Preston North End fell to their first away defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-1 at Rotherham United.
Alex Neil’s men had claimed 13 points from a possible 15 on the road, having drawn at Norwich City before beating Brentford, Queens Park Rangers, Huddersfield Town and Reading on the road.
Ryan Ledson cancelled out Richard Wood’s opener to give Preston late hope of another win, but Matt Crooks caught North End on the break with the winner.
The stunning away form was bound to end some time soon, but it now highlights that North End can’t rely on the away form to make up for home woes.
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
Preston have yet to win a single home game this season, and have only scored once at Deepdale in a torrid run of form at Deepdale.
MORE PRESTON STORIES
Swansea City, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Millwall and Birmingham City have all left Deepdale with all three points, and Neil will be desperate to find an answer sooner rather than later.
Now, pundit Adrian Clarke has told the Totally Football League Show that he thinks Preston have been ‘sensational’ away this season, making North End the ‘weirdest team in the EFL’.
Clarke believes that Preston can’t be in play-off contention with only away wins, so need to use this international break to focus on winning at Deepdale in order to push for the top six.
“Preston have been sensational haven’t they, on their travels. Preston have been the weirdest team in the EFL, no doubt about that – can’t buy a win at home, off-the-scale good on the road, but it’s probably unsustainable; you’re not gonna win every single away game,” said Clarke.
“I think they just need to regroup, have a little break, and focus on winning their home games, because that’s what will put them not a good position this season. You can’t be in play-off contention if you only ever win away,” he added.