A disappointing run of results on the 3G – which has seen Steve Noble’s side record four defeats and three draws from their opening eight games – has left Gala down in 11th.

And manager Noble admits his side need to improve their home form. He said: “We should be doing better at home.

“We’ve been unlucky with injuries and not being able to have a steady starting eleven doesn’t help, but we should be winning games like this.

“The chances were there to win the game in that first half and if you don’t take them you end up dropping points.” It couldn’t have started much better for Gala on Saturday as Ross Aitchison curled home a 25-yard freekick for the opener.

The home side dominated the early exchanges with Grant Robertson sent through on 15 minutes.

The former Ancrum midfielder’s first touch was heavy and as he lost the race with keeper Craig Pennycuik, his tumble inside the area was rewarded with a yellow card.

Jamie Gibson clipped the back post with a header from Dean McColm’s corner as the pressure continued.

And Gibson was again denied on the half hour, this time by the legs of keeper Pennycuick.

Robinson, Aitchison and Billy Miller had controlled the midfield throughout the opening 30 minutes.

But as half time approached Gala seemed to retreat deeper and deeper, and Preston’s Dale O’Hara fired in a warning as his low effort struck the outside of the post.

A facial injury to centre-half Paul Hossack forced a change at the break.

And Athletic were allowed a bit more space and possession after the interval.

But it was still Gala who went closest with a McColm corner missing everyone and bouncing narrowly wide of the far post.

The equaliser came on 68 minutes after Sean Martin expertly spun away from his marker to fire and angled shot past John Dodds and into the bottom far corner.

David Bonnar should maybe have put Gala back in front just three minutes later after Pennycuik missed Darran Thomson’s cross, but his header flew over at the back post.

Robinson’s second yellow on 80 minutes gave Preston the late advantage and Michael Osbourne almost snatched a winner in the 88th minute as he shot wide from close range.

Gala substitute Ashley Langford also had a golden chance deep into injury time after finding space inside the area but he lost balance on the turn and fired off target.

Looking ahead to this week’s trip to champions Spartans, Noble added: “We are getting a lot of our players back to full fitness and I believe we play at our best against the best teams.

“For me the league is between Edinburgh City and Spartans but I feel we can match these teams on our day.” Gala Fairydean Rovers: J Dodds, L Stephen, D Thompson, P Hossack (C Anderson 46), C McBride, G Robinson, R Aitchison, B Miller, J Gibson (A Langford 81), D Bonnar & D McColm (S Paliczka 67).