With an impressive stack of results in their last 10 games (only 1 defeat and 2 draws), Preston will be tough opponents. They are set up very much like MK Dons and there has never been more than one goal in any of those games. The big question for us is whether Slavi will risk Saturday's MOTM Scotty Parker - he's apparently having a late fitness assessment. The dilemma, with Chris Baird still doubtful, is obviously who could replace him; the inexperienced Hyndman or short in form O'Hara? I'd also question continuing playing Stearman at RB (Fredericks made an immediate impact when he came on for him on Saturday). My head says Slavi will avoid any changes from the team that started against MK Dons. However, if he rules Parker out then I'd go: .....................Bettinelli................. ..Stearman...Madl...Amorebieta..Ream.. .....Fredericks....Ince...Tunnicliffe... ....................Cairney.......... ..........Dembele....McCormack... To me, that's a balanced formation and has players in their rightful positions (maybe except for Stearman that is).
I'd like to see us go 4-4-2 .....................Bettinelli................. ..Stearman...Madl...Amorebieta..Ream.. .....Fredericks....Ince...Tunnicliffe...Woodrow ..........Dembele....McCormack... I think Preston have been playing 3 at the back, but with our two up front I think they have to go 4 at the back if we put our faster players wide then they'll be reluctant to commit their fullbacks too often. Our one big problem is with neither Smith or Burn playing we are vulnerable to their tall players at free-kicks and corners.
433 recently Grayson tends to play three at the back away but speedy wingers have exploited that away from home so back four at home
Geordie (why do so many League refs seem to come from the North?), Mr Scott Duncan is the man in charge tonight. Fairly stable sort of guy going by his disciplinary performances - 76 yellows and 2 reds in 31 games this season. We've only ever seen him in away games; once in the League in the 2-0 defeat to Derby in December and once at the beginning of last season when we beat Brentford at the Griffin 1-0 in the Capital One Cup.
Scotty Parker plays and just the one change - Fredericks in for Stearman .....................Bettinelli................. ..Fredericks...Madl...Amorebieta..Ream.. .....Cairney....Ince...Parker....Tunnicliffe.. ..........Dembele....McCormack... Still not happy with Cairney wide right (although he does spend a lot of time coming into the middle) or the right footed Tunnicliffe on the left. However can see why Slavi has pretty much stuck with Saturday's line up. Reasonable options on the bench. With Chris Baird back, and him and O'Hara covering the middle. Having three - Garbutt, Stearman and Burn - for the backs does seem overly cautious though when the only forward included is Smith. Suppose Garbutt is arguably also midfield cover. Lonergan makes up the numbers.
Knotty but nice. And for once the other results went our way - big jump up the table please log in to view this image And just look at the goal difference. Bolstered by an incredible 29 goals away from home in the 20 games.
Yes! Great result. Things are looking much better now. Not that we're out of the woods yet, but it's the biggest reason for optimism in quite a while. By the way, welcome Caldwell, lurking and liking. Do introduce yourself - it's good to have a new face on the board.
Not saying you time wasted but had to leave early as I start work at 7am!!!! Think you slightly mugged us but that's the way it goes. Keep McCormack fit you'll be fine by far and away best forward in this league. Hope you stay up good trip to the ground by the Thames for us hardy Northerners
We ground out a much needed 3 points. Like many teams have done to us, Fulham sat back (panicked a few times) didn't play well but nicked a win. Rotherham and MK Dons playing each other this weekend might help as Cardiff will be a tough ask to get 3 points, but we're on a bit of a roll, and may be a bit more confidence has been installed with 2 wins.
The match highlights, enjoy. http://www.fulhamfc.com/first-team/...ston-north-end/preston-north-end-match-action
Hope Cairney's injury isn't too bad. For the Cardiff game may be try someone like Kacaniklic or even Woodrow in the same position. Shame Pringle has been loaned would have made the ideal swap.
Hope so too but it's not looking good. Kaca I think has burnt his boats and not convinced Woodrow has the nous or discipline for a wide position. As you say SuperBri, Pringle would be the obvious choice but he clearly didn't impress Slavi. The lost soul Labyad would be a candidate wide right but gosh knows where he's gone. Not even featuring in the U21s these days and is presumably nowhere near match fitness. Suspect Slavi will fall back on the short straw of Garbutt (who keeps saying his ideal position is wing half!?). On the left with Tunnicliffe moving to his more natural right hand side.
I see Cairney as more of an attacking central midfielder rather than a wide player or winger, he has no speed, he's more about craft, neither has Kacaniklic or Woodrow got speed or can cross a moving ball. I think we played Pringle in the wrong position again he is not a bonifide winger. Think SJ will play O'Hara.
Agree totally about Cairney SuperBri. However was going on Slavi playing him on the right recently, in a (sort of) 4-4-2.
Is Pringle back from loan now? If so, good. He was doing alright at Ipswich according to one of my Ipswich supporting mates.
