Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Mick's MatchDay Preview: Preston vs. Derby
Mick's MatchDay Preview: Preston vs. Derby
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 County

15:00 - 01/01/2011

Deepdale Stadium, Preston, Lancashire

Preston 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

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024