KEVIN Lisbie may have done enough to earn himself a starting place against Southampton tomorrow night.Although the �600,000 summer signing from Colchester did not get on the score sheet at Preston, he hit a post and forced a trio of to saves from keeper Andy Lonergan.

Derek Davis

KEVIN Lisbie may have done enough to earn himself a starting place against Southampton tomorrow night.

Although the �600,000 summer signing from Colchester did not get on the score sheet at Preston, he hit a post and forced a trio of to saves from keeper Andy Lonergan.

Blues boss Jim Magilton admitted he was not overly impressed with Jon Stead and Pablo Counago's contribution and Lisbie had done his chances no harm.

Magilton said: “There may be a few heartbreaks on Tuesday, but Kevin has done very well and is in with a chance.”

Tommy Miller netted both of Town's goals and while Magilton was pleased with his contribution he was less impressed with his starting strikers. Magilton said: “Preston must be fed up with him. It was a great move and touch from Tommy and he deserved it.

“I would have liked to have seen more from my front two. They played well at QPR, but were hit and miss against Preston.

“I put Kevin on and on another day he might have had a hat-trick he looked really lively. We really pressed and looked like a side that was trying to get something out of the game.

“Our attitude and some of our play was excellent, but we just can't give away soft goals. Preston have not had to work hard for their goals and that is very disappointing.”

Magilton had no complaints about the penalty Alex Bruce conceded, but he did with the manner all three Town goals were conceded.

He said: “It was a definite foul. Alex got caught inside which was a cardinal sin. The second one was just a poor decision by Richard. The third one was just poor defending, allowing him all that space in the box. I wish we got time and space like that.

“In between Tommy scores two wonderful goals and created good opportunities. But overall this is another opportunity that has gone begging for us.”

Given the results elsewhere Magilton knows how different the table could have looked this morning and added: “We look at the table and feel we should have had more from this game.”

Town will be without Gareth McAuley for the visit to Wolves on Tuesday week after he picked up his fifth booking of the season.