BLUES boss Jim Magilton believes the 2-1 home defeat by Preston will act as a piercing wake up call to his complacent team.

Derek Davis

BLUES boss Jim Magilton believes the 2-1 home defeat by Preston will act as a piercing wake up call to his complacent team.

Although Town went ahead in the second minute through debut-making Kevin Lisbie, Preston struck back with goals from Paul McKenna and Simon Whalley for a Preston side that had not won a season opener since 2005.

Magilton said: “We got off to a flying start with a fantastic goal from Kevin who did every well for us.

“But it seems because we had such a fantastic home record last season some players thought it would happen automatically for us again and we got punished for a really sloppy 15 minutes.”

Poor defending contributed to the loss.

Magilton said: “It was a great strike from Paul McKenna but it was an avoidable goal from our perspective.

“Our two wide players (Quinn and Haynes) were poor fist half and allowed them back into the game.

“Then switching off at the free kick was a schoolboy error. Turning your back to the ball is not very switched on while Preston were bright and any one of three could have put the ball in the net.”

Magilton was disappointed with his senior players who he felt didn't step up to the mark and while young debutants Tommy Smith and Pim Balkestein were punished for their lapses he feels they will improve.

Magilton said: “At half-time we didn't show a sense of urgency and one or two of our better players should have done more to dominate the game but didn't and as a result we start the season with a home loss.

“Perhaps it is not a bad thing and will serve as a wake up call.

“I will try and pick the positives out of this.

“Tommy (Smith) will be a very good player for this club. He and Balkestein settled well after a nervy start and will get better.”