For the second year in succession Preston's unbeaten run was ended by Leyton Orient only this time it was Graham Westley in charge and not Phil Brown.
Preston were forced into three changes but Westley did not use this as an excuse. Laird is out for the season so Buchanan came in at left back whilst Keane was replaced by Bailey Wright. New boy Todd Kane was pushed further forward into right midfield in place of the injured Monakana.
The Whites dominated possession throughout the game but were not clinical enough lacking the killer touch. Mistakes also cost them with the home side scoring from two straight forward chances.
Preston bossed the game in the early part but could not find a way through the well organised home defence. They were left to pay just before the break when Orient scored with a free header in the box from a cross.
The weather did not suit a good game off ootball witht he wind blowing and the rain relentless but that was no excuse for Preston failing to find the net.
The home doubled their advantage as North End failed to spot a through ball. The striker rounded Simonsen and placed into the net to give Orient a commanding lead.
Westley made changes and went all out for goals. Sodje, Beavong, Elding and King all thrust forward but to no avail. Sodje hit the post. There were several goal line clearances and the home keeper made some fine saves.
How North End didn't score is trivial but the fact remained that the best chances came too late in the game when they were two goals down. It seems these days that if Preston don't score early on they lack ideas as to how to break robust sides down.
Work is needed on sharpness and ideas. Hopefully Kane will settle in after a week's worth of training but Preston can ill afford to make simple errors against a side that will finish in the lower end of the table.
Source: WHITES
Source: FOOTYMAD
