A month to the day Oldham return to Deepdale to play in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, the much maligned competition is one which would have been nice to win over the years however being in the Championship for years barred us from the competition. With the aim for this season to finish in the top six, the top two would be good although might be pushing it slightly. Winning the JPT in the grand scheme of things is pretty low on the list and if you do progress, somewhere do the line you will meet Wolverhampton. As with the league game Oldham will play great passing football which will within three years take them into the Premier League(according to their fans) however their lack of forwards will mean the Premier league will never be reached. We will make as many changes that is possible within the rules of the competition, if we win great, if we lose not too worry, however can we be drawn away in the next round then I don't need to go unless it is Fleetwood
You never see Johnson's Paint in the shops...well not in the South. you can get |Leyland Paint. What do the sponsors provide? Enough cans to redecorate the stadiium? I used to like the symbolism of the Milk Cup. It could have murfed into the Yogurt Cup or the Smoothie Cup. The queer shaped ball guys have it best: their cups are beer cups...Heineken. Yes, I know, it is all drivel but reading the blogs on LEP scares the life out of me: pub brawls are a constant threat. You mentioned the passing game. That is okay if a team has players with excellent close ball skills otherwisee it is from centre back to wing back and back to centre half to the other wing back. Anyone can play that game. And I suspect that is what happens at Oldham and other less endowed with skills but pass a lot teams.
Any realistic chance of Preston reaching the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy disappeared after 10 minutes, in that time Oldham were two up, could have been five as the much changed home side capitulated to early Oldham pressure. Oldham took their time with the first goal, 16 seconds to be precise, dodgy defending on the left hand, cross into the box and Philliskirk's total mishit dribbled into the net. Carnage followed in the next nine minute, Stuckmann saved one from Mills, almost let a back pass into the net, he got ironic cheers the next time he touched the ball(did not amuse him) Then came the second North End gave the ball away , cross form the right this time and Wesolowski expertly buied the ball in the neat Great finish. 80 minutes to the final whistle promised to be a long night. The first half followed the pattern of the visitors keeping the ball when they did lose it the home side generously passed it back. A smattering on boos at half time, not surprising really. Two substitutions, a change of formation(442) and the home side immediately looked better,just a matter of time until the home side would score three times and snatch a glorious victory, well it would have been if Joe Garner had had his scoring boots on, missed a catalogue of chances, only downside of a decent performance by him. A Clarke header was cleared off the line, Oldham rarely threatened in the second period and as a crowd of 5900 started to drift away you knew a comeback wasn't going to happen. So farewell JPT, on the other hand desperately cold Tuesday nights in November and December will be avoided watching the next couple of rounds. Preston North End 0 Oldham Athletic 2 Att 5900
