The Lilywhites were ahead after just eight minutes, with ex-Denmark youth international Emil Riis opening the scoring, but a 35th-minute equalising goal from opposition star Keane Lewis-Potter was a sign of things to come, with Preston's opponents going 2-1 up on the hour mark, before scoring a further two goals late on.
Speaking after the game, Preston skipper Alan Browne said: “It was a dream start, it felt like what we thought it would going into it.
“We got the early goal, took the pressure right off us and then for whatever reason, we just folded after that. We let them get on top. It’s not like us, to be fair, but at half-time it was still 1-1. We tried to go for it in the second half and it backfired on us.
“The goal was something we’d been working on, getting players forward, getting into the box. With two strikers you’ve always got a chance and you’ll always get chances but after that goal it was just, ‘Let’s sit in and let them have it now’.
“That’s not the mind-set that we need to have. We need to keep piling pressure on and get the second and take the game to the opponents and we didn’t do that.”
Next up, the Frankie McAvoy's side will look to bounce back with a win tomorrow evening, when they travel to take on Mansfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
We’ve gathered the best of today’s transfer speculation below…
“We got the early goal, took the pressure right off us and then for whatever reason, we just folded after that. We let them get on top. It’s not like us, to be fair, but at half-time it was still 1-1. We tried to go for it in the second half and it backfired on us.
5. Swans to keep spending
Swansea City look set to spend some money in the transfer window, with chief executive Julian Winter insisting the club' owners will invest more into the club this season. The Swans signed Jamie Paterson, their first new signing of the window, last Friday. (BBC Sport)
Photo: Alex Burstow
6. Palace move for Armstrong
Crystal Palace are believed to have tabled a £12m bid for Blackburn Rovers sensation Adam Armstrong. Southampton and Norwich have also been linked with the lethal striker, who is valued at around £20m by his club. (Football League World)
Photo: Michael Steele
7. Coulson set for Boro exit
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock has revealed defender Hayden Coulson is set to leave the club, and that a replacement is currently being actively sought. Coulson has been with his boyhood club since joining the youth academy in 2012. (Football League World)
Photo: George Wood
8. Blades ready double raid
Sheffield United have been tipped to swoop for both QPR's £6m-rated goalkeeper Seny Dieng and Crewe winger Charlie Kirk. The Blades are yet to sign on loan a single player this summer, despite the season starting last weekend. (The Sun)
Photo: Jacques Feeney