We were all accepting our fate, then the lads proved us all wrong - Preston fan Tim Mercer was thrilled by the comeback victory over Hull

It felt like déjà vu for the home fans, as the second home defeat in consecutive games loomed on the horizon with a feeling that we were blowing away a golden chance to consolidate a realistic play-off challenge as we get down to the business end of the season.

Probably not surprising then to hear some disgruntlement as the players headed off down the tunnel, but in the main the feeling around me was of resigned acceptance to our fate.

After all, who are we to think we can compete with the ridiculous wages of those around us and let’s not mention the continuing disquiet this week regarding the much delayed new training ground.

But someone once said that ‘football is a funny old game’, and so it proved to be as we went 2-1 up in the space of four second-half minutes. In my view under orders from Alex Neil to keep the ball down, run into spaces and pass into those gaps.

Add in a couple of crucial substitutions quite early in the half in the form of Alan Browne and Jayden Stockley and the ball began to stick at the top end to further improve our chances.

A short time later Browne was tripped in the box for a decent looking penalty shout steadfastly ignored by the referee, but who made amends a few moments later as Darnell Fisher appeared to be sandwiched between two Tiger’s defenders.

Paul Gallagher did his usual turn and run to smash the ball home from the spot, but better was to come those when the two substitutes combined well to see Stockley putting over a dangerous cross that Browne somehow got to: seemingly hanging in the air for an age before heading the ball home.

Onwards to the Midlands then on Tuesday evening for some unfinished business with fellow League Founders West Bromwich Albion.