Match Day Thread Wolverhampton Wanderers @ Molineux 13/2/2016

After Saturday's outrageous fortune, we head to the Midlands on Saturday to play Wolverhampton, in the return game you could say we were robbed by possibly the most inept refereeing performance seen in many a long year, being denied victory in injury time having played the final 15 minutes with 9 men and 70 plus minutes with 10 men. On that day Wolves looked a fairly ordinary side, although according to Sky they are play off contenders along with Leeds, QPR and Forest hence their often appearance on live games.
To be fair to the Wolves they have a fairly young side and have been hit by long term injuries and have also sold Afobe, however they have paid big money to replace him with Joe Mason who was substitute in last weeks draw at Reading. MacDonald in midfield is a class performer and tends to score against us, so keeping him quiet is a must on Saturday.
Just the usual long term injuries for us, still no sign of Beckford even remotely getting close to the squad, Pearson still suspended and no doubt Baggie's loanee Lindegaard will get a lovely reception from the Wolves fans. More motorway mileage on the cards for the 1000 plus who have already bought tickets, should be fun expect to play the usual tight away game.

 

Watched Posh outplay WBA last night. I know you did not think much of GW, but he seems to have learned from his mistakes at NE and then Stevenage. One BBC commentator described him as 'a young, bright English manager'! I thought I heard thousands of NE supporters collapsing with laughter. However, his time at Posh has shown that he can motivate young players. The problem with Posh, as with most teams, is the lack of an effective striker. The guy who scored the 2nd against NE has been sold to QPR for £2m.
Yes. That game against Wolves. Perhaps the game against H'field was the balance.

 

Having been denied three points in the first match at Deepdale in September, North End made no mistake with a fairly easy victory over a very average Wolves side, goals by Gallagher and Reach sent North End catapulting into the top half of the table only nine points behind big spending Derby in sixth place. A very subdued home support in a gate of 21020 although they were noisy at half time and at full time voicing their displeasure. North End started well although Wolves had a sniff of a chance following a duff throw by Johnson, Henry could not make his effort count and got injured in the process. On 17 minutes it was North End who took the lead and to be honest deserved it, a ball over the top found Gallagher on his own in the box, he chipped keeper Ikeme, towards the goal, a couple of defenders tried and failed to clear the ball and there you go one up. North End dictated play although did not look like scoring a second, the home side closest effort came from a Byrne free kick which hit the stantions supporting the goal.
North End started shakily in the second half and had a couple of narrow squeaks but soon doubled the lead following good work by Woods, Wolved failed to clear the ball and Reach fired home from about six yards.
Things looked well under control until Mason got behind the Whites defence took the ball past Lindegaard and slotted home, game on well not exactly Iorfa put in a mazy run which was blocked and Mason was forced wide by great Huntington defending. Apart from that it was a breeze as North End possibly could have added others but a well deserved win was achieved in the Midlands.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Preston North End 2 Att 21020

Kenny Jackett

All of us are looking for good performances and wins, and the wins haven't come here at home this year.

"It is our job to produce results and we didn't do that today. It was a disappointing day and a disappointing result.

"I understand the frustration and accept it. We need to produce. I need to produce results.

"I was looking for us to up the tempo but we couldn't create the chances that we needed and it was the key moments in the game that cost us because at home the goals against total is too high."

Preston manager Simon Grayson:

"We obviously had a bit of pressure on us when they scored but overall it was a very pleasing and professional performance.

"To go 2-0 up was just what we deserved. We got a little bit sloppy just after that but you can't fault the players for what they have done.

"We have to keep working and doing the right things. It is an honest group who are getting the rewards for what they have put in all season.

"The sole purpose is to be in the Championship next season and we will keep working hard and see where it takes us."