IAN Preece felt all his bad luck came pouring out at once after crashing out of the Coral Scottish Open with a second-round defeat to Robert Milkins, writes Ross Lawson.

The world number 110 had previously been in strong form in Glasgow, but the run of the balls meant he just couldn’t get going in the last-64 encounter, with a 4-0 loss a sour way to end his competition.

But the scoreline far from reflected the game in the Emirates Arena, with Preece left miffed at how his fortunes could all turn in the blink of an eye.

“I’ve barely done anything wrong and I’m sitting here having lost 4-0 – it really is a strange one,” he said.

“It was scrappy and every time I came to the table there was just nothing there, no balls to hit at all and that made things very, very difficult.

“Neither of us could get into the game which just made things harder, and I had felt great as well, but if you don’t get the chances then you can’t do anything.”

Preece’s last game before the Christmas period saw neither player make a significant break in four frames.

But having some points on the board in each frame proved to be no point of solace for the Welsh cueman, who was gutted the balls didn't align for him to capitalise.

He continued: “It’s a tough way to go into the break, but I’ve still got a bit of confidence in my game which is a big thing.

“I can enjoy a nice Christmas now and come back fit and firing, I’ll have some time off and get some rest and come back for the new year.”

Watch the Scottish Open live on Eurosport 1 and Quest, featuring daily studio analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.