 Friday, 31st Dec 2010 12:09 by Mick McDermott The son of a legend has got the chop at Preston and some fans are calling for the same at Derby. Nigel and his Rams will be hoping to start 2011 with a return to winning ways.
Preston North End vs. Derby County15:00 - 01/01/2011Deepdale Stadium, Preston, LancashirePreston vs. Derby - Historical
P 53 W 9 D 10 L 34 F 44 A 109
Last game at Deepdale: 8/12/2009 - Preston N.E. 0 - 0 Derby County
Current Form: Preston 24/24 P 22 W 5 D 4 L 13 F 26 A 42 Leading scorers: Parkin (7)
Derby 12/24 P 23 W 9 D 3 L 11 F 37 A 34 Leading scorers: Commons (13)
The Rams: Losing to Forest, and losing so badly, has finally killed off the optimism that surrounded our purple patch earlier in the season. We've lost 6 out of the last 7 games and conceded at least 2 goals a game. What has gone wrong? Shaun Barker looked to be a potential great footballing centre half last season, Dean Leacock injuries permitting was also class - neither of them seem to be able to put a foot or indeed a head right this season. Stephen Bywater is becoming a joke on the pitch as well as off it. Paul Green made the step up to International but no longer seems to be able to pass to a player in the same colour shirt as him. Stephen Pearson looks disinterested and Bailey is starting to look like a man who has won a 'be a footballer for a year' contest. Alfredo Bueno has gone from being the new Ronaldo to being another wasted transfer ... I could go on. On the positive side Kris Commons seems to be in a rich vein of goal scoring form and despite results the team is not being outplayed every week. Some point to the dropping of Kuqi in favour of Moore as the start of the rot. Kuqi ran all day and held the ball up well thus bringing the other forwards into the game - but that doesn't explain why the defence is playing so poorly. Some feel that the attacking formation is good - when we're attacking - but bad when defending. There may be something in that. Midfield is the first line of defence and while you don't want the midfield camped outside our own box, you do need them to ease the pressure on the defenders. Whatever the reason, it's not helped by constant chopping and changing. Clough's decision to play Leacock and Brayford in each other’s positions was baffling. Leacock was horribly exposed against the highly mobile Tyson and we were undone by 3 balls into the box that would have been dealt with by any centre half from any league. We don't have a left back for this game with the suspension of Moxey so it should be interesting to see who plays where. One thing I thought I'd never say - I'll be pleased to see Savage back.
Mick’s Team: Bywater Green, Brayford, Barker, Pearson Bailey, Savage, Pringle, Commons, Bueno Porter Substitutes - Leacock, Davies, Addison, Martin, Deeney, Cywka, Doyle
Current Rams Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Stephen Bywater 2 Defender John Brayford 3 Defender Gareth Roberts 4 Midfield Paul Green 5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain) 6 Defender Dean Leacock 7 Striker Steve Davies 8 Midfield Robbie Savage 10 Midfield Kris Commons 11 Midfield Stephen Pearson 12 Striker Chris Porter 13 Keeper Saul Deeney 14 Defender Russell Anderson 15 Midfield David Martin 16 Midfield James Bailey 17 Defender Jake Buxton 18 Midfield Ben Pringle 19 Striker Tomasz Cywka 20 Defender Miles Addison 21 Defender Dean Moxey 23 Striker Conor Doyle 25 Defender Mark O'Brien 26 Striker Callum Ball 27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid) 28 Striker Luke Moore (on loan from West Bromwich Albion) 30 Keeper Ross Atkins 35 Midfield Jeff Hendrick 36 Defender Kallum Keane 37 Midfield Ryan Connolly 38 Midfield Medi Abalimba 39 Defender Mitchell Hanson
Preston: Preston fell back to the bottom of the table and Darren Ferguson has paid the price. David Unsworth is to take temporary charge until the club appoints a permanent manager (Billy Davies anyone - he's got lots of friends in Preston apparently). Chairman Maurice Lindsay on the appointment "We are delighted David has agreed to take care of the club at a difficult time - it couldn’t be in better hands." "David is a Preston man. He loves the club and is one of the most enthusiastic people in football. He will have the full support of the club and the players." He will have seven less players to support him as Manchester United have recalled all of their loan players. Whether they were due a recall or if Sir Alex has taken umbrage I don't know but it seems likely. One player I wish he could have recalled is Jon Parkin. Parkin is a big ugly brute of a centre forward. He wins the ball, holds it up well and is capable of scoring from anywhere in the box. Just the sort of player we need up front at the moment - and just the sort our centre halves don't need to play against.
Current PNE Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Andy Lonergan 2 Defender Craig Morgan 3 Defender Callum Davidson (captain) 4 Defender Sean St Ledger 5 Defender Wayne Brown 7 Midfield Paul Coutts 9 Striker Chris Brown 10 Midfield Barry Nicholson 11 Midfield Keith Treacy 12 Defender David Gray 14 Midfield Danny Mayor 15 Midfield Adam Barton 17 Midfield Paul Parry 19 Defender Billy Jones 20 Midfield Darel Russell 22 Keeper Wayne Henderson 24 Midfield Danny Pugh (on loan from Stoke City) 25 Keeper Andreas Arestidou 26 Striker Jon Parkin 28 Midfield Michael Tonge (on loan from Stoke City) 29 Defender Leon Cort (on loan from Burnley) 30 Striker Jamie Douglas 32 Defender Sam Hart 36 Midfield Neil Dougan 37 Defender Conor McLaughlin 38 Striker Jamie Proctor 39 Midfield George Miller 42 Defender Bailey Wright 43 Midfield Doyle Middleton
What the bookies think Preston are 8/5 favourites for this while the draw is at 12/5 and the Rams are at 13/5. Jon Parkin is at 5 5/1 to score while Kris Commons is 11/2.
Information for travelling fans Driving If you fancy the long trip North on New Year’s day, take the A50 to Stoke then M6 North to J31 and follow the signs into Preston. Better yet, stay on till J31a sign posted Preston East and Longridge. Cross the roundabout signposted Preston east, football ground and museum. Across the next roundabout (Anderton Arms on your right) and then left at the next one. At the next lights, go right onto Watling Street. You will go past the White Hart and a row of shops. At next lights by Fulwood Barracks, keep in the left hand lane. You caneither park in Sumners (pub), (turn left straight after the lights) or follow the road up to the big junction at Blackpool Road and the ground is on your left. I found this route on footballgroundguid.com and have to say it's much quicker for getting away from Preston. Parking There's on street parking around the ground. Get there early if you don't fancy staying there late if you see what I mean. Drinking Sumners is the best local place for away fans but most pubs in the area such as the Garrison are tolerant of away fans. I've always found Preston fans to be easy going (unless you accuse them of being a suburb of Blackpool), and are more than willing to discuss the paternity or otherwise of Billy Davies. Mick's prediction It's always a bugger to go somewhere where the manager has been sacked. The team seem to want to show that it wasn't their fault he went or that they were better than the manager thought. We don't do well at Preston either. My head says we'll be lucky to get a point here - however my heart is smarting from the result at the City Ground and I hope the manager and players are too. Preston 0-2 Rams
Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
You need to login in order to post your comments |
   Derby County Polls[ Vote here ] |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.