Late shows proving costly for Preston

Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann is concerned his side's inability to go the distance is costing them this season.

Twice in successive matches - in defeat against Blackburn last Friday and a draw at Swansea on Tuesday evening - North End have conceded goals in added time.

Having also seen winning positions snatched away by Ipswich and Middlesbrough, that is seven points down the drain which would have moved Preston in the Championship promotion play-off places.

Only Norwich, with eight, have a worse record in the division for dropping points through goals conceded in the 90th minute and later.

"We have to just try to find a way, when it gets tough, to see these games out to the last minute," McCann told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's disappointing. That's a few points we've let slip away.

"Through to half-time against Swansea I thought we were the better side and thought we deserved to be ahead but they created a few chances in the second half and it's disappointing on our part not to see it out in the end.

"We were a little bit untidy and invited pressure. They threw everything at it.

We just let it slip at the very end which was annoying."

It is an unfortunate habit as Preston have slipped to 10th, five points out of the play-off places before Saturday's home game against Millwall.

"We're still right in the mix - we just need to turn these good moments into three points. If we can do that at the weekend we're still in a really strong position," said McCann.