Sean Maguire's view of Preston's contrasting home and away results, facing Middlesbrough and a 'surreal' time with Republic of Ireland

We witnessed just that on Saturday as the Lilywhites needed a late own goal to rescue a point against Wycombe Wanderers.

That was only the fourth point gathered on home soil this campaign, the other three against Sheffield Wednesday taken after an away defeat and a two-week international break.

North End’s home form is a source of frustration to everyone at the club – fans, players, management.

Sean Maguire didn’t try to hide that frustration as the focus turned to Wednesday night's clash with Middlesbrough at Deepdale (7pm).

The striker started the Wycombe game, as he did last Tuesday’s excellent 3-2 win at AFC Bournemouth.

Four points from two games wouldn’t have been a bad return, especially if the results had been the other way round.

But having done so well to beat the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium, not to beat Wycombe was disappointing.

Maguire said: “We beat Bournemouth who are a side challenging up there for a place in the top two.

“I thought 3-2 flattered them in a way because we played so well and they just threw caution to the wind at the end.

“We wanted to follow that up against Wycombe, we knew what type of game it was going to be .

“Unfortunately we couldn’t pick-up three points and had to make do with the draw. We had chances in both halves to score more.

“It’s Middlesbrough next and we will be trying our best to get three points.

“I can’t really put my finger on the difference in the home and away form.

“We are probably top of the table for away form and near the bottom for the home form.

“We don’t go into games with a different mentality or strategy, we want to win every game.”

Maguire has started the last three matches, recalled to the side at Watford after eight games sat on the bench.

Against the Hornets he partnered Emil Riss at the top end of a 3-5-2 system.

For last week’s visit to Bournemouth, Maguire led the attack as PNE manager Alex Neil switched back to his favoured 4-2-3-1.

It was arguably Maguire’s best game for a while even if he didn’t get his name on the scoresheet. He had a hand in all three goals scored by Tom Barkhuizen, Scott Sinclair and Patrick Bauer.

Maguire said: “The gaffer wanted me to play as a false No.9 in a way.

“It worked really well with Barky and Scotty, with me making runs in behind.

“That was a great win for and it was unfortunate we couldn’t follow it up.

“I’m feeling sharp and quite confident at the moment, Bournemouth was one of my better games.

“What I need to add now is a few goals which would really get me going.

“We are in a busy spell of games at the moment and that will continue through Christmas and beyond.

“E very game we play in the Championship will offer a different test. That is why the division produces the most surprises of any league in Europe.

“Bournemouth were a lot different to Wycombe, and Middlesbrough will offer a different test.

“It is good to analysis games and look back at them but at the moment, your focus quickly has to turn to the one in front of you.”

Maguire’s season so far has been a particular busy one when you take into account him being away with the Republic of Ireland during the international breaks.

He’s been a late call-up for the last two squads, with the November break certainly producing plenty of drama with players dropping out of the Irish pool like flies due to injuries and positive Covid tests.

“What happened in the last international break was surreal,” said Maguire.

“You were walking down for breakfast wondering if your buddies were still going to be there. People were dropping out left, right and centre with one thing or another.

“We were probably thinking we were the only country in that situation but when you looked at it, there were a lot of countries in the same position.

“It’s the world we live in at the moment, it is where we are at.

“By the time we played Bulgaria in the last of the three games, I think there were about eight of the original squad left.

“I was happy to be involved in the squad, I got my 11th cap and my aim is to get a lot more because playing for my country is very important to me.

“Hopefully by the next international break in March, there will be some kind of normality.”

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