Preston North End endured a disappointing afternoon at Deepdale as they were beaten 3-1 by newly relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday. Fer López scored twice for the visitors, with substitute Adam Armstrong adding a third, while Jordan Thompson’s late strike provided only a consolation for the home side.
The result leaves Paul Heckingbottom’s team without a point from their opening two league fixtures after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers. Wolves, by contrast, secured their first league victory of the campaign and ended a long wait for an away win.
López opened the scoring in the eighth minute following a swift counter-attack. Preston struggled to contain the visitors’ quality and intensity, and further goals arrived in the second half. Armstrong made it 2-0 in the 71st minute before López added his second late on. Thompson’s effort in the first minute of stoppage time, assisted by Delano Burgzorg, came too late to change the outcome.
Speaking after the match, Heckingbottom acknowledged the difficulty of the contest. “Tough game in terms of the opposition. We know the quality, when teams come down, they’re usually laden and full of talented players, but I thought they played with a real hunger as well and matched our intensity, so that made it tough for us,” he said. He pointed to individual moments that proved costly, noting that small errors allowed Wolves to capitalise. “Apart from that, the lads worked their socks off.”
The manager also confirmed that a deal has been agreed for striker Milutin Osmajic to join Italian side Genoa. Osmajic, who has one year remaining on his contract, has been a regular presence in the squad despite periods of suspension. Heckingbottom indicated the club continues to pursue further reinforcements, revealing that two potential deals for wide players had fallen through. With the transfer window remaining open until early September, he stressed the need to strengthen the squad further.
Preston have already been active in the market this summer. Club-record signing Alfie Devine arrived from Tottenham Hotspur, while Léo Leroy and Harry Clarke joined for a combined fee exceeding £4 million. Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and loanees Jusef Erabi and Delano Burgzorg have also been added. Significant investment has gone into a new pitch at Deepdale, costing more than £1.5 million, which was used for the first time in a competitive home fixture against Wolves.
Off the pitch, chairman Ian Penrose recently confirmed that the club remains in negotiations with parties who have made offers acceptable to the current owners, the Hemmings family. The process continues amid regulatory requirements, with the board emphasising a commitment to delivering a positive outcome for the club and its supporters.
Attention now turns to the midweek Carabao Cup meeting with Everton and next Saturday’s Championship trip to Charlton Athletic as Preston look to secure their first points of the season and build momentum under Heckingbottom.