Tim Mercer's PNE Fans' Panel verdict: Another hopeless display

One win, one draw and nine losses have left this fan bereft and scrambling through historical records of my seasons spent on the terraces of Deepdale and elsewhere… on this occasion stood inside the Racecourse Ground.

I assumed the re-election season in the old Division Four of 1985/86 would look as painful as the memory, but was surprised to see we had at least managed three wins by the same 11-game juncture we find ourselves in by the end of this appalling defeat.

Recalling my first game was in 1968 on the old Kop, as reflected upon in this column during the close season, I then checked the absolute catastrophe of when we dropped into the third tier for the first time in our history at the end of the 1969/70 season. Even then, after 11 matches we had two wins and four draws.

As for the game, we flattered to deceive in the opening half-hour or so, matching a nervous Wrexham who were under pressure themselves after an inconsistent start coupled with a midweek home loss. Still, it was no surprise when they took the lead from a simple header despite their player receiving the attention of two North End defenders.

However, for once we did something rare in this torrid season so far in deservedly equalising from a breakaway and with the ball struck home from a deflected Johnny Kenny effort by record signing Alfie Devine. Better still was the fact it was done within five minutes of the hosts taking the lead.

At last, a bit of hope lifted us all in the away section, but you know the old saying about hope, and shortly before half-time the Dragons retook the lead with a clinical strike by former Lilywhites’ captain Ben Whiteman. Given his controversial move just before the season started it was yet more salt rubbed into already painful wounds.

The second half really exposed the shambles that is this current team, with two further goals conceded within four minutes of each other. The last one in particular was easily one of the worst I’ve ever seen. A total capitulation and seeming like a lack of professionalism that was simply shameful and not something I say lightly.

The only bright, albeit small, spark came in the form of having Brad Potts back on the field of play as a substitute following all his long-term injury woes.

Indeed, with the game still at 2-1 he was presented with a good opportunity that he put wide. Given how ring rusty he must be and against the backdrop of the performance as a whole, I am inclined to forgive him in the hope that he can stay fit and inject ‘something’ positive into his distraught team-mates.