The International break is over proper football returns with North End taking on the upwardly mobile Yorkshiremen, this time last season they were in the nether reaches of League 1, come November time they wnt on an astonishing run which gave them the JPT trophy and a League 1 play off winners spot. They have not done too badly this season after an opening day defeat at Ipswich, they have beaten Derby, QPR and Rotherham at home, however they have lost both away games. They made a handful of signings, Armstrong, Morsy, Kpekawa, Jackson and Janko, but did sell defender Alfie Mawson to Swansea for £5 million, they also received £7 million following the sell on fee for John Stones, so basically things are going extremely well for the Tykes. It would be nice if we could eventually sell promising young players for mammoth fees but that seems a long way away these days. Their last visit to Deepdale resulted in a 1-0 defeat although Stuckmann pulled off a worldie save from Hourihane with basically the last kick of the game. They have a decent squad Hamill, Winnall and apparently ex North End target Tom Bradshaw, if Bradshaw scores expect mutterings of discontent from the home faithfull. They are a very useful side and certainly not to be underestimated. Two home games in four days for North End whether that is a blessing as we have not won a league game at home since February when we beat Charlton, early days I know but there is a bit of pressure on Grayson to start getting results, some are not happy with the signings that have been made, mind you if we had signed Messi, some would have complained. We now have two right backs and McGeady is said to be hoping to enjoy the game again however playing for us may make that difficult, doubts over Beckford, social media comments say he could be out for 6 weeks but with North End being reluctant to say anything re injuries one can only guess. No cricket now so it is match time for yours truly as I said difficult game is this one. Barnsley last three WLW next three games Wolves A Reading H Brighton A North End last three WWL next three Cardiff H Brentford A Bournemouth A
Five defeats out of six in the league, a 100% record of 3 defeats at home, and a few issues with todays defeat against a Barnsley side who are still on a high at the moment. Firstly the system 3421 at home is bollocks, one man up front in a home game is a nonsense, the service Doyle got in the first half was basically non existent, and then the biggest hooler of them all, back in the game and looking like the only side looking like winning we make a substitutition that completely loses the momentum we had. The pressure now being racked up on Mr Grayson after this defeat to the Tykes, we possibly deserved a point for a semi not bad second half performance but we need to play for the entire game. We started brightly in what was an entertaining game but after a Gallagher free kick had hit the post although Davies did get a finger tip on it, Barnsley dominated the half, playing a decent passing style with two speedy wingers who began to cause us problems, the young winger Kent being particularly impressive. The Tykes won a succession of corners, they had chances took none of them until the North End defence went to sleep and let Watkins? through on the left hand side, his cross founds it's way to Winnall who scored with ease. Lindegaard had to be agil to keep the score to one, whilst Robinson was slightly unlucky on the stroke of half time not to level the score. A clarke header went close early on in the second half but Barnsley were dealing with everything the home side produced. On the hour Hugill on for Spurr and 442 and hey presto we looked like a football side again, traffic was one way towards Davies in the Barnsley goal and within four minutes of the change we were level. North End played their first short corner since 1990, it produced a goal and somewhat rarely for us it was a shot from outside the box. Gallagher and Vermijl combined fed McGeady first time shot level, good goal as well. All North End and really should have been in front, created four good chances all missed, with Doyle and McGeady's being probably the best of the lot. Barnsley were hanging on desperately and there only looked one winner until Grayson substituted Gallagher for Johnson. Within two minutes Barnsley were ahead. Down their right hand side they attack Armstrong got the better of Baptiste and finished really well, good finish. Apart from a McGeady shot which hit the side netting never looked like salvaging a point which we may or may not have deserved. The three new lads had decent games but will need games, Baptiste played well until being done for the goal and McGeady looks OK but his party trick of turning with the ball will be rumbled. Interesting comments on Radio Lancashire, Grayson has had a pop at the home support, if we don't like the style of football then don't come, pressure is building methinks. Also the scoreboard gave up before the kick off as well, the club is in a bit of a mess at the moment, on and off the pitch. Preston North End 1 Barnsley 2 Att 10500 ish
Preston manager Simon Grayson: "I think if anyone watched the game they will see how well we've played. We dominated the ball, the chances and the play. "We limited them to hardly any possession second half, so to get hit on the sucker punch is very difficult to take. "We've not deserved to lose that game, but that's football. It can be cruel at times. We just have to keep believing in what we are doing and eventually the breaks will come for us." Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom: "We earned the right to play a bit more football late on and we saw the game out with a fantastic goal. "We changed the formation as the game went on and we felt that if we could get someone behind their two midfielders it could cause them a problem. "We know we weren't at our best on the ball, but we really put our bodies on the line. I'm very proud of them and I think the fans are proud of them as well because that passion is what they want to see. "We have shown we can score goals and win games at this level and we've shown two different ways to win."
I have posted before that evidence shows that Mr Grayson get a tactical nose bleed should his teams get any higher than mid Championship level. If you want a manager to get a team from L1 without oveerspending, he is your man but...Perhaps the complex formations of Pep, Jose, Arsene and the other footy luvies turn his head? However, 5 defeats and not a severe thrashing by any. Barnsley went on rampage at Wolves tonight!
