Notts County @ Deepdale 1/2/2014

A new month and a rare home game this year, struggling County visit having bobbed along at the lower reaches of the table seemed to be making their way upwards recently but a 5-1 hammering against Walsall was not what new manager Shaun Derry would have wanted.
The Magpies better players this season seem to have been their loan players, with Callum MacGregor banging in a fair few goals.
In their ranks is Mr Campbell-Ryce who was sent off for a horror tackle in the match at Deepdale last season, interesting to note it is the same referee who is in charge this weekend. Last time he reffed one of our games he sent off the wrong person.
A bonus for North End is that Kilkenny's sending off has been overturned and he is free to play this Saturday, there is a rumour we have signed Craig Davies from Bolton on loan with a view to a permanent deal, useful scorer at this level.

 

But I doubt if May will be joining us: too valued, too good and too expensive!

 

For 60 minutes it looked as North End would never manage to get past Notts County's 43 year old keeper, Kevin Pilkington until Craig Davies turn and violent lash hit the back of the net to give the home side a belated 1-0 lead, the goal had been coming as North End laid seige to County's goal in teh second half.
Pilkington had already denied the home side four times in the second period and when he was beaten two defenders cleared efforts from the line.
A lack lustre first half performance by the home side in saying that they still should have been out of site but Pilkington and some wayward finishing kept the score blank at half time.
County though played well in the first half although, the lack of urgency in the home side may have had something to do with that, County had gone close with a Showunmi header and really should have lead when Grealish escaped the home sides offside trap, he screwed his shot wide.
Following the Davies goal North End continued to press and were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes to go, it may possibly have been outside the area but Mr Harrington pointed to the spot after Grealish's foul.
Garner did the rest. (2-0)
County's only attack of note should have led to a goal with seven minutes left, Appiah missed the target when well placed.
There was still time for Pilkington to deny both Garner and Hume in the final minutes as the Whites secured the three points to ensure they won't go down this season.

Preston North End 2 Notts County 0 Att 9483