Forte had come into the starting line-up for the 4-0 win at Crystal Palace and led the line with aplomb, including opening the scoring after just four minutes.
But he found himself dropped back to the bench for the visit of Preston, who had not lost this season, with top scorer Gary Hooper back in the XI. Forte did not even come on as a substitute.
"I was very pleased with the players. We changed the formation: Hooper came back into the team and you think 'how can you leave Jonathan Forte out?" said Adkins
"But Hooper was galvanised. We've had two games and changed the team and tactics around and I'm sure there will have been a few eyebrows raised but it's not about 11, it's about a squad. If the result goes the other way people will be baying for blood.
"I thought we were top drawer in the first-half and I enjoyed it. We had a good shape about us and it worked very well."
Alan Irvine, the Preston manager felt his side had been outplayed but was angered by the lack of fight shown by his players in the opening 45 minutes.
"We didn't compete as we normally do at the start of the game and we were second best," he said.
"If you don't compete in this division you don't win. We didn't deserve anything in the end. It's not the way I expect us to play."