspension.

Giving his thoughts in the post-match press conference, Neil said: "At the time I wasn't sure, Tom was running away from where I was, it was right next to their dug out - basically the perfect storm in terms of him getting sent-off.

"I've watched it back since, he was running at full speed, he tries to slow down and he loses his footing.

"As he loses his footing he slides into the lad and it is a slide tackle type of thing. It certainly wasn't meant.

"With it being right next to their dug out they all started appealing, their lad lets out a scream and starts rolling about.

"From being in that situation quite a few times myself you know full well that the likelihood is he is going to end up producing a red.

"Having watched it back I'm not sure what Tom is meant to do. Does he mean to slide tackle the player? Definitely not.

"It definitely changed the course of the game because up to that point I thought we were excellent and looked like we would go on and win the game."

North End had been going well until Barkhuizen's dismissal and continued doing so for a spell afterwards.

It was Stoke who got the all important goal though, Lee Gregory netting six minutes before half-time from a John Obi Mikel cross.

Neil said: "Our set up was really good, we went really aggressive with the two wingers as wing-backs, we had a front two and had Alan Browne in the 10 position to pick up bits.

"We got into some good areas, put some great crosses into the box, we looked a threat, Jayden Stockley put one over the bar.

"When we had the player less we had to repair that, the two striker lads sunk in and we moved Alan to the right side.

"The goal was not great defending, we narrowed off instead of bumping out and stopping the ball down the side - you shouldn't get punctured if you are a back three.

"At the start of the second half you could see that Stoke had spoken abut trying to hurt our shape which they did for about 10 minutes.

"We changed it, went to a back four, went three in the middle and two up front. We still carried a threat although it was difficult being a man down.

"I thought the lads left everything on the pitch and if it wasn't for that red card I firmly believe we would have won the game."