All Wednesday’s main defenders missed the game and Paul Heckingbottom was the only ‘first-choice’ stopper playing, and he was out of position.
At the back, Heckingbottom lined up alongside a very shaky looking Chris Carr while youngsters Ross Greenwood and Dave Cockerill were at right-back and left-back respectively.
Jon Shaw looked lively on the right wing but not effective, while Paul Smith on the opposite flank put in some good crosses but was not on top form.
Everton took the lead after only two minutes when Leon Osman fired home from a Tony Hibbert centre although the impressive Adam Proudlock levelled towards the end of the first half.
Kevin Campbell finished well after an excellent chipped pass from Thomas Gravesen two minutes shy of the hour before Ola Tidman had to replace David Lucas in goal as the former Preston custodian was taken off as a precautionary measure.
Then the goals came thick and fast – first James McFadden pounced on Heckingbottom’s slip and then Steve Watson finished after being left totally unmarked in the box.
Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu pulled back the deficit to 4-2 after latching on to Shaw’s through ball but the visitors went straight down the other end and scored a cracker thanks to Kevin Kilbane.
Watson got his second on 85 minutes as the goal fest continued following slack defensive work by Heckingbottom again although Ndumbu-Nsungu slotted home two minutes later to make the scoreline look a tad more credible.
Apart from the nervy defensive performance, there were surprisingly a few good things to come from the game, especially the form of Glenn Whelan, the improved showing of Proudlock and Chris Marsden fitting into the midfield with ease.
Patrick Collins and Lee Bullen both missed the game but should start against Colchester on Saturday, as should Chris Brunt and Matt Hamshaw.