Preston succumbed to their second consecutive league defeat on Saturday by losing 3-2 away to Port Vale.

North End drew level twice throughout the game with Tom Smyth scoring their second just 40 seconds after the restart, but this still wasn't enough to earn him and his team mates a point.

Port Vale secured all three points in the 54th minute, when Preston were exposed at the back leaving Vale striker James Lawie unmarked and able to produce a good finish.

There were positives to draw from the game though with Preston creating a whole host of chances from wide positions and goalkeeper Chris Thompson displaying a man of the match performance.

However, coach Jamie Hoyland was somewhat disheartened with his team's overall performance and unhappy to return home empty handed.

"It was a disappointing game," he claimed. "This has come as a bit of a shock to the system because we started the season so well but now we seem to have had a dip in form.

"There are a few players in the squad who are getting mentally tired and it this may be due to their age. We need to bring back the desire to win.

Although the team's performance disappointed Hoyland, he conceded that Vale deserved all three points.

"Port Vale had a very good game. They got at us and I just feel sorry for our goalkeeper because the score line does not reflect the performance he gave us."

Preston battled from the start with Matty Mainwaring winning several fifty-fifty tackles to try and stamp some authority on the game. But in the 12th minute Preston's spirits were crushed when referee Steve Williams pointed to the spot. The home team's captain Will Bown coolly converted leaving Preston's players stunned.

North End replied in the 16th minute when Vale's goalkeeper presented winger Danny Mayor with the ball after a poor clearance. Mayor picked out Ash Higgins in the oppositions penalty area and his instinctive shot was parried in by the Port Vale goalkeeper.

Vale regained the lead in the 21st minute when a defensive lapse from Preston gave the Valiants winger time and space down the left hand side and he delivered a low ball for Jonathan Crompton to comfortably slot past Thompson in the Preston goal.

The battling spirit Preston possessed at the start of the game returned in the latter stages of the first half and it was proven when centre half Mark Bloxham was given room and unleashed a bullet from 35 yards, only to be denied by the post.

In the second half, North End got off to a blinder when Higgins' spectacular back heel dropped to Smyth who easily found the back of the net. This made it 2-2 and there was still plenty to play for.

Unfortunately PNE struggled and on more than one occasion had to call upon the services of Thompson in goal. The goalkeeper made a number of quality saves and important clearances to keep his side in the game. After the game, Thompson said:

"This was similar to the game against Bury last week when they threw everything at us. It seems like we're hitting a bit of a bad patch at the moment and it is our job to get ourselves out of it."

Ten minutes after the equaliser, Port Vale punished Preston's defence with what proved to be the winning goal, despite the best efforts of full back McMahon. This was to be the final nail in the coffin for the Lilywhites.

Preston never recovered from this and Vale continued to terrorise their defence but they still couldn't manage to find a break through.

Substitute Mike Aspin came on and ran the Port Vale defence ragged and you could sense that Preston upped their game when he was introduced. But Vale held on until the end and bagged all three points.

Preston's man of the match was goalkeeper Chris Thompson who was unfortunate to concede three goals. He was pleased with his performance but understands the challenges that face him and his team mates.

"I was pleased with my overall performance but it is gutting that we lost in the manner that we did," he mused.

"We have got to perform each week now because every one of us are fighting to get what we want, a professional contract at Preston North End."

The youth team are hoping to get back to winning ways next week when they travel to Morecambe.

Preston North End: Chris Thompson, Tom McMahon, Ray Shearwood, Phil Appiah, Mark Bloxam, Dominic Collins (Chris Rogers 60), Danny Mayor (Mike Aspin 65), Nathan Fairhurst (Adam Barton 76), Ash Higgins, Tom Smyth, Matty Mainwaring. Sub not used: George Miller.

By Treve Whitford