It was an afternoon to forget for Barnsley on Saturday, as they were thrashed 5-1 by early play-off contenders Preston North End at Deepdale.

After Cameron McGeehan has struck late in the first half to cancel out Daniel Johnson's opener and take Barnsley in level at half time, Preston ran riot in the second period, scoring four unanswered goals to secure the three points in emphatic style.

That result has left Barnsley second from bottom in the Championship standings heading into the international break, and means they are still without a win since the opening day of the Championship season.

It seems therefore, as though there will be plenty for manager Daniel Stendel to think about over the next week or so.

Here, we've taken a look at three things he and everyone else may have learned from his side's defeat to Preston on Saturday.

They need to take their chances

Admittedly, there weren't many opportunities that came Barnsley's way on Saturday, but if they are to survive in this division, they will have to take the ones that do come their way better than they did on Saturday.

During the first half, both Cauley Woodrow and Jacob Brown fired wide from distance when they may have been better served looking for teammates in a more dangerous position, while in the second half, Mike Bahre dragged an effort across the face of goal from close range at the back post just moments after Tom Barkhuizen had restored Preston's lead.

While it may not have been enough to get something out of this particular game, that Bahre chance in particular would have at least given Barnsley a fighting chance, and potentially a slightly less embarrassing and confidence-sapping scoreline than the one they eventually came away with.

Considering where they are right now, those fine margins could make all the difference this season.

Bradley Collins has shown promise

It was another difficult afternoon between the posts for Bradley Collins, who continues in the goal for Barnsley due to the injury-enforced absence of first-choice goalkeeper Simon Radlinger.

But despite seeing the ball go past him five times in total, Collins can at least take some heart from his all-round performance at Deepdale.

In the first-half in particular, Collins made a string of impressive saves to keep the score down, with Sean Maguire twice seeing efforts from close range kept out thanks to some impressive reaction saves from Collins in the Barnsley goal.

While the result overall will not be anything like what Barnsley would have wanted, it could certainly be argued that without Collins, things could have been even worse for the Tykes.

This is going to be a long season if things don't improve

Even with Collins' performance seemingly keeping the score down somewhat, it was hard not to feel worried for Barnsley following Saturday's showing.

The Tykes' defence struggled to contain a rampant Preston attack during the second half in particular, while going forward themselves, Barnsley very rarely looked like threatening - highlighting the importance of taking their chances when they do come.

That never really looked like happening, and with Stendel admitting post-match that Barnsley do not currently look like a Championship side, it seems as though the Tykes are already scrambling for answers, in the search for any glimmer of hope that they could survive in the second-tier this season.

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