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Match Day Thread Those pesky friendly games match thread

Discussion in 'Preston' started by themaclad, Jul 6, 2017.

  1. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Bamber Bridge v Preston North End @ The Sir Tom Finney Stadium 7/7/2017


    Here we go the start of our nine month journey to the Premier League begins at the home of Evo Stick North League 1 club Bamber Bridge.
    These curtain reasons mean little except for a bit of early season match action, if they do what they have done in recent seasons most of the squad will get 30 minutes which means we will use upwards of 30 players. Given the arrival there may be a bit of urgency in the game and Knowing Brig there may be a crunching tackle or two.
    If I can get of my backside may even go
    Anyway here's what Steve Thompson has to say
    Steve Thompson Says Players Will Be Looking To Impress

    Just now



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    @pnefc

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    First team coach Steve Thompson took charge of training on Thursday, with new manager Alex Neil having a watching brief on his first day at Springfields.


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    Ticket News
    Season Ticket Update
    4 July 2017

    The PNE boss will also watch from the stands when Preston North End get their pre-season fixture programme underway on Friday night against Bamber Bridge at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

    And Thompson, who has guided the Lilywhites for their first week back in training says that the squad have come back in good shape: “Pre-season has changed so much since I used to play. Tom [Little] has given the lads their fitness programmes to do during the summer and they have come back in great shape,” he told PNE.Com.

    “You can get the balls out almost straight away and start working on things, whereas before you wouldn’t see a ball for one or two weeks, but now we do things in the first two or three days and they have done great.

    “They are all fit and raring to go and it is geared up for that first game against Bamber Bridge.
    “We will probably give them two 45 minutes, two different teams, just to see how the fitness levels are, but the most important thing is not to come out with any injuries.

    “First and foremost from these games, you don’t want any silly injuries. You want to try and keep the ball, work it and try and get your fitness levels up and in the 45 minutes play to your shape.

    “With the new manager coming in we will be taking on board what he wants, what shape he wants to do and the work ethic has been there in training. It is an important fitness exercise and it is very early, but both teams will no doubt be looking to impress their respective managers.

    “When the lads see the games coming up you have to make sure they are ready for it. They won’t be ready for 90 minutes yet; you can’t force that on them straight away, but you can get into good habits – as we have in training. We think they are up to speed and it gives them a chance to get into a matchday mode and with the games coming, we can tailor the training accordingly.”

    The annual short trip to ‘Brig’ is one that Steve enjoys: “It is great that we are helping a local club,” he continued. “I have got good connections with Bamber Bridge because my lad used to play there and it is a great set up.

    “Hopefully we can get a lot of Preston North End fans there, get a big attendance and it helps their coffers as well. It is a fantastically run club, it is great we are going down there and hopefully it will be a good match for both teams.”

    The end to the summer off couldn’t come quick enough for one or two players, who have put injuries behind them.

    The likes of Calum Woods, Greg Cunningham and Tom Barkhuizen, who underwent hernia operation just days after the end of last season, will be looking to show their hard work in the summer was worth the effort.

    “The lads who had the injuries last year, including the two or three who had operations in the summer, they can join in the training where there is no physical contact. They will have been in over the summer, so they might actually be a bit ahead of the other lads.

    “It is important that it is a clean slate for everyone and they will be out to impress the new manager.
    “Every time you put a session on they are fantastic bunch here. They do not need the new manager to be training at a high tempo, but they will be looking to impress.

    “They give you everything here, the players and the staff, and I am sure they will buy into the new manager’s work ethics and what he expects from them and with one or two more additions it can be an exciting season ahead.”

    ‘Tommo’ also paid tribute to the players and staff and their attitude during the past seven days, whilst he has steered the ship.

    “It came as a surprise last week. I was on holiday until last Wednesday and came back in and it all started on Thursday.

    “We lost three members of staff and we wish them all well, they have done great for us - Simon, Snods and Ian Miller.

    “Nick Harrison came in to help and me and Kells have been taking things. We have been organised, we have tried to vary it as much as we can and every day we had meetings and knew what we were doing.

    “It has flowed and we will now buy into the manger’s philosophy of what he wants to do,” he added.
     
