By Gareth Vincent
South Wales Evening Post

If Swansea got a reality check at Reading on Saturday, Preston received a wake-up call.

While Roberto Martinez's men were enduring the worst defeat of the Spaniard's reign, Preston were going down to local rivals Burnley.

It was the Lilywhites' second successive reverse after a home defeat by leaders Wolves ended their unbeaten start to the season.

And Callum Davidson, the Scottish international defender who was sent off at Turf Moor, concedes that defeat by the Clarets gave Preston a reminder of the standards that are required in the Championship.

"It was a wake-up call for us," Davidson told the Preston website.

"We started the season really well, but reality has bitten us in the bum.

"We have got to understand that every game in this division has to be played at 110 per cent. You can't afford not to play as a team.

"We've got to look at ourselves. I don't like saying it, but Burnley were probably a bit hungrier and had a little bit more quality.

"It was a great turn-out from the fans and, to be honest, we have probably let them down."

Apparently, some of Preston's followers were so upset that they finished up ripping seats out of Burnley's away end.

Earlier, some had called for manager Alan Irvine's head despite the impressive job David Moyes's former No. 2 has done since quitting Goodison to take over at Deepdale 10 months ago.

Preston were battling against relegation when Irvine arrived, but the Scot steered them to mid-table by the end of last season.

This term's bright start, which has featured wins over Ipswich, Crystal Palace, Charlton and Nottingham Forest, means Irvine's men are fourth despite back-to-back defeats.

"We didn't get too carried away when we were unbeaten after six (league) games and we are not going to get too carried away because we haven't won for two," said Irvine, who yesterday signed Derby's Jay McEveley to cover for Davidson's ban and an injury to fellow left-back Michael Hart.

"We have a very important game against Swansea and we'll make sure we're as well prepared as we possibly can be for that match.

"Things have gone against us in the last two games, but we can easily turn that around."