Shrewsbury Town need a break

That result, which was Town's fourth consecutive defeat at the Greenhous Meadow, leaves Graham Turner's side with 23 points from their first 23 league games of their current 46-game campaign – exactly the same total they had at the same stage last season.

Quite how much comfort Town fans will take from that depends on your outlook: On the one hand they remain on course to match last season's League One survival – just, although they have now slipped to within one point and two places of the drop zone.

And a third season in League One would certainly represent a step forward of sorts for the club, which had spent 15 years outside the English third tier prior to their promotion-winning campaign in 2011/12.

But obviously many supporters would have hoped for improvement on last year's halfway tally this time around.

And the club's latest setback leaves their current season firmly on a knife-edge entering the New Year.

Statistics don't always tell the full story, though, and the 1-0 defeat Town ended up with yesterday was somewhat harsh after they had matched a side sitting fourth in the division which had lost just once in their previous 13 matches.

Graham Turner made two changes for the game to the starting XI that slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Tranmere Rovers on Boxing Day. Striker Tom Bradshaw replaced Gozie Ugwu up front, having impressed in a spirited 45 minutes against Tranmere after coming off the bench at half-time.

Meanwhile, in midfield Dave McAllister replaced Preston North End loanee Nicky Wroe, who was ineligible for the game under the terms of his deal.

Ryan Woods retained his place at right-back, having shaken off a hamstring injury which had forced him off at half-time on Boxing Day.

And fellow midfielder Aaron Wildig made a welcome return to the squad on the bench, having been sidelined by a knee injury since the end of November.

Preston's Chris Humphrey, who spent almost three years at Town from 2006-09, was also afforded a warm welcome from the home fans on his return to the Greenhous Meadow.

There may be 15 places between the two teams now, but there was little to choose between the sides in a cagey opening 10 minutes.

Town keeper Chris Weale had to be at his athletic best to punch away a testing corner after 11 minutes in crowded penalty area though.

At the other end Town fans were left incensed when Tom Eaves was bundled over by Paul Huntington with what certainly appeared to be a foul on the edge of the box only for the referee to wave away the appeal.

Town upped the tempo immediately after this though and there were several cries of 'shoot' heard from the stands as the hosts worked a handful of potential openings without pulling the trigger.

But Tom Eaves did test the reflexes of Declan Rudd after 19 minutes though with a smart finish having weaved his way into the box and past two defenders.

The swift counter-attack, the best of the game up to that point, also owed much to the passing ability of Luke Summerfield, Jon Taylor and Ryan Woods.

Preston gave Town a scare though when Josh Brownhill's deflected volley crept just wide of the far post two minutes later.

And Weale did well to pluck out a dangerous David Buchanan cross with players waiting to pounce in the box.

Eaves though was looking lively for Town and it needed a last-ditch block tackle by Tom Clarke to deny him the opening goal with 28 minutes on the clock after another bright and incisive run into the box.

Town were playing with real confidence by now, although Preston remained dangerous on the counter and Buchanan just slotted wide on the turn after John Welsh's cross had been partially blocked by Dave Winfield seven minutes before the interval.

But at the other end Taylor, who was causing a number of problems with his pace and regular switching on the flanks, drew an excellent save from Rudd with a rasping 25-yard drive which had everybody off their seats. At half-time, in contrast to Boxing Day where Town had been booed off, they were applauded as they left the field after a lively and composed display against one of the division's most in-form sides.

And they started the second half in similarly strong fashion, with Eaves nodding over from a sweeping Woods cross after Taylor had done well to chase down a hopeful punt forward.

Eaves will probably have been disappointed not to have hit the target though having out-jumped his marker.

But only a stretching boot from Adam Reach at the far post prevented Preston successfully springing a swift attack of their own soon afterwards.

And Kevin Davies should have put the Lilywhites ahead after 55 minutes but he could only nod Buchanan's sweeping left-wing cross over from just a few yards out.

It was a big let off for the hosts, but it was Preston who were living dangerously when Huntington was rightly booked for pulling Eaves back after the Bolton loanee had out-jumped him on the edge of the box.

Fortunately for them, although Reach's free-kick then had Preston looking less than convincing at the back they cleared the danger after a brief scramble in the box.

With 62 minutes on the clock, Preston manager Simon Grayson made a double change with Brownhill and Humphrey coming off for Paul Gallagher and Lee Holmes.

It was an indication that things were not going according to plan for the visitors and they were breathing another sigh of relief when Summerfield flashed over at the near post, from a tight angle on the volley, after Eaves and Reach had combined well to create the chance. But Holmes had Weale scrambling on 67 minutes with a speedy daisy cutter which fizzed just wide on the moist surface.

Town then failed to make the most of a very inviting free-kick after Summerfield was upended by Gallagher 25-yards from goal.

It certainly looked in 'Joe Jacobson range' but he hit the defensive wall both with his initial shot and the rebound.

At the other Huntington headed over from Neil Kilkenny's well-aimed corner kick as another chance went begging for the visitors.

It was a nip-and-tuck affair but Preston were creating the marginally better chances by this stage and they finally got their break through with 11 minutes of normal time, albeit in fortuitous circumstances.

Iain Hulme, who had replaced Kevin Davies just a few minutes previously, whipped in a testing far post cross which was inadvertently turned in by Woods on the line.

It was rough justice both for the player, who had enjoyed a solid game, and the team although it illustrated up the strength in depth the division's top sides have at their disposal.

Town continued to push forward hunting an immediate and Turner made three changes late on, with Paul Parry, Wildig and striker John Marsden all thrown into the fray replacing Reach, Bradshaw and McAllister.

But the Lilywhites managed to see out the remaining minutes without much incident to condemn Town to defeat