Preston North End v Crystal Palace The Eagles head to Deepdale on Tuesday currently rock bottom in the Championship, letting in 9 goals in 3 matches, which tends to indicate they have a bit of defensive frailty. Their squad from last season has been weakened by the loss of Darren Ambrose who was joint top scorer in the league with Glenn Murray both scoring seven. They still have the useful Zaha and ever reliable keeper Speroni. Two new signings played for them yesterday Darcy Blake and Andre Moritz, Blake previously with Cardiff. Manager Freeman bemoaned the fact that his team had played well but had made basic errors which had cost them. As for us Holmes, Moushino and Byrom look to be long term injuries, doubt whether any new signings will be in the frame for Tuesday night so expect the side to be virtually the side that finished the Bournemouth game. Would be nice to win and draw a Premier League side at home, but expect the usually tight game with one goal deciding it although looking at both teams it's extra time and penalties for this one
A hapless Crystal Palace were sent packing from the Capital One Cup by a rampant Preston North End, the 4-1 victory tells it's own story as goals by Wroe 2, Monakana and Sodje secured a place with the big boys in round 3. North End started poorly with Laird's first pass finding an empty seat in the stand, but within 90 seconds they were 1 up, a cross from the left was headed back towards the penalty spot were Nicky Wroe was in the right place to smash the ball past ex PNE youth player Lewis Price. (1-0) North End had other chances to increase the lead but fine goalkeeping kept the lead down until the 18th minute when after a spot of head tennis Sodje forced the ball home from close range. (2-0) North End were in total command, with Wroe outstanding and Monakana on the wing giving Palace defenders nightmares with his pacy runs, but 10 minutes before half time completely against the run of play, Moxey who had a decent game for the visitors put over a cross from the left to the far post, personally think Simonsen should have dealt with the cross but he hesitated and Wilbraham out jumped Laird to head home. (2-1) Palace were back in the game but only for four minutes when Monakana set off on yet another run, he left a couple of defenders for dead before firing a rasping shot past Price for the third. Stunning. (3-1) A standing ovation for the home side at the break. Palace made two changes at half time with the pacy Zaha and Moritz being brought and to be fair to them they started to become more of a threat. Zaha thought he should have had a penalty which was waved away by the referee, and Moritz effort brought a fine save from Simonsen in the home goal. North End incrteased their lead after 63 minutes with a fine team goal a series of passes down the left hand side ended with Wroe curling a shot into the net via the finger tips of Price and the inside of the post.(4-1) Palace battled on and the unlucky Zaha may have been rewarded with a penalty. Palace had chances to reduce the deficit but great last ditch clearances by Wright and Buchanan saved the home side. The final stages of the game were a bit tetchy as several crunching tackles were made, there was also a brief bit of handbags as Zaha reacted to a tackle from Laird, but take nothing away from the home side the scoreline didn't lie. Preston North End 4 Crystal Palace 1 Att 5100
