Preston North End v Colchester United Deepdale 18/8/2012 Cast your mind back 12 months, the expectation was high, players, fans and management were all ready to take the division by storm first game at home Colchester, no problem the road to promotion starts here. A hammering later reality kicked in rather early for the home faithful and the season panned out the same way. This time the expectation is just as great after a super display on Monday night. First league opponents non other than Colchester. Will lightning strike twice, hopefully not, but first day results have a quirky feel about them after all, Colchester put 7 past Norwich a couple of seasons ago. As we did against United in a cup tie about three years ago as well. The U's did the double on us last season, time for revenge. Up front for the visitors on Saturday are likely to be Clinton Morrison and Freddie Sears ex West Ham, whilst in midfield they have Andy Bond who spent a couple of years playing for Lancaster on loan when he was a Crewe player(Useful player) The U's departed the Capital One cup after being hammered 3-0 at Yeovil, manager John Ward will want a response. As for us still no forward signed although possibly Sodje and David Healy may be signed in time otherwise expect the same side as Monday night. Should be interesting.
A nil all draw. 61% of possession by NE 12 to 6 shots, 7 to 2 on target for NE but stats do not show the whole game. Disappointing result but betteer than previous years' starts. And GW will see the result as disappointing 'draws are not enough...'
A point is better than nothing as Preston North End and Colchester United played out a goalless draw this afternoon. A sultry afternoon in Preston as Colchester started the game kicking towards the Town End. The visitors settled quickly and probed away at the home defence which held firm without any major scares, a shot from Wilson whistled well over the bar as did many of the U's efforts during the afternoon. Slowly North End began to get on top with Monakana showing silky skills on the right wing. North End's first real chance came from a Wroe free kick which Cousins in the visitors goal did well to tip over the bar, from the resulting corner Laird was just about to hammer a shot to goal but veteran Clinton Morrison made a great saving tackle. A rare Colcester corner led to a bit of wrestling in the area between Keane and O'Toole it looked a draw with no falls or submissions, however within a minute there was argy bargy at the other end as Monakana chasing a through ball clattered into the Colchester keeper. Mr Gibbs produced the yellow card when a red could have so easily have been given. As the temperature off the pitch rose the game staggered towards half time with both sides grateful for the shelter of the dressing room. As with the first half Colchester began the brighter although it wasn't to long until a Monakana effort was again when saved by Cousins. Colchester offered little threat in the early stages as North End tried to find away through the visitors defence with the tireless Beardsley working his socks off. Cousins got a stroke of luck when an Amoo 30 yards pile driver was spilled by the keeper but fortunately a defender was on hand to clear it. Colchester finally drew a couple of saves from Stuckmann although in truth the efforts were extremely tame. A Laird effort then drew another good save from Cousins, from the resulting corner it looked as the the home side should have been awarded a penalty, the entire Town End claimed for the kick but Mr Gibbs was not for giving it. Colchester pushed forward towards the end trying to sneak a winner but they never looked like getting it. Preston North End 0 Colchester United 0 att 10000
I’m satisfied with the draw (our first ever at Deepdale), but concerned about our lack of threat in the final third. I was astonished that referee didn’t send Monakana off, which for me was biggest moment of the game because he looked your most threatening player. Still we did get some luck when the ball fell fortuitously for Eastman to clear after Cousins spilled Amoo’s vicious long-range shot. Good luck for the rest of the season apart from when you visit the Weston’s.
GW has praised Clinton Morrison for standing up for Jeffrey Monakana. He did not think he deserved a red , so why should we? CM, in this incident, demonstrates true professionalism which I hope NE players will follow. Good luck to Clinton & your team.
