Not good being a goal down so early, particularly as Preston have scored eleven in their previous two home games. It's a good job we're safe from relegation!
mathematically we are not safe but it would take something of a miracle to send us down by 5pm today ie Crewe and Tranmere winning away
It was a spirited show by the Gills but PNE were just too strong all round. Yes Whelps and Martin did square up and players were having a go at each other throughout the game. It was really out of character. Legge might have been faulted with the first goal but was otherwise strong, Hessy and Gregory did some nice passing and Nelson made half a dozen good saves. Gills had a twenty minute spell before half time that looked promising but PNE always looked capable of stepping up a gear if it was needed. Akinfenwa seemed to strain a fetlock as soon as he came on and Weston was anonymous, perhaps the last we will see of them. Lee and Whelpdale seemed interested but not enough for new contracts. But job done, even the mathematicians know we are staying up, massive credit to PT to garner a mid table position with that lot.
the sun has got his hat on hip-hip-hip hooray the sun has got his hat on and he's coming out today now we'll all be happy singing in the sun 'cause come the month ofAugust we'll still be playing in League One !
It did sound like Preston were the better Team,Luckily it did not matter about the result.We can have a relaxing game against Shrewsbury with no stress now.Hopefully we look to finish on a high. I`m pleased Cody scored,that was his 17th of the season and he will wish the season is not finishing.
We went to this game with low expectations of both performance and outcome and these were duly met. I agree with most of Bristol's analysis, but don't think that Whelpdale did a great deal to impress. Hewitt got found out too often - one of the problems on both the right and the left was that when the outside backs went forward the midfield didn't cover the absent positions well enough - that was the cause of the row between Martin and Whelpdale - and although that episode didn't result in a goal being conceded all 3 Preston goals did come from there being too much open space on the outside - mostly the right. Anyhow we're safe, and I've got my 'home' match back next season with Rochdale being promoted. So now we have to wait and see who stays, who goes (and that includes the manager), and how much money PS is prepared to put into the playing staff. On today's evidence I think that a couple of years consolidation in L1 will be necessary before thinking about another promotion, as without a supply of inspirational players from the development squad I doubt that PS's pockets are deep enough to fund the sort of transfers and salaries that would be required to take us to the next level.
Thanks for the view itstimupnorth. I'm hoping the Rochdale fixture comes out as a Saturday game next season and will make every effort to get up there this time. Although whether i can bear that on a coach, I will need to see. Maybe a start of season or end of season fixture would be nice for us southern softies. As for PT, wasn't it after the Shrewsbury game away, that MA was departed. Well not a question really because i know it was. Just saying lol
itsimupnorth, nice to get a view from someone who was there as I relied on the radio coverage, bit confused over your assessment of Harriman as I didn't think he played. The coverage suggested we did play some good football in spells but as always poor decisions/defending were our undoing.
Sorry Grumpy (and others), got my H's mixed up. Should have been Hewitt. I've amended the original post to avoid further confusion
Just seen PT's post match comment on the BBC website "In the end, the club didn't have a particularly good start - so to finish off with 52 points, I think we've all got to be pleased with that...." Perhaps a clue in there for the last game for those at the top of the prediction league...
A fair write up but I think the PNE took their foot of the gas after scoring in the first half as opposed to a "spirited display" by the boys in blue.
Well I think the motoring analogies of "took their foot off the gas" and "looked capable of stepping up a gear" are saying very similar things. The points made about Harriman and Hewitt at right back are interesting. Harriman seems to have been cast aside after his poor performance at Orient. For a season long loan player, the signal seems to be that he is going back to QPR. Hewitt was pretty robust on Saturday but BSG's comment about the right side looking vulnerable was correct but the left and centre were equally vacant. Hewitt and Harriman should have had far more to show this year than has actually happened. They do not look good enough to play at a higher level despite a few flashes of quality. So, for next season these might be on their way leaving a mediocre Joe Martin , an untried at this level Fish and a pair of centre backs lacking pace. I think we can guess where there might be some signings.
