JOSH THE JOB AS LILYWHITES FALTER

Laurent underpins shock win

-  Pete Oliver

RYAN Lowe expects to see a response from his Preston side as their play-off hopes suffered a surprise setback against Stoke.

Second-half goals by Josh Laurent and Luke McNally for the Potters either side of substitute forward Milutin Osmajic’s finish for the hosts meant the Lancashire club’s seven-game unbeaten run came to a sudden end at Deepdale – leaving them five points away from the top six.

The former Plymouth manager was particularly disappointed with the nature of the two goals conceded, with the first coming about through a vicious left-sided cross from Lynden Gooch which met an onrushing Laurent and the second arising after a defensive mix-up which allowed McNally to tap in from point-blank range.

Boss Lowe said: “We were nowhere near the levels that we’ve been at.

“We knew Stoke were going to come and fight and they obviously changed shape to nullify us and stop us from playing. We were flat.