Chris Coleman was left to rue his side’s 20-minute collapse in the second period as Preston secured the points on Wearside today.
With little to separate the two teams at the midway interval, the visitors stepped it up a level in the second 45 and it wasn’t long before they gained full control.
Just five minutes after the restart Sean Maguire scored his fifth goal in as many games off a free-kick from the right before Jake Clarke-Salter was dismissed for a second bookable offence with 59 minutes played.
Preston doubled their advantage shortly after when Callum Robinson nodded home from inside the six-yard box, to leave Coleman frustrated with his side’s performance once more.
“We are left disappointed again here,” he said.
“The first half was tight; the conditions were very difficult but in the second half it took just five minutes for us to concede a goal like we did.
“It’s painful and it’s a common theme, hence why we are bottom of the table.
“A game of football is over 90 minutes. A 45-minute performance is never enough.
“There was nothing in the match in the first half, but you can’t defend set-pieces like we did.
“That just puts everyone on a downer after that because it is so soon after the restart,” he continued.
“Jake Clarke-Salter got sent off which is another body blow and then we are facing a huge uphill task.
“It’s a hugely disappointing day again.”