EVERTON loanee Anthony Gordon impressed against Rotherham United on his Preston North End debut, but his side were unable to turn possession into points at Deepdale.

The 19-year-old was lively from the outset as Preston looked to recover after an own goal from Joe Rafferty in the first minute.

Starting from the left wing, where he could cut inside onto his stronger right foot, Gordon was a threat to the Rotherham defence but, like his new team generally, he could not convert this threat into goals.

He came close on a few occasions, though, sending just wide a free-kick he had won himself in a dangerous area. Another shot from outside the area sailed inches past the top corner, and then a booming corner kick almost sneaked in at the far post.

Rotherham were able to add to their lead through Ben Wiles, taking their chances in a way Preston couldn’t, and the win takes Paul Warne’s side out of the relegation zone.

The home side managed to pull one back to offer hope of rescuing a point in the latter stages, but Rotherham held on.

Liam Lindsay also made his Preston debut, having arrived on loan from Stoke City to replace Ben Davies, who joined Liverpool.

As part of the Davies deal, Liverpool sent 19-year-old defender Sepp van den Berg in the opposite direction, and the young Dutchman made his debut off the bench in the second half.

Preston manager Alex Neil believes the unfamiliarity in the side may have affected them in key moments.

“I think you could the see as the game wore on, where people start to get tired, that we had quite a lot of sort-of strangers on the pitch with each other,” said Neil.

“I thought we looked threatening but we didn’t punish the opposition enough.

“We’re going to take time for these lads to get used to each other, and I think that was quite evident today.”

Of the contenders for the play-off places, only Bournemouth managed a win, so it was a missed opportunity for Preston to gain some ground, but they will get another chance to do so when they face Blackburn on Friday.