A few random thoughts, views and ill conceived nonsense about yesterday's game. Please note all views are my own and may have been influenced by the ingestion of a few alcoholic beverages. Deepdale not a romantic name or venue but a proper old school football ground. Preston an old enemy one to be respected but not feared. Other than our last outing there when Danny Wilson brought a team barely old enough to buy a round when we lost to a dodgy penalty we have done well over the last few visits. Prior to the game I had thought that a draw against Preston managed by arch pragmatist Simon Grayson who's teams generally take a safety first approach. Joe Garner has recently shuffled off to pastures new but I expected Preston to be well drilled and well organised if perhaps lacking in flair. Pre match drinks and pizzas were taken in a pub full of both sets of fans. All in good spirits as things should be. First half started with both teams feeling each other out like two teenagers in the now departed Club Hedonism. Davies tipped a fizzing cross onto the post and Winnall hit a beauty tipped over by the keeper. Eventually we started to get on top with slick passing and good movement. Kent again playing well though lacking end product with Conor and josh being effective but a little less effervescent than of late. Marley miss hit a shot into Winnall's path and Sam did what Sam does. At the time I thought he might have been offside but looking at the replays he was on. From then until the end of the first half Preston found it difficult to live with us as we moved up a couple of gears. We needed to score but fluffed our lines like a bit part actress. Second half kicked off with Preston showing renewed purpose. Grayson had clearly realised that you can't defend a 1-0 loss so his side showed much more attacking intent. Our passing game started to fall to bits a little though we still pressed and harried and did all the things that make us proud of this team. Kent's ankle that had been troubling him forced a change with Armstrong making his debut and a little while later Winnall was replaced by Morsy meaning a change in shape. In between Aiden McGeady had scored the equaliser that Preston's second half display had earned. A few minutes later Davies saved well form Doyle and footballing Nostradamus that I am I told our kid that there would only be one winner (against Rotherham Just before Hammill stored I'd been shouting at him to pass the ******* ball). The change in shape had not really worked and we were struggling to compete. Then the ball fell to Conor who hoofed it upfield Armstrong in a moment of beauty out thought and outfought Baptiste and the game turned on its head. Preston still had chances to level and can consider themselves unlucky not to take something from the game. The second half was more battling Barnsley than brilliant Barnsley but sometimes that's what you need. Sometimes there's beauty in hard work sometimes it brings its own rewards and yesterday it did. We can and will play better so we move onwards and upwards. Some scores for the players. Davies - 7 - solid performance couple of good saves no chance with the goal. Yiadom - 6.5 - still looks more comfortable going forward than defending but getting better. Roberts -7 - another performance that makes you think that Mark has played at this level for years. MacDonald - 7.5 - looks like he may have a lot to offer at this level. Less shaky than against Rotherham. White - 6.5 - a reliable performer. Always looks great going forward until his final pass or action occasionally not as robust in the tackle as I'd like but still a good performance. Kent - 7.5 does some great things then some daft things then some great things again. Showed desire playing with the injury that eventually forced him off a pleasure to watch him develop. Scowen - 7 - a little subdued but as always full of tieless energy and hard work. Hourihane - 7 - leads by example even when not at the absolute top of his game inspires those around him Hammill - 6.5 - an in and out performance from Adam but like Conor his presence inspires others his attitude inspires others. Watkins- 7 - ran and ran and ran as always gave everything for the team Winnall - 7 - still looks a little rusty and a few weeks away from full fitness but a winner a goalscorer and in the first half unlucky not to get at least 1 more goal Armstrong 8 - just for the goal which wouldn't be out of place at any level. His pace and confidence will trouble teams at this level Morsy - 6 - spent time on the periphery of the game without really getting too involved Kpekawa not enough time to warrant a mark Overall a great day enjoyed by the reds fans who were in fine voice. Onwards and upwards.
"rum, sodomy and the lash" i thought it might have been all about my naval career at first! come on you know we are all asking what was the bottle top situation????
Trying to get served at Oakwell has cured me of the desire to ever buy any food or drink inside a football ground. The bottle of rum we drank on the train had its top on some of the time...
