Preston North End v Hartlepool United A chance to make amends after Saturday's poor display against the hangers of monkies from the North East. This won't be easy as Pool were one of the better sides we played last season at Deepdale only losing to a Danny Mayor wonder goal. Pool have had an iffy start to the season although only a late Bournemouth equalizer stopped them from winning at Dean Court. Veteran Steve Howard leads the line for them having returned to the club from Leicester City, will be a handful for the Whites defence, they also have 18 years old Luke James who looked a decent young player last season. As for us there could be a possible start for Byrom after two substitute appearances, otherwise I suspect that the Whites will be virtually unchanged from Saturday although Welsh took a heavy knock. As I said not easy but a win would be acceptable.
Well it was a comprehensive victory in the end but the scoreline doesn't actually tell the picture of the game, Preston started as they had left off against Crawley on Saturday on the back foot, Hartlepool had two nippy winger who kept firing in cross for the human battering ram that was Steve Howard. Preston were second best for the best part of 25 minutes as the visitors were quicker to every ball. Goals however change games and North End scored five of them. On 28 minutes the home side took the lead, the visitors never really cleared a corner the ball pinged around the edge of the Hartlepool penalty area the ball fell to Beavon whose powerful shot was parried by Flinders in the Pool goal, following a goalmouth scramble the ball landed at the left foot of Byrom who lashed the ball home. (1-0) Within a minute it was two and praise must go to the referee Mr Bates who allowed a good advantage after a foul on a Preston player, the ball eventually found it's way to Beavon who hammered the ball past Flinders from 20 yards. (2-0) At this point Hartlepool were in danger of being swamped, Beavon going narrowly wide with a header, somehow Hartlepool clung on to half time without going even further behind. As with the first half Hartlepool started the second half brightly, Welsh blocking a Franks effort before Monkhouse from close range managed somehow to put the ball over the Preston bar from almost under the cross bar. Under constant pressure Preston broke away in the 65th minute and virtually killed the game off, Beavon braking down the right and his inch perfect cross was nodded home by King although it has to be said Flinders in the Pool goal should have done better. (3-0) Minutes later King was inches away from a 4th as Preston ran riot against the visitors. Wroe and Sodje went close until with five minutes to go Laird headed home the fourth from a corner. (4-0) Laird wasn't finished and with three minutes to go he went on a mazy 40 yards run beating several defenders before blasting the ball past Flinders (5-0) Looks comfortable but it wasn't. Preston North End 5 Hartlepool United 0 Att 8312
Maclad, you report a more circumspect view of the game than some reports I have read. I almost felt sorry for the Pool...almost. What is clear is that NE have a good few players who can put the ball in the back of the goal. I am curious about change of keepers.Was it just to maintain competition between the two?
Apparently Stucks has only kept two clean sheets, also appears to be slightly over weight. Simonsen is faster playing the ball to the full backs. 11 players have scored this season, which tells it's own story. Thought the Swindon performance was better but three points is three points.
I thought Stucks was overweight when I saw him against AFC Wombles. He did not look athletic at all but I thought GW's regime would knock him into shape.