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  2. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Won 7-0
     
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  3. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    A useful workout last night in the July gloom at Bamber Bridge, an easy 7-0 victory against Bamber Bridge, although the result is not important the performance was. An early marker to impress new manager Alex Neil who had a watching brief in the stands.
    North End played two sides making 11 changes at half time and in all used 23 players given an enforced change to keeper Rudd in the first half.
    A couple of early shots didn't particulary cause Bridge keeper Rigby any difficulties, however it was the home side who had the best early chance with Carsley bringing out a good save from Rudd after Grimshaw was caught out of position miles up field.
    From the resulting corner Rudd woeful punch caused problems buut the defence evenually scrambled the ballclear.
    Rudd left the pitch with a slight thigh strain to be replaced by youth team keeper Callum Roberts.
    North End took the lead from a corner when Davies headed home via a deflection.
    From then apart from three shots by Linney which went wide Bridge faded from the game. May added a second and Robinson nodded home a third to give North End a comfortable advantage at the break.In truth they could have had more but we did miss some simple chances.
    The second half team took a while to settle but once Barkuizen made it four after good work by Vermijl it was a stroll. Hugill chased down a lost cause to make it five.
    We had chances to extend the score and finally did in the last ten minutes through Meulensteen and Hugill. Hugill was denied a hat trick late on by a good save by the keeper.
    The majority of the squad got 45 minutes only misses were Harrop, Woods and O'Connor.

    Although only a friendly the new gaffer has some interesting selection problems for the season ahead, still need a new central defender and possibly a right back. But we seem to have unearthed a gem in Meulensteen, the son of Man Utd's assistant manager. This lad has a bit of class about him.
    All forwards scored except for Doyle but a useful workout none the less.

    Bamber Bridge 0 Preston North End 7 Att 2185








    Alan Kelly Pleased With Professionalism Of Players

    7 Hours ago



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    Goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly praised the all round performance and commitment of the Preston North End players tonight after a magnificent seven in the first preseason friendly of the 2017/18 calendar.

    Goals from Ben Davies, Stevie May Callum Robinson, Melle Meulensteen, Tom Barkhuizen and a brace from Jordan Hugill kickstarted North End's preseason schedule in impressive fashion with a 7-0 win against Bamber Bridge at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium - and all under the watchful eye of new boss Alex Neil who spectated proceedings from the stands.

    Prior to the appointment of Neil earlier this week, it was Kelly and first team coach Steve Thompson who took the reigns whilst a new manager was appointed, and Kelly, who himself took to social media to confirm his commitment to the club stated his pride in the reaction of the players since the departure of Simon Grayson.

    "It's the first competitive game of the season and it's tradition to play our first preseason game here and it's great to see so many tonight," told Kelly who is all too familiar with this preseason encounter.

    "But more importantly, we've fielded two different teams and they've got 45 minutes under their belt and it's about building for that first game of the season.

    "It's never ideal to lose a manager during preseason but myself and Tommo were here to serve the club and make sure the players were in the right frame of mind.

    "It was a case of 'look, this is the schedule' and let's do it to the best of your ability, and judging by the performance tonight and how they've been the last eight days - they've given the manager something to think about.

    "I've probably worked on and off with the club for 40 years now and I was born into this club especially when your dad has a giant face of himself in a stand.

    "It's widely known that I'm born within a stone's throw of the club; hopefully we've done our part these past few days."
    One minor negative during a night littered with positives was the injury to Declan Rudd, but Kelly is hopeful that the injury is not too much for concern.

    He continued: "It came out of nowhere; It was his first kick - he'd done a 30 minute warm up prior to that and not felt a thing but that's football and let's hope it's not too serious and he's only out for a week or two."

    Next up in preseason preparations is a six day training camp across the Irish sea to Cork, a venture in which Kelly believes will be extremely useful for the new manager to express his ideas.

    "It's an ideal time for the manager to bed in his ideas and to get to know what he wants and what his playing style is going to be," he added. "All of those will be bedded within the players in this trip to Ireland."
     
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  4. barnetpne

    barnetpne Well-Known Member

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    Glad to read that the young players did ok. 442 heh? Will have to off load Doyle first. He is not happy at this level.
     
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  5. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Doyle, Pringle and Grimshaw may go
     
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  6. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Stockport County v Preston North En @ Edgeley Park 15/7/2017

    After spending the week at a training camp in Ireland, North End will return to action with a friendly at former football league club Stockport County.
    The sides last met in a League Cup tie in 2011 whena very young North End side ran out easy winners 5-0 at Edgeley. Since then County have been in free fall and are now a part time club. The demise of the home side coincided when they were taken over by the owners of Sale Sharks Rugby Union club, it wasn't the best of marriages with the rugby club seeming to be the only winners.
    The home side now play in the Conference North with their main local rivals being FC United of Manchester and that ever so plastic of non league clubs Salford City who are so non league they were have rumoured to offer our ex keeper Lindegaard a deal.
    Now managed by Jim "Loose Cannon" Gannon they narrowly missed out on theplay off last season, they will be hoping for better this season.
    As with last week expect most of the squad to get a run out although difference from last week is that this is Neil's first match in charge. Word is he expects us to attack more. Will be there matchblog possibly Saturday night.
     
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  7. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Stockport County vs Preston North End Preview
    2 Hours ago



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    Preston North End's second game of their 2017/18 pre-season preparations sees them travel to Edgeley Park to face Stockport County

    Jim Gannon's men provide the opposition as Alex Neil will take to the touchline for the first time as Preston North End manager, having taken a watching brief in the opening pre-season game at Bamber Bridge last Friday night, where the Lilywhites ran out 7-0 winners.

    The team go into the game on the back of a full week of training over in Ireland and begin a run of four games in eight days, as they step up their fitness regime with the aim of being ready for the first game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday, at Deepdale in three weeks' time.

    The new gaffer will only have Tom Clarke, Declan Rudd and Josh Harrop likely to be unavailable, the latter two only short term, whilst Calum Woods could be set for his first run out for 12 months following his cruciate injury suffered at Oldham last pre-season.
     
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  8. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    A win in the new gaffers first game, although they were given a much harder workout by Gannon's Conerence North side. As with the game at Bamber Bridge two completely different sides played in each half although keeper Maxwell played the entire game.
    A decent 1400 saw the game with about 400 from Preston, a few early getting to know you tackles were put in early on, North End looked more likely to score early on, but as shooting isn't one of our strong points, these effeorts were saved our ended up in the crowd. Couny slightly more direct had a gret chance early on when Huntingon was beaten by the bounce of the ball by Warburton who was in a great position until Hunts brought him down a nadgers away from the penalty area. The free kick was easily saved by Maxwell.
    North End started to domnate down both flanks and with the impressive Robinson looking dangerous every time he got the ball, it only looked a matter of time until we scored, chances came and went and just before the half hour the home side scored, Stephenson looked to have been fouled in the area but manages to get the ball to Oswellwho fired home off the post. For a while the goal rocked North End and Stephenson should have made it two but a save by Maxwell and a block by Spurr denied him.
    Parity was secured when Pringle(had a decent game) fired over a sexy cross, Barkuizhen beat the full back squared to Robbo 1 all. Before the next plane arrived Robbo's even better pass found Barkuizen and the lads were ahead by the break.
    The first half team mentions to Pringle, DJ, Barkuizhen, but Robinson was excellent.
    As for the second half it was dire, North End took a quick free kick which nearly lead to a Stephenson goal for Stockport, and a Browne shot which was well saved by their sub keeper before Browne sliced the rebound wide were the only highlights.
    Nobody stood out and Doyle had a shocker

    Stockport County 1 Preston North End 2 Att 1400


    Neil On Positive End To A Great Week






    Neil On Positive End To A Great Week

    Alex Neil has pleased to end a great week with a win after the 2-1 win over Stockport County rounded off a productive week of training for the PNE boss.

    Alex Neil was pleased to end a great week with a win after the 2-1 win over Stockport County rounded off a productive week of training for the PNE boss.

    After a week of hard work and team bonding in Ireland, the gaffer took charge of his first game for North End and saw his side run out winners at Edgeley Park.

    Speaking to iFollow after the game, the gaffer said: "It's been a great week, the lads have worked extremely hard and it's nice to finish it off with a game, especially that we won the game.

    "To be honest the performance and the lads trying to implement all the things we've worked on this week are probably the most important things.

    "I think the lads are going to be heavy legged, and not only that it's about tired minds as much as anything else but I thought they attacked it, they tried to implement the stuff that we had worked on." The PNE boss continued.

    "I would still like to see us play forward a bit more in the dangerous but I don't think anyone could complain, certainly about the first half with the amount of chances we did create, we scored two good goals so it was pleasing.

    The hosts changed formation at the break, and posed a different threat to the side, something that Neil was grateful for as it was a good test for his players.

    "I had been working really hard on our formation so I hadn't really done a lot of work with the lads in terms of 3-5-2, so that was a good experience for them to have to try and adapt within the game and that's something we will cover before the season starts.

    "I've only really had a week with them so it's about trying to bed in all of the bits and pieces that we want to try and achieve in terms of going forward and I think we saw glimpses of that in the first half."
     
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  9. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Morecambe V Preston North End @ The Globe Arena 18/7/2017
    Accrington Stanley v Preston North End @ The Crown Ground 19/7/2017

    A double header this week against two local league 2 sides both managed by nuggety Scousers.
    First up Morecambe who will be hoping their off field problems from last season have disappeared. Fair play to Jim Bentley who has managed to guide them to a mid table position despite of the drama in the board room.
    They survived financially with a bit of help from us buying the flying winger Tom Barkuizen for about 175,000 last season, it kept them afloat.
    Morecambe fresh from winning the Bay trophy on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Lancaster take on a North End side who are still getting used to the new managers style of play, he does not like passes that go backwards. We seem to be playing a more passing type of play even from the goal keeper may take a bit of getting used too.
    Be surprised if we have two different sides, suspect a smaller use of substitues.
    Wednesday it's Accrington, surprised this is still going ahead given that we play them in the League Cup in a couple of weeks time.
    Like Morecambe, Stanley have done well to survive in the league with gates that have never been good, but credit to manager John Coleman who has done a sterling job both times he has been manager of them.
    Only going to Morecambe so only one match log will b e at Accie for the league cup tie.
     
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  10. barnetpne

    barnetpne Well-Known Member

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    Mention of Bentley & Coleman and their mammoth task in stabilizing penniless clubs makes one wonder if all the flash, highly paid Premiership managers ccould cope with the tasks these low league managers complete. These people managing lower end clubs deserve respect. They say that the skill of a chef is finding the best ingredients. What these guys do withinferior ingredients is just short of a miracle.
     
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  11. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Won 2-0 Barkuizen and Pearson
     
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  12. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Morecambe 0 Preston North End 2 Att 974

    As easy as you like for North End last night, two super goals by Barkuizen and Pearson won a low key friendly on a warm night by the seas in front of a crowd which consisted mainly of away fans.
    Very noticeable last night that North End are now trying to play a passing style football even from the goal keeper, they domnated the early stages with the home side occasionally getting possession of the ball. Denied an early Hugill goal by a good save by that well known keeper T Rialist.
    It took a while for the home side to get into the game but the danger seemed to come from Kevin Ellison who must now be close to 40 years of age, he's not bad for an old codger.
    As I said we passed it about well although possibly could pass it faster than they did last night, we took the lead just about half way through the half when Barkuizen was given space in the inside left channel he seemed to flick the ball with the outside of his right foot passed the un named keeper to give us the lead.
    Morecambe had one good chance to level but the home player lost his footing when well placed.
    Second half Horgan fired narrowly wide before Pearson took aim and fired from 30 yards bottom right corner keeperf no chance.
    A plethora of subs on the hour,we made 10 only Johnson played the full match, probably the best player on the night.
    The last half hour lacked the fluency of the first 60, the second North End xi passed it around well but ever looked like scoring, the home side had a couple of fdfortsd but didn't put Hudson under any real pressure.
    Decent workout.

    First Team News
    Neil: "There's Still Work To Be Done"


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    Although pleased with the endeavour and application shown from the players tonight, Alex Neil believes there's still plenty of room for improvement between now and the start of the season.

    The boss chose a North End side for just the second time this evening after watching his first match from the touchline at the weekend against Stockport County.

    Goals from former Shrimp, Tom Barkhuizen and Ben Pearson gave North End a 2-0 victory ensuring their 100 percent pre-season record remains intact.

    Neil this time opted to start a side for the first 60 minutes, before swapping ten players for the final half hour, with Daniel Johnson the only man to play the whole 90.

    "We're making steady progress," said Neil in his post-match thoughts to iFollow this evening.

    "As the half wore on, we got better - I thought in the first 15 minutes of the second half was our best spell. We moved the ball well and dictated the play well, but I didn't think we were aggressive enough with our passing at times in the first half.

    "I think we can play forward a bit quicker and I think we can be more adventurous when we've got the ball - but as you can see the lads are taking everything on board and they're trying to implement it.

    "We were totally dominant in the game and we controlled the ball for pretty much the full match; created some good chances - so there's definitely some things to still work on but as a starting point I think the lads have done really well."

    North End took the lead late in the first half, with Barkhuizen, returning to the Globe Arena since making the switch from Morecambe to PNE in the middle of last season opening the scoring with a tidy finish past the goalkeeper, and the gaffer praised the forward after making it three goals in three games.

    He continued: "We've played Tom off the flank in each of the games and what he does well is drift in through the line really well. He's hard to pick up as he plays inbetween people - he's really sharp off the mark and finishing wise he's excellent so I'm really pleased for him."

    With the games coming thick and fast now as preparations for the new campaign continue, Neil also outlined his plans to iFollow ahead of the next week or so.

    "The lads played 60 and 30 tonight and the lads who played 30 tonight will play 60 tomorrow and vice versa; come Saturday, some of the boys will get 90 in there legs and it'll be similar on Tuesday, then we've got Fleetwood on Friday evening where they'll be more players with 90 minutes under their belt and then we'll crack on and get ready for the following week.

    "In training you can replicate things as much as you like but the pressures of performing in a game and performing against a set up where you don't know what they're going to be doing is very different.

    "I can set two teams up and they can play against each other in training but what tends to happen is all of the players adopt your style of play, but during the season we'll play against teams with different styles of play and it's how we adapt and cope with that - I thought our physicality tonight and dealing with straight balls and second balls was excellent and when we did get a chance we made it big and moved the ball well.

    "It's pleasing where we are at the moment but we've still got work to do before the season starts."

    The full video of Alex Neil's post-match thoughts on tonight's win over Morecambe will be posted tomorrow morning.


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  13. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    2 up at Accie Browne and Robinson
     
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  14. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Won 3-2 Cunningham got the third
     
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  15. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Manager's view on pre season

    Neil Ready For Step Up In Pre-Season Tests
    14 Hours ago



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    Manager Alex Neil is looking forward to taking his pre-season preparations to the next level against Premier League opposition.

    North End have come out on top in all three friendlies so far but face tough tests against Newcastle United and Burnley in the next seven days.

    The PNE boss spoke to iFollow after the 3-2 win over Accrington Stanley and he looked ahead to the next two games: "It's going to be interesting to see because what we've managed to do in the last couple of games is dominate the ball and what these teams will do is try and dominate the ball and when you come up against better players and better teams it can prove to be difficult.

    "Based on what I've seen so far, we've done really well, we've got two really difficult tests coming up and it will be good for us to see where the lads are.
    "I think the next couple of games will tell me a lot about how brave we are, are we brave enough to do it against the big teams and to see how concentrated we can be because against these teams, any lack of concentration and they punish you."

    The gaffer knows the Premier League sides will be ruthless in attack and is enjoying the prospect of a new challenge for his North End side.

    "That's the big difference in levels, maybe the lesser teams will take five opportunities to get a goal, these teams need one and for all your good play, you're undone, so we've got to make sure that we are well constructed at the back as we build our play which on a couple of occasions we weren't tonight.

    "What we've got to make sure that our organisation without the ball and how we hunt it together is spot on and it will be a new test for us so it's one I'm looking forward to. "
     
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  16. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Preston North End v Newcastle United @ Deepdale 22/7/2017

    Two weeks from the start of the season, the friendlies start to have a little more meaning, three more games in the next six days starting with Championship Champions Newcastle.
    United seem to be making a determined bid to actually stay in the top division, so far in the close season they have signed Manquillo, Murphy, Astu and Lejeune to add to the squad whiuch took the title last season.
    Three meetins against the Magpies last season saw us draw a collective blank with zero points and a cup defeat, shipping 10 goals in the two away ties.
    Neil has a few injury worries, Woods and Welsh seem still not to be fully fit whilst Harrop and Gallagher have slight injuries which have side lines them in recent weeks.
    Midfield and forwards wise we seem to be well stocked but at the back there are still some concerns in my view as to whether we are strong enough.
    Neil has used the same defensive pairings in the friendlies Boyle and Davies, Huntington and Spurr, also possibly a bit weak at right back, against better opposition tomorrow it will give the new manager a better idea of his starting 11 against them Owls in two weeks time.
    We have a Premiership referee in John Moss as well.
    Attending so expect a cobbled together match report as per usual.
     
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  17. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Preston North End 1 Newcastle United 1 Att 7300 (1800 visitors)

    As friendlies go this was a decent game with both sides trying their best to win, good tset for North End and they gave a good account of themselves over the 90 minutes.
    United took an early lead when Mitrovic scored his tradition goal at Deepdale following a shot which in my view Maxwell shoild have done better instead of just pushing the ball to the feet of the striker whoscored easily. He should have double his total following a defenders slip in the box but his shot hit the far post and rebounded to safety. If that had gone in it would have made the rest of the game a snooze fest.
    North End levelled on 33 minutes following patient build up down the left hand side, Cunningham's cross ended up at the feet of the incoming Barkuizen and it was level pegging. The home side should have been ahead a couple of minutes later but Hugill at the back stick just could not force home Barkuizen's exocet cross.
    United made wholesale changes at half time and North End initially found the pace of Gayle and Perez difficult to handle Gayle being denied a goal by Maxwell's brave save. A Hugill spectacular overhead nearly put the home side in front but was scrambled to safety by United's defence.
    The big forward went of injured shortly afterwards with what looked like a groin problem.
    North End dominated for a period with new signing Harrop starting to show his ability, one mazy run set up Doyle with a great chance, nope didn't take it, whilst a lung busting 80 yard run by Johnson also caused United a problem.
    De Jong forced Maxwell into a good save, whilst United's third keeper of the afternoon Woodman denied Vermijl a winner.
    Decent game plenty of plus points not least the performance of Ben Davies in the back four.
     
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  18. Consett Mag

    Consett Mag Well-Known Member

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    Good luck to Preston next season. Hope it goes great for you.
     
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  19. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Cheers Consett good luck to your guys as well and fair play to the 2000 who turned up including the lad who accidently fell off a wall and possible broke both his ankles and still turned up to the game
     
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  20. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Neil Pleased With Team's Progress
    13 Hours ago





    Neil Pleased With Team's Progress

    Manager Alex Neil was delighted with the way his team performed against Newcastle United in the 1-1 draw at Deepdale.

    @pnefc

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    Manager Alex Neil was delighted with the way his team performed against Newcastle United in the 1-1 draw at Deepdale.

    The gaffer has brought a new style of play to the club and he was pleased with the way his side are adapting their game.

    Speaking to iFollow after his first home game in charge, the PNE boss said: "I thought it was a good game, I didn't there was a lot in the game, I was really pleased with our lads to adopt a different style.

    "I think at the start of the match in the first 15 minutes we looked a bit tentative and a bit scared because we were playing Newcastle but then I thought we grew in confidence as the first half wore on and I thought our best spell was leading up to half-time really.

    "At the start of the second half, I thought that confidence was displayed then as well. Obviously when you make changes, the game changes a little bit but all in all, I thought our boys did great."

    On the opposition this afternoon, the manager continued: "It's about being brave enough to play against good players, no disrespect to the teams we've played but we are playing against international players that have got real quality but I thought we more than held our own.

    "I didn't think there was anything in the game, I thought we created some really good chances and we were unfortunate we didn't score some more."
    Another positive from the afternoon was the appearance of summer signing Josh Harrop who pulled on the PNE shirt for the first time as a second half substitute and the gaffer was pleased with the performance of both him and the rest of his squad.

    "He looks like a technical player, he's got good legs and I think he will certainly be a creative player for us going forward.

    "We just need to do a bit of work with him defensively in terms of shuffling across the pitch with the rest of the team but I was pleased with all of the lads.

    "I thought they more than held their own and they should be pleased with how they played."
     
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