WANDERERS surrendered a first-half lead against derby rivals Preston North End to leave Phil Parkinson contemplating major changes to the team.

Mark Beevers’ first-half effort gave the Whites a slender lead at the break but after levelling through the outstanding Tom Barkhuizen, two goals from sub Sean Maguire gave Alex Neil’s side a deserved three points.

Wanderers failed to create anything of note after half time and Parkinson had no complaints with the margin of defeat.

“The home form has been good over a long period but we have to hold our hands up and say we were beaten by the better side on the day,” he told The Bolton News.

“First half, in patches, we were alright. We have some decent moments but so did they.

“Second half we didn’t cope with their attacking players and we didn’t get a foothold in the game.

“They are a good side, obviously, up and around the play-offs, but we didn’t play to our levels. We looked disjoined. We didn’t do enough.”

Wanderers had lost just once in their previous 12 home games but now go on the road on Tuesday night to face Reading before another away day at Sheffield Wednesday.

“The home form has been excellent and the only one we lost was against Burton,” Parkinson added. “But today is a setback and we need to regroup. We have got a lot of thinking to do before the next game.”

Wanderers announced the signing of ex-Nigeria international Chinedu Obasi before the game on a pay-as-you-play deal but Parkinson has warned the 31-year-old is still some way off featuring.

“We just haven’t had enough time to see him play properly but this way he can train with us and perhaps feature later in the season,” he said.