Tom Sandells looks at the talking points from Preston's 4-0 defeat at Cardiff City

The home side were in front in a matter of minutes as Kieffer Moore scored from the spot, and conceded just 27 seconds into the second half as Josh Murphy found the net.

Marlon Pack made it three for the Bluebrds and Mark Harris capitalised to make it four.

TOM SANDELLS looks at four talking points from the game.

1. Switch on.

Quite simply, it’s Sunday league stuff when teams conceded straight from the kick-off.

It was not a good look when a long throw inside the opening minutes resulted in Cardiff winning a penalty which they duly dispatched.

But that look was made to look even worse when just 27 seconds into the second half North End were dispossessed and quickly made to pay.

When the manager puts an emphasis on how important early goals are in games at this level, it’s surprising to see his side not switched on at the start. It gives PNE a mountain to climb

from the off, and as a side that generally struggles to create, it’s often insurmountable.

Couple that with the fact that North End generally benefit from their opposition having to chase the game and it’s just a bad mix.

2. Silly errors.

It’s hard to describe the errors we saw at the Cardiff City Stadium as anything other than silly.

The mix up between Daniel Iversen and Liam Lindsay led to the third goal and then Lindsay left the ‘keeper short for the fourth.

These are lapses in concentration. There is no way to dress up these errors in a better way, they have cost North End goals and the game.

3. Penalty madness.

I’m not sure anyone could believe what they were witnessing in the handful of minutes involving the penalties.

North End won a penalty as Anthony Gordon was knocked down by Harry Wilson.

Paul Gallagher stepped up as an obvious choice.

His kick was saved but Aden Flint fouled him as he looked to follow up and up stepped Ched Evans, who also saw his kick saved by Dillon Phillips in the City goal.

It epitomised the day in the end.

Just a shambles, really. If there’s any sign it’s not going to be your day, then that is it.

4. Looking up or down?

North End are currently 10 points off the relegation places, they’re also 10 pointsfrom the play-offs.

Despite the hopelessness that was emanating around the club in the wake of the loss, they’re still within reach.

They’re also within reach of the drop, and their form hints more at the latter than the former at the moment, but perspective can be important.

Perhaps the Lilywhites are where they belong.