Damning Preston defeat verdict gives Southampton food for thought ahead of return

It's been a week now since Southampton entered the international break off the back of a horrible 1-0 defeat to Preston North End.

The Saints would've been expected to wipe the floor with their lowly opponents, with Graham Alexander's men going into that contest with Tonda Eckert and Co. with just one lousy victory next to their name from 14 Championship games.

In stark contrast, the promotion hopefuls had a weighty eight next to their name, but the Championship can be a seriously unpredictable league, as the Lilywhites won 1-0 courtesy of Jordan Thompson's thunderous first half strike.

Eckert would simply label the defeat as "disappointing" at the full-time whistle, as he bemoaned a slow start which killed his team's chances of winning the showdown heavily weighted in their favour.

Ex-Preston midfielder Paul Gallagher was far more uncensored with his views on the Saints' shock 1-0 loss in Lancashire, when speaking on the Red Rose Divide podcast.

Gallagher had an extensive career in the EFL as a goalscoring midfielder.

He would pick up an impressive 70 goals in the Championship for the likes of Preston, but would only ever find the back of the net against the Saints once from ten career appearances.

The now retired Scotsman would stick the knife in when discussing the Lilywhites' second league win of the season, as he accused Eckert's away side of seriously underestimating the relegation-threatened hosts.

He said, rather frankly: "I thought Southampton took liberties really. I don't think they did any preparation towards Preston.

"They thought, we'll just play through them at ease. Didn't happen. First half, Preston were all over them and deservedly took the lead.

"Second half, Southampton, obviously had a few words at half-time, they came out on the front foot, created a lot of opportunities.

"But, one thing we speak about Preston, that willingness to dig in, find a way, and get that clean sheet."

These harsh words will ring true for a lot of Southampton supporters, as it's clear the Saints have an issue against the lower teams in the division, having dropped points to Lincoln City and Bolton Wanderers this season, and also come away from matches against Watford and Wrexham empty-handed.

This public bashing will give Eckert and Co. plenty of food for thought over the break, as they try to come out for the game on the 21st against another in-trouble team in Derby County all guns blazing to avoid another dire defeat.

Perhaps there was an arrogance that the South Coast giants would just stroll up to Deepdale and win without much effort needing to be put in, hence their shellshocked faces in the first 45 minutes.

After all, Preston had only won once all season long, with one article simply describing their performances as "shameful" in the build-up to Eckert and Co. travelling up to Lancashire.

Still, nothing is handed to you on a plate in the Championship, and the Lilywhites capitalised on a painfully slow start from the Saints to pick up a rare victory.

Hopefully, with Gallagher's critiques also sticking out as rather cutting, the break has given the South Coast side time to look at these problems and they can put a stop to them emphatically, starting with John Eustace's Rams coming to town next Saturday.

Another defeat hitting them in the face would be a nightmare situation, with more serious questions then needing to be asked of Southampton's flaky mentality.