Time for a change of manager - Preston supporter John Roper believes boss Alex Neil has lost his way

A goal conceded within the opening two minutes of each half, two penalties missed in the space of two minutes and a horrible gift of a goal near the end.

You may laugh at this but I didn’t think Cardiff were much better than us but they had a plan, albeit basic, and they stuck to it. Add to this a couple of quality players in the squad and the answer equals an emphatic 4-0 win for the Bluebirds.

Don’t get me wrong the players must take some of the blame for what we witnessed at the Cardiff City Stadium but you just can’t help feeling that when we had the ball and were in the ascendancy we didn’t have the tactical nous to execute whatever blueprint Alex Neil had come up with for this trip to the Principality.

Clearly Mick McCarthy’s plan was less confusing to his squad and a darn sight more effective.

It didn’t take very long for the game plan to go out with the washing as Cardiff were awarded a penalty immediately. A corner came over from the left and Mr Simpson pointed straight to the spot.

Kieffer Moore made no mistake giving the Bluebirds the lead with less than two minutes on the clock. It was the sixth penalty North End had conceded in the calendar year. Daniel Iversen made a good diving save with 10 minutes gone but the game became scrappy and one dimensional as the teams cancelled each other out.

Ched Evans headed straight at the keeper with our only chance but as the half wore on our distribution and ball retention improved.

We still could not find a way through the Cardiff lines and although North End were having the better possession it was the home side who looked the more likely to score and as the teams trotted off at the interval Alex Neil was left with plenty to ponder after another fruitless half of football from North End.

From the second half kick-off, we played the ball short, lost it in midfield only for Harry Wilson to put Josh Murphy through for Cardiff’s second. You had to see it to believe it.

Iversen then saved from Murphy whilst at the other end Alan Browne had a good header tipped over. Paul Gallagher and Anthony Gordon were then brought on and what happened next had to be seen to be believed.

Gordon was fouled in the box and Gallagher steps up and the penalty is saved, but PNE man goes to fire home the rebound and is fouled resulting in another penalty. This time Evans steps up and Dillon Phillips in the Cardiff goal saves again.

Four minutes later, Iversen makes a brilliant save only for it to fall to Marlon Pack and the home side are three up. Brad Potts replaces Jayson Molumby and misses with the goal at his mercy after being played in by Gordon.

Three becomes four seven minutes later as a Lian Lindsay back pass falls short and Mark Harris completes the North End misery having just come on the pitch. A dark day for North End fans watching from home and, unfortunately more of the same from a manager who looks increasingly like he has lost his way.

Yes we have sold two of our best players but the poor home defeats were happening early in the season and who can forget our total collapse after the re-start last season when we were in sixth position in the league.

The changes in the team don’t appear to be helping and whilst we have shown some excellent form away from home in patches this season we have been woeful at Deepdale. People may well put some of it down to the pandemic and I think we are a club that has suffered through not having fans inside Deepdale.

However, it is the same for every team and that excuse is not used when we win. I think Neil’s first season at Deepdale was the best but, unfortunately, we are now clearly a team going backwards and not forwards.

So in my opinion, sadly, I think it is now time for a change in the Deepdale hot seat and that Neil should be thanked for his efforts for the club but removed from his position of manager with immediate effect.