It is a while since the lads from the Cottage played at Deepdale, remember them with Saha playing up front circa 1999 but visits have been as rare as hen's teeth since then. Vital game for them having got themselves a four point gap from the drop zone after beating Franchise yesterday with goals from one of the better strike partnerships in the league McCormack and Dembele. As good as the front two have been at the back they have had a rather indifferent season hence their proximity to the bottom places. Yesterday's win was the first in seven and they have not kept a clean sheet since beating Charlton. Bettinelli is back in goal after a lengthy absence which means ex North End keeper Andy Lonergan will be on the bench, still have the evergreen Scott Parker in midfield. Clarke was carrying a slight thigh injury during yesterday's victory, Grayson could change the team but as the play offs are still in the mix(Just) suggest in will not be far off what started yesterday. The Fulham game is the first of five against teams who have something to play for, we really could do some damage to teams ambitions as they say April is the cruellest month.
Hopefully, NE will play a bit etter...a lot better than in the last few games.NE have hardly kept a clean sheet for sometime. Maybe Woods and Cunningham get ahead of themselves. Though have to say both have produced winning crosses of late. Perhaps SG has a 4 winger formation. I once played in goal behind a full back who went awol. Let in 6! Play against him as a striker and caught him out. Left unmarked, delivered a delicious centre onto th centre forwards forehead and...goal! The guy thought he was Cooper of Leeds!
You know when it's not going to be your night when after 15 minutes of battering the opponents you end up 1 down and have lost two of the back four to injuries as was the case last night against Fulham. A very frustrating night at Deepdale except for the loyal Fulham away following who took the points to move further away from the drop zone and heap more pressure on MK Drongs. North End started really well, Garner forcing Bettinelli to tip a header over the bar and then seeing a Hugill effort cleared from the line. However Fulham took a very early lead, a North End corner was cleared up field to McCormack who had a one on one with Wright, given Wright's lack of pace there was probably only going to be one result and sure enough McCormack rounded Wright took the ball past Lindegaard and slid the ball into the unguarded net. Within 10 minutes the home side lost Clarke(concussion) and Woods hamstring injury. Double substitution and understandably North End looked all over the place, passes went astray and frustration started to be heard within the home faithful, also evidence was that the Cottagers started to waste time(yes they all do it but some don't make it as obvious as last night) throw ins were taking ages to get the ball back into play and Bettinelli seemed to be unable to locate a specific part of his six yard box to take a goal kick. Getting towards half time North End got their game together again and with obvious supremacy in the air were causing the Fulham backline and keeper problems, however did not create any clear cut chances to score. Fulham made a change at half time bringing on Stearman for Ream and were a lot better in the air at the back. It was obvious that someone had slipped some drugs into their half time refreshments as they appeared to be collapsing en masse when North End looked likely to build up a head of steam. Saying that I actually thought the referee had a decent game although possibly should have got his yellow card out earlier. North End were level just after the hour, there was a touch of fortune about the goal, Browne failed to control a pass and it ran through to Vermijl who advanced into the box before firing the ball home from an acute angle. Only one side looked like winning however we did not, 15 minutes from time a foul 25 yards from goal virtually central, up steps McCormack, ball flying in, Lindegaard tips ball onto post Wright fails to clear and Dembele slips ball home for winner. Fulham then started to collapse at the merest touch and the game became very stop start to be fair to the visitors we rarely looked like breaking down the 11 men defensive wall too many aimless balls into the box. Seven minutes of injury time said the board, we actually played 12 which did not impress the visitors but in the smidgen of play allowed in the extra time they survived and looked to be going towards another season in the Championship although if they lose McCormack they will struggle. But it does mean a decent away trip to London next season. Preston North End 1 Fulham 2 Att 10358 Preston manager Simon Grayson: "It was a frustrating night. Sometimes in games you don't get what you deserve. "I thought that was the case tonight. We were the better team, created the better chances. "They got the early goal but we passed the ball better and there was only one team looking to win the game. We weren't helped by some of the tactics they used at times." Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic. "We are not safe. With six games in front of us, now it's six points we don't have reason to think about a holiday. "We need to do much for our away supporters who travel with us and push us towards safety. "It's not time for holiday, we need to give these people something back because we haven't given them too many happy afternoons. We can fix that in these six games ahead of us."
