Huddersfield Town 3-2 PNE

Preston North End, Welcome to the JSS for the Good Friday return fixture.

As of Saturday, 17th September, Preston had played 8, won 2. Lost 6 !
Since that time, In league fixtures, They haven't lost two games on the trot,
Their last game, They were handed a 3-0 defeat by our 'Cup finalists' up the road. Should we be concerned.
YES.

Early on in mid October, Preston 3-1 Town.
3 -0 untill Wells scored a consolation goal in the 81st, In other words, Never really in it. This needs to be reversed on Friday

Along with Villa, Preston were my prediction to be close to a play off spot come the end of the season, When both sides hit a period of consistency.
Villa faded and had a horrific patch after Christmas, and seem to have recovered again, albeit too late for a push at the Play-offs.
Preston too have gone off the boil just lately. Last 6 played...
Won 2, drawn 3, lost 1.

Some stats from Deepdale in Sept.
Town. possession 60% with 13 shots ! & 1 late goal
Preston, Possession 40% 8 shots, 3 goals.
We'll have to improve on that come Friday.

After the debacle at Forest, We can applaud WARD the keeper,
There after personal likes will determine who deserves praise.
I'd be giving Hogg the . he always seemed to be battling two Forest players for control of the ball, Back up & support was missing that day.
In fact it was Forest who played with the tenacity that we'd normally associate with our Lads.
With 3 defeats from our last 4 fixtures, I'm a little concerned, wondering if we can get back to the habit of 'winning ways' with just 6 games to play.

I personally don't take it as a given... that 'if' Palmer & Brown do eventually find themselves re-selected, This is going to automatically improve our performances, Both have been out for some time ! And match fitness can be an elusive quantity for a game or two after such a lay-off. On this i'd like to be proved WRONG, But we have to be realistic.

Preston Goal scorers.
(League goals)
25 Jordan HUGILL Striker 10
37 Callum ROBINSON Striker 10
14 Aiden MCGEADY Midfielder 7
9 Simon MAKIENOK Striker 6
29 Tom BARKHUIZEN Forward 6
5 Tom CLARKE Defender 4
(Just to mention, Beckford.. 1)

No surprise who tops their list ,
Beckford.
Baptise (v Leeds) That's it .

, Too many to mention, But here are the 'bad lads'...
Pearson
Cunningham,............= 12 apiece Darn's top tip advice...
re- read the instruction manual.
McGeady 7, Come on son, work it out.
Browne 6
Hugill 6.. however, this chap has 76 fouls attributed to his tally !
He must run around like a headless chook !

Which way is this game going to go ?
Similarities !
Both sides had terrific wins mid week, followed by disappointing results on the following Saturday,
TOWN, 3-0 over Norwich, Then that shambles at Forest, 0-2.
Preston, 5-0 against Bristol City !!! Then capitulated 0-3 at Leeds.

Can we inflict Preston's 1st back to back defeats since Sept ?
We have to go back to February's form.. To being invincible,
Full of confidence, beating all comers. That's the only mindset required now.
6 games.
6 wins.

Since the 1-1 draw at Oakwell, Apart from the 3-0 win against Norwich, The two wins against Brentford & Villa were laboured, & the defeats against those three bottom sides beyond disappointing,,
I'm hoping that was our bad patch..that has now come to an end.

And just to finish,
Surely Wagner, Olive, or the club in general shouldn't have to call on the fans for vociferous support at a time like this.
Come on, best season in Two decades, and the 12th man has to be reminded of the situation...?
To me. It should be a nailed on expectation.
Too many 'snowflakes' throwing teddy out of the cot every time a result doesn't go our way, Then proclaiming Town are the best side in the league bar none, after a win ?
If we fail to gain promotion, (and we might) That does NOT make Wagner a

On Friday.
patience TOWN fans, Cheer 'em on.
A hard, niggle of a game, Preston can't 'park' anything..they need the win too. In theory it should be an end to end tussle. But we all know 1st hand how 'bland' Grayson & his tactics can be. hard to call.

I'lll stick my neck out,
3-1 TOWN.

Set 'em alight the Blue & White


( I'll post the Derby thread on Saturday 15th)