Preston North End (A) League One 24th Feb, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

Off to Deepdale (AGAIN!!) to play a Preston side sitting comfortably in 4th place in the table on 56 points. Currently on a good run of form having won their last three League One games since losing unexpectedly 2-1 at Crawley a month ago. Top scorer Joe Garner (13 goals) is back as a regular member of their team alongside Paul Gallagher (11 goals), but there's no sign of Jermaine Beckford who was substituted a month ago and hasn't figured since. Current League One form:

16 Jan Leyton Orient (H) Drew 2-2
20 Jan Yeovil Town (H) Drew 1-1
31 Jan Crawley (A) Lost 2-1
7 Feb Coventry City (H) Won 1-0
10 Feb Chesterfield (A) Won 0-2
21 Feb Scunthorpe (H) Won 2-0

We've had a good season against Preston of course despite the best efforts of pnethor, and it would be nice if that could continue. Tom Bradshaw should be available, and Jordy Hiwula's knack of being in the right place at the right time ought to get him some game time. The pitch at Deepdale will suit our football style better than the quagmire that was Valley Parade, but with Preston's current form I think another draw would be quite acceptable, say 1-1 (Bradshaw/Hiwula as the option).

[clawtheolder]

Deans on about playing both together, Does it mean he as to drop Sawyers or Cook.

[WFC_Rob]

Deans on about playing both together, Does it mean he as to drop Sawyers or Cook.

I can't see him playing two up front, which essentially means playing Hiwula wide. Plus, Sawyers seems to play well against Preston, so now probably wouldn't be the time to take him out of the side.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Update on fitness issues: Paul Gallagher faces a fitness test after taking a knock on Saturday against Scunthorpe, but Jermaine Beckford is available as he is back to full fitness.

[Ancient Moaner]

Update on fitness issues: Paul Gallagher faces a fitness test after taking a knock on Saturday against Scunthorpe, but Jermaine Beckford is available as he is back to full fitness.

Now yow'm beginning to make us all depressed Welsh! :wink:

Can't see a repeat of our JPT result tomorrow, they will be too strong for us this time round, just being realistic, rather than negative.
No doubt we'll give 'em a game, but their current roller coaster charge towards the automatic promotion places will take some stopping IMHO.

[SoccerHQ]

Proper bogey team for them but defeat this time I'm afraid.

2-1, Bradshaw off the bench with a consolation.

[DonningtonSaddler]

Would like to see Hiwula and Bradshaw play up front in a 442. We have played PNE enough times now for them to suss us out even before we have kicked a ball. Time for something different.

[BathSaddler]

Proper bogey team for them but defeat this time I'm afraid.

2-1, Bradshaw off the bench with a consolation.

Yep a 2-1 defeat, in front of around 9,000, including 250-300 of us.

Cook to score late on.

[Soton Saddler]

Preston 0 - 3 Walsall

Bradshaw (2), Jordy

The trepidation of Walsall returning to Deepdale will rot their football brains, it'll be men against boys with the saddlers reigning supreme once more. It's enough to convert Pnethor to the reds.

UTS! :)

[Super Gabor]

Is cart-horse playing for PNE tonight?

[Super Gabor]

PNE fans seem very confident they'll win tonight, according to the predictions on pneonline

Hope we let them down again tonight :D

[SWS1]

PNE fans seem very confident they'll win tonight, according to the predictions on pneonline

Hope we let them down again tonight :D

They've been confident before... :mrgreen:
All our boys seem to be of the opinion that "we can beat anyone in this league". And so it has proved. However, there is a flip side to this: we also seem "to be able to lose against any team in this league". It's a toss off which aphorism comes good tonight..
I'm going for another hard-fought draw at 1 - 1. And I'd be happy with that. :D

[hullsaddler]

Pnethor notable by his absence. Not got over the JPT yet?

[Leatherman]

Is cart-horse playing for PNE tonight?

Neigh. Only if they decide to 'hoof' it.

Our recent results against them should 'spur' the 'Saddlers' on.

I 'bridle' at the thought of defeat.

[Sadders]

Smith with a few changes tonight, going for a shake up after players looked tired on Saturday. Taylor drops out for Henry at left back, Sawyers is benched for Grimes and Chambers returns next to O'Connor with Downing not in the squad. Injured/Ill?

O'Donnell

Purkiss
O'Connor
Chambers
Henry

Cook
Chambers
Cain
Forde

Grimes
Hiwula



Big risk playing a 17 year old at left back, but it's the correct one. Taylor was awful on Saturday and looked leggy. Sawyers has needed a rest for a while and Grimes was decent when he came on, on Saturday. We haven't lost away from home since November time, so this is a very big risk to change a decent formula.

Those who want 2 upfront...tonight you get your wish...let's see how it goes.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Substitutes: MacGillivray, Taylor, Baxendale, Sawyers, Preston, Flanagan, Murphy.

North End's carthorse is indeed named, but on the bench. Garner and Gallagher start, but no sign of Jermaine Beckford.

I haven't heard, but has Tom Bradshaw failed a fitness test?

[WarsawPact]

Taylor's wife gave birth last week.
Downing took a knock on Saturday.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Bookies' odds at kick-off:

Preston 4/6 fav.

The draw 9/4

Walsall 4/1 :shock:

[paddy]

Should be 2 up top at home, the formation we've been playing works well away from home

[Welsh_Saddler]

Elsewhere (as the saying goes).....

Doncaster Rovers 0 Bristol City 1

Swindon Town 1 Bradford City 0

Preston have had four corners in the first nine minutes.

[Welsh_Saddler]

1-0 to Preston :( :( :( (18 minutes)

23 minutes, and Andy Taylor replaces Rico Henry (injury) :(

[BarnsleySaddler]

0-1 :(

c`mon lads you can get back on terms with this lot.

WALSALL SUB: Henry OFF Taylor ON arm injury :!:

[BathSaddler]

It sounds like we are being completely overrun. Not sure why we have chosen to change the formation that has served us so well away from home. It appears as If DS is experimenting with his squad, with a view to seeing once and for all if Grimes is worth keeping for next season.

Still, early doors.

[BarnsleySaddler]

Half time 0-1 Looks like we are up against it tonight. Passing game not going to plan. :!:

[SoccerHQ]

Daniel Johnson, can't believe he was missed, playing in Villa reserves for ages.

Quality player and goalscorer at this level.

Sounds lucky to be just 1 nil.

[chestersaddler]

54% possession for us v 46 for them.

2 attempts for us v 10 for them.

[Jolly Johnny]

54% possession for us v 46 for them.

2 attempts for us v 10 for them.

Means nothing if it's being played across the halfway line!
Also, neither of our two shots have been on target (according to the beeb!)

[chestersaddler]

54% possession for us v 46 for them.

2 attempts for us v 10 for them.

Means nothing if it's being played across the halfway line!

It probably is, however, if we hadn't, we might be more than one down at halftime.

[IHTC.]

Today was not the time to go two upfront, Saturday definitely today no.

[BarnsleySaddler]

Gallagher hits the bar for PNE.