Chugging on to the end of the season the penultimate home game is against the Terriers, they were unbeatable when we played at their gaff as their fans kept reminding us, sadly invincibility seems to have gone as well as the manager. They are safely in the play off places although chances of automatic promotion will disappear this weekend if either of the Sheffield clubs win. Now under the leadership of ex lasher Simon Grayson the end of season play offs could be the making or breaking of the club. Goal machine Jordan Rhodes hasn't scored a hat trick for a few weeks so he's due again, depends how much they want to win. As for us the squads been reduced by one so Westley will have the choice of the other 634 players, drawn the last two wouldn't be surprised if this ends up level as well
Preston's 1 goal home win over Huddersfield means that bar some fluke results they will be playing League 1 football next season. After going on an unbeaten run that seemed to span a couple of decades, the Terriers appear to be on an end of season slide into the play offs. A fairly uneventful first 25 minutes which Huddersfield shaded sprang into life when goal machine fired half hit shot which Stuckmann saved well. Within a couple of minutes North End had hit a post through the unlucky Chis Holroyd. Within the space of two minutes the afternoon took a turn for worse for the home side as they lost two players Hume and Parry to what looked like season ending injuries, with the home side still trying to re organise defensively two home defenders collided and the ball ran to Rhodes and from close range his shot was well saved by Stuckmann level at half time. Whatever Graham Westley said to his Preston team at half worked this was without doubt the best 45 minutes the home fans had seen in quite a while. Winger Mayor ran the Terriers defence ragged able helped by Coutts in midfield, and it was these two who combined for North End's goal, a short corner before the ball was crossed to the far post with apparently 5 North End players unmarked in the vicinity it was Robertson who poked the ball home. (1-0) Another corner minutes later Robertson should have scored his 2nd but fired over the bar. Mayor was in inspired form two mazy runs nearly led to goals of the season but last ditch Terriers defence kept him out meanwhile it looked all the world as Huddersfield would equalize with Robinson bearing down on goal it was only a superb sliding tackle which kept him out. With North End starting to sit deeper Huddersfield started to pile on the pressure they nearly fluked an equaliser when a home cleareance hit Wright and nearly ended up in his own net. A series of late corners came to nothing thanks to some determined home defending. A Saturday home win a rarity this season. Finally a special word for Gary Roberts Huddersfield skillful winger, two super dives earned him full marks for artistic impression although he lost some marks for screaming in pain as he swallowed dived in the area.Have a feeling these two sides will be meeting again this season. Preston North End 1 Huddersfield Town 0 Att 11500
For all those who thought Lee Clark wasn't up to the job, and supported Hoyle's bizarre decision to axe him...... ......how's that going then?
