Ryan Ledson disappointed his first Preston North End goal didn't count for anything at Rotherham

For a player who last found the net 33 months ago, the midfielder’s finish at the New York Stadium was an impressive one.

It brought PNE level in the 80th minute but the Millers scored on the counter-attack six minutes later to inflict a first away defeat of the season on Alex Neil’s men.

Defeat was self-inflicted in that a poor pass from Brad Potts gave the ball away and allowed Rotherham to score on the break.

Ledson struck from the edge of the box with a fine low finish after Paul Gallagher’s corner had been headed clear.

The 23-year-old said: “I was meant to be in the box for corners but with them having the big lads in there, I brought myself out.

“Luckily enough the ball dropped for me, I took it well but it means nothing really.

“I would rather have not scored and come away with a draw or three points.”

Ledson’s last goal had come in February 2018 for Oxford United against Charlton – it won him the U’s goal of the season award.

Defeat in South Yorkshire came after four successive away wins for North End.

They didn’t get anywhere near the heights of those wins at Brentford, Queens Park Rangers, Huddersfield and Reading.

Ledson said: “When we got ourselves back in the game as we did, we should have made sure we left with a point.

“After Rotherham’s first goal I thought we got into the game more.

“They sat off us and we started to play. Maybe when we equalised we should have shut up shop and taken a point from a game we didn’t play that well in.

“We just can’t concede cheap goals like we did for Rotherham’s second.

“It was a square ball across and they hit us on the counter which has happened too many times this season, it is the same old story.

“We were nowhere near good enough on the ball.

“Everywhere on the pitch we should have taken the care to make that extra pass to try and draw Rotherham out of their shape.”

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