Preston North End V Huddersfield Town So a cup tie to kick off the season, newly promoted Huddersfield will provide a stern test for Westley's new look side. The Terriers have made as few close season signings, Norwood, Southern and Scannell. Westley now appears to be familiar with the side he wants to play, although a goal scorer is badly needed. Huddersfield have one in their ranks one Jordan Rhodes, he could prove the difference between the two sides. This could go to extra time. LET THE ACTION BEGIN
A good win but one swallow doesn't make a summer especially since Huddersfield lost 2 of their influential players. A sterner test on Saturday against a cllub that beat NE 4 - 2 at Deepdale this time last year.
Evening Barnet your right however we may have more than one swallow After a 3 year break decent passing football returned to Deepdale as North End beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 in front of 5750 fans who apart from the couple of hundred Huddersfield fans went away extremely happy with what they had seen. Having watched dross for far to long the performance the home side put in was light years above anything seen on the Deepdale pitch in recent years. They started well with a Moushino pile driver being parried away by Smithies in the first minute, King narrowly failed to put the ball in the net from the rebound. This set the tone for the first 1o minutes or so as Preston forced a series of corners which were well dealt with by the Huddersfield back line. Gradually the Terriers got back into the game, probing down the left hand side of the pitch were Keane was having difficulty coping with the visitors speedy winger Ward. A weak shot from Southern and a Gobern effort which went wide. Spencer had a great chance for the visitors but scooped his shot over the bar when he really should have done better. A couple of fiesty tackles flew in as the game became slightly heated, however on 29 minutes the home fans got their first goal of the season. Monakana deep cross to the edge of the 6 yard box where King rose above the defenders to head past Smithies into the Huddersfield net. (1-0) The next ten minutes saw some super football from the home side and they were further rewarded on 40 minutes when Beardsley excellent shielded the ball on the by line before centering for Wroe to ghost in a la Martin Peters to make it two from close range. (2-0) A standing ovation for the home side at half time, a rare thing indeed. The second half was a bit more low key, Monakana should have done better when firing across goal, but the visitors started to throw caution to the wind, Novak having a blistering effort turned away for a corner and a cross from Dixon which flew across the face of the goal. North End substitute Amoo nearly created a third but his cross evaded every one in the goal mouth. As a first date it wasn't bad but like most relationships you are going to have good and bad period, after 43 years of being in a relationship with the club the old romance has been stirred again after a lengthy period of unhappiness. Long may it last. Preston North End 2 Huddersfield Town 0 Att 5750
Good report, Maclad. Only 43 years, heh! Glad to see you youngsters supporting NE and not having your heads turned by fancier & richer teams. The surprise seems to have been the quality of play by Beardsley. Some are ssaying he will not be a prolific scorer but will be a good foil for others. We shall see. I think Colchester will be the real initial test. If NE beats them thoroughly & handsomely then then I think we can look forward to an interesting season. Your comment on NE playing good football is thankfully contradicting those wits who said GW would play just one way - kick & run!
