Tim Mercer’s Preston North End Fans’ Panel verdict: Frustration again for all associated with Deepdale
Another narrow defeat, in this case made all the harder to swallow by a very poor referring decision in the early part of the first half.
North End had started well, were first to the ball, aggressive and full of running.
Then Tom Barkhuizen and a Stoke player went in with equal gusto for a 50/50 ball in that way that makes you wince before they make contact.
Barky slipped a little and so deliberately pulled his foot back in an attempt to avoid seriously injuring his opponent.
In this he was successful, but the referee saw it as a straight red, even though the Stoke player had gone in the harder of the two by the point at which they collided.
What could have been dangerous had been made safe by Barkhuizen’s quick thinking and reaction, but he was the one punished by a referee who, according to the commentary team, was making his Championship debut.
Judging by other decisions throughout the remainder of the game, the man in the middle will need to improve fast.
Immediately after we went down to 10 men, an until-then poor-looking Stoke started getting into the game and took full advantage shortly before the break with a well-taken goal from good cross in behind the defence.
The second half saw continued dominance by the visitors, as Preston tried to stay with a back three in order to still be able to get forward with one man short.
Unfortunately this left them exposed down the flanks and so it was not surprising when Alex Neil made his substitutions in order to revert to a back four.
This did steady the ship and the men in white shirts gave it a go as the game wore on, getting close a few times but without really threatening.
Stoke could have killed the game off but wasted a couple of good chances and so the game ran out as another 1-0 defeat on home turf in an afternoon of frustration for all associated with Deepdale.