Boxing Day usually ends in misery for the Rams as we tend to follow the Turkey Stuffing with a stuffing on the pitch.

Preston North End v Derby County

Coca Cola Championship

3:00pm 26th December 2008

Deepdale, Preston

Will it be different this year?

Preston are the opponents and it seems like only a few weeks since we played them … The 2-2 draw at Pride Park was a dour game for a four goal thriller with comedy defending from the Rams.

Commenting at the time, Preston manager Alan Irvine said

"I would have taken a point before the kick-off because this is a very hard place to come to. But we were disappointed after the first half because I thought we were terrific and we were disappointed to go in at two each. My job at half-time was to pick the lads up a bit because they were extremely disappointed.”

They were disappointed again at the weekend when a late Dexter Blackstock goal ended a 3-2 encounter with QPR. Irvine again;

"I think we deserved something from the game. In the first half QPR were the better team and I was praying for the whistle to come, but in the second half we were the better team and I thought we would go on and win."

The Lilywhites currently lie in 8^th place, two places up from our last League encounter. They’ve won 3 and lost 2 and lie outside the play-off places that the fans will be so desperate to see them fill.

Irvine has his players in training on Christmas day and warns them to “treat it like any other working day” and will be boosted by the possible return of Richard Chaplow, Neil Mellor, Billy Jones and Stephen Elliott.

All may for selection after missing out against Queens Park Rangers through illness and injury.

 Preston facts 

The Rams

Rob Hulse’s late header was enough to win a scrappy game against Watford. The confidence of the team looked to be returning in the second half after early Watford pressure led to several calamities in the Derby defence – Jordan Stewart looking particularly culpable.

Paul Jewell was just pleased with the win though he did single out Hulse for praise;

“Rob was ill this week. He lost a lot of weight and only had his first training session on Wednesday. He is a terrific pro and I feel he is still finding his feet after a year out of the game. This was his seventh goal for us this season and I think that's a decent return. I think we deserved to win."

It would explain why Hulse was on the bench but that doesn’t explain why Gary Teale started ahead of Nacer Barazite who provided the cross for the winner.

You can see that the confidence crisis runs deep in the team and you need to ask why?

Let’s take Gary Teale who seems to be the butt of most people’s ire. He’s made a career as a footballer and some may remember some cracking display’s for Wigan.

On the pitch he seems to want the ball – but when he gets it he loses it. He provides little to the forwards and is often out of position. Some fans accuse him of hiding behind his marker. These are all basic football skills so why have they deserted him? And why to some extent has the same malaise affected other team members?

You have to look at Paul Jewell for the answer. Cards on the table, I’m not in favour of sacking the manager. We need some stability from boardroom through to pitch – but there must be something in training or pitch side that gets to players.

I’ve heard from people sat near the dugout that Paul Jewell often lays into the players when they make a mistake? Maybe he should unbend and relax more?

A visit from the ghost of football past tonight (is Mr. Clough or Bloomer available) might be just the thing.

Bywater, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga, Tomkins, Stewart, Barazite, Addison, Barnes, Commons, Varney, Hulse

What the Bookies think

No surprises in that the Bookies fancy Preston at 5/6. We are on rather long odds at 7/2 and the draw is at 12/5. Chris Brown is the Lilywhites favoured scorer at 5/4 while Luke Varney, Rob Hulse and Nathan Ellington will get you 2/1.

I think I might put a fiver on Kris Commons for this one.

Information for travelling fans

Driving: It's just over 100 miles to Preston. Take the A50 to Stoke and at the Victoria ground either go left for J15 of the M6, or right for J16. Leave M6 at Junction 31 and follow signs for Preston. Go up the hill to a mini roundabout.  At the roundabout with the Hesketh Arms turn right into Blackpool Road. Go straight on past three sets of traffic lights and the ground is ahead on the left. Note this route is heavily forested with speed cameras and footballgroundguide.com warns that the police often set up a mobile camera so take care.

Parking: It's usually fairly easy to park in the streets around the ground. Footballgroundguide.com warns against parking on the grass verges near the ground unless you want a ticket. Moorfields Special School has a £3 charge.

Drinking: If you’ve still got space for a drink the recommended away pub is Sumners although the Garrison on the opposite side of the road is good as well.  They are on Tom Finney Way which used to be Deepdale Road. Remember that pubs may be closed due to Christmas.

Mick's prediction

We won there at the start of our Cup Run when few (including me) expected us to). Boxing Day games can be a grim affair and we haven’t had much joy in recent years. Maybe our luck will change? Doubt it but hope springs eternal!

Merry Christmas Ramzoners!

Photo: Action Images

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