Match Day Thread PNE v Rotherham United Deepdale 27/10/2018

A return to Deepdale after a one year absence to Rotherham United, promoted after beating now ex Ipswich manager Paul Hurst's Shrewsbury Town 2-1 in last seasons play off season. Their last visit the season before last ended in a 1 all draw with Stevie May scoring his only league goal for us. That season they used a few managers including Paul Warne who eventually got the job and returned them to the Championship

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Met them numerous times over the years with the meeting on a barmy May night in 1971 being the most memorable of them all, a near 29.000 saw us beat them 3-0 to take the old Third division title by one point from Fulham, the double wall free kick from Spavin past Roy Tunks sealing the title or us.
Expect a hard fought game they snaffled a point from the Smoggies on Tuesday, no star names but will give 100%



Team News: Rotherham United

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Club captain Tom Clarke is the only player who is a doubt for this weekend’s visit of Rotherham United to Deepdale.

The skipper missed the last two games with a slight groin niggle and will be assessed in training ahead of the clash with Paul Warne’s Millers before any decision over whether he is fit to return.

The only other absentees for manager Alex Neil are long-term casualties Josh Harrop and Billy Bodin (Both ACL ruptures), who are ruled out for the season.
For Paul Warne, former North End stalwart Billy Jones missed the Millers’ excellent point at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, however, Richard Wood was fit enough to take a place on the bench.
Wood could return to the starting XI, but Jones will be assessed before the final selection for the team is made, as will winger Jon Taylor. