Match Day Thread Preston North End v Middlesbrough 9/12/2020

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LAST TIME OUT

PRESTON NORTH END 2 WYCOMBE WANDERERS 2

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STOKE CITY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 0

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LAST SEASON

PRESTON NORTH END 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 2

No surprise at the result we rarely beat Boro

FORM GUIDE

PNE 9 BORO 9

BORO TRANSFERS
Akprom, Hall, Morsy, Bettinelli, Roberts and Watmore

Manager Colin

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You could say that North End are due a home win against Middlesbrough! It has been almost 50 years (1972) since our last one!

Admittedly, that has only been seven league games, plus a couple of league cup ties and an FA Cup fixture, but let’s put it this way, the last time we won, the win was only worth two points and not three!

Last season’s two clashes with Boro were both against Jonathan Woodgate-selected sides, so this is our first game against Neil Warnock’s side, who have been in fine form so far this season, challenging at the top end of the table.

Neither side have had too many changes in their ranks since that last meeting, at new year, but with injuries, managerial changes and Covid, there is plenty that has changed and it will be an interesting game where both sides will believe they can come out on top

Team News
Manager Alex Neil is without Ben Pearson (ankle), Patrick Bauer (Achilles), Andrew Hughes, Paul Gallagher and Jos Earl (all hamstring), Billy Bodin and Louis Moult (both knee) for Wednesday’s visit of Boro, whilst Daniel Johnson is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Wycombe at the weekend.

Darnell Fisher is available again after sitting out the last three games through suspension and his involvement could allow Alan Browne to move back into midfield, with Pearson’s absence through the injury he picked up half an hour into the clash with Gareth Ainsworth’s men.

Neil Warnock could recall Duncan Watmore, whose last midweek brace against Swansea City was not enough to earn him another start at Stoke City at the weekend, with George Saville returning to a three-man Boro midfield.

Having switched to a back three against the Swans, Warnock reverted to a back four at the bet365 Stadium, Marcus Tavernier and Marvin Johnson providing the visitors width, supporting Chuba Akpom who retained his place ahead of Britt Assombalonga up front.

MACS VIEW

With the exception of Saville for Watmore, the Boro bench remained the same, with U23 stars Isaiah Jones and Sam Folarin both included in the 20-man squad.

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Match Officials
It’s 18 months since we last saw him, but Wednesday night’s match official is a familiar face; it is now Premier League referee Andy Madley.

Before his promotion to the Select Group One list in the summer of 2019, Madley was a regular officiating the Lilywhites five time in his last season regularly refereeing at this level.

Those games included the 4-1 win over local rivals Blackburn Rovers in November, our 4-1 win at Queens Park Rangers and the victory over Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton Stadium in February.

He has been in charge of some of the Lilywhites’ best moments over the years, most notably the League One Play-Off Final in the 2014/15 season, where a Jermaine Beckford hat-trick led to a convincing 4-0 over Swindon Town at Wembley.

He was also the referee for our Capital One Cup victory over rivals Blackpool in the 2013/14 season. Tom Clarke netted the winner three minutes from time to secure a famous 1-0 win over our rivals.

So far this season, Andy – who is now on both the UEFA and FIFA lists, having officiated Europa League and Nations League games this campaign - has refereed 11 games in all competitions, issuing 27 yellow cards and just one red card.

He will be assisted by Edward Smart and Adrian Holmes, with another Ollie Yates as the fourth

MACS VIEW

So according to the records it's 50 years since we beat Boro at Deepdale probably did go to it although in those days you spent the entire match trying not to be murdered by the travelling Boro hordes.
Another chance to rectify our shocking home record this year apparently we have only won 4 home games in nearly 12 months, personal view cannot see us winning tomorrow either, always find with Boro they are well organised and hard to beat and now with Colin in charge they will be doubly hard to beat.
As for Warnock have plenty of time for the guy calls it how it is.
No Johnson suspended both Pearson and Bauer now long term injuries, fans getting slightly naffed off with home performances doesn't appear to be a Plan B when at home some would say no Plan A either.
We will come through this but may have to be patient.

 

Spot on Mac. NE hardly ever do well against a Warnock side.

 

0-0 HT

 

Hughes 1 up

 

Apparently it was Potts what potted

 

2 up Sinclair

 

Going mad 3 up Riis

 

Sweet

 

Looking good so far. Another 3 second half?

 

Oops. Just realised you were the early kick off.#
Great result,

 

Three will suffice

 

Now that was a pleasant surprise in the second half. Perhaps the tide is turning despite the absentees. Others have decried Potts but he played well tonight according to LancsLive. Deflected Hughes' shot into the net. Glad Riis Jakobson broke his Deepdale 'duck'!

 

Maybe luck at home has changed, own goal Saturday and a deflection and some poor visitors keeping

 

Preston North End picked up only their second home win of the season after scoring three second-half goals to see off Middlesbrough at Deepdale.

After a goalless first half, Brad Potts diverted an Andrew Hughes effort past Marcus Bettinelli to give the hosts the lead.

Scott Sinclair rolled the ball into the far corner with nine minutes left to double their advantage.

Substitute Emil Riis Jakobsen grabbed a deserved third late on, cutting in and drilling below the Fulham loanee.
Boro toiled, with Marvin Johnson forcing two good saves from Declan Rudd, but otherwise, they were unable to trouble North End.

Alex Neil's Lilywhites had endured a terrible home run earlier in the season, failing to win on home soil until beating Sheffield Wednesday last month, but this result extends their unbeaten run to three games.

They took control of the game late on, largely utilising the pace of Sinclair although it was a scruffy effort from Potts that got the ball rolling.

Sinclair might have added another, but his header struck the bar after Bettinelli had frustrated Jayden Stockley, who smashed wastefully wide as the chances racked up.

After a bright start to the season, Boro have now won just two of their past eight matches, although they remain only four points adrift of the play-off places.

The main concern for boss Neil Warnock will be the lack of punch up front, with Britt Assombalonga enduring a tough night, seldom influencing affairs as the forward leading the line.

Preston North End boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"Our home form has been well documented, and we knew Middlesbrough would come here and be physical and direct, they're hard to play against and if you try to play passing football combinations their bread and butter is stopping that and hurting you off the back of it.

"We knew 'up, back and through' them was the best course of action. We were the better side in the first half, they had a spell of 10 minutes after half-time we didn't start great and we were flat and then we got the goal.

"The goal gave us a lift, but the key moment in the game was when the subs came on [Josh Earl, Sean Maguire, Emil Ris and Tom Bayliss], when they came on, they all made a positive influence and gave us a new energy, they were the catalyst to go and win the game."

Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock told BBC Tees:

"We're obviously disappointed at the end, but again opportunities have not been taken to make the goals.

"Second half we came out well and dominated it, but we have a goal against us - another deflection - and then there's the turning point, the great clearance off the line from Marvin's shot which would have made it 1-1 and a game of it.

"Instead we try to chase the game and end up scoring two sloppy goals really. It shows how young the squad is really."

 

Warnock never one to give credit to the opposition. 2 sloppy goals? Maybe there was a deflection for thee first but Potts was positioned where he ought to be. The second was a fast counter attack with an accurately weighted pass by Riis to Sinclair and a good shot by Sinclair. The third was a superb solo run by Riis. The goalie was in a vision blocked position due to Riis changing route. NE should have had 2 more goals if Stockley hadn't miscued and Sinclair had managed to keep the ball down. Their one attempt was when Tavernier hit the left hand post. The second half was excellent for NE.