Millwall slipped back into the relegation zone after falling to defeat last weekend at the hands of Preston North End.

Neil Harris’ men are now seven games without a win after the reverse to Alex Neil’s side at Deepdale last Saturday.

The Lions once again conceded soft goals and gave themselves a mountain to climb but were, in the end, well beaten despite having much of the game in the second half.

Harris was at a loss to explain the defeat that continues to leaves Millwall without an away win all season.

And with Stoke City away this weekend, that run will have to halt if they wish to get back out of the bottom three.

There are plenty of talking points during the game and things that Harris would have learnt about his side in defeat once more.

With that said here’s four things we clearly learnt about Millwall after their 3-2 loss to Preston.

Despite Millwall having the better of the chances in the first half, they found themselves 2-0 down – both goals coming in the space of five minutes.

The two strikes on goal were Preston’s first of the game, and both were scored.

The Lions had a host of chances but failed to make them count.

In the second half – a three-on-two counter-attack ended with the ball going out for a corner with several other chances going begging.

Millwall scored twice but could have had more if they were more clinical in front of goal.

Not taking chances at this level is proving costly.

Millwall are operating with the same back five as last season with defenders and goalkeepers, but the results and performances are anything like they were last term.

Poor defending led to two goals in five first-half minutes for Preston.

A third was conceded when Jordan Archer palmed the ball into the back of the net to compound the Lions’ woes.

The Preston defeat was a microcosm of how Millwall have defended all season, and if they continue to do so, then they will be relegated.

Steve Morison has been out-of-form and has been far less effective as he was last season, be that age or teams are marking him out of the game – but the burden is squarely on Lee Gregory’s shoulders.

Saturday saw him score his ninth goal of the season and his forward play is what is giving the Lions a hope in games.

But he can’t do it alone – there isn’t enough help by his forward peers, and with the Lions defensively poor, it falls to Gregory to get them out of a hole – and that is not sustainable.

Last season, James Meredith was one of Millwall’s standout players and having signed a new deal in the summer, he has been dreadful this term.

Not attacking anywhere near as he used to, and when he does, to no significant effect.

His defending is questionable – a prime example at the weekend he was ten yards too far forward and that allowed Tom Barkhuizen to get in behind and slot home – Meredith was dragged off at half-time in what was a poor showing.

But it wasn’t just last weekend, it has been the majority of the season – and something needs to change with the defender being one of many at the back who have been playing below the required levels this season.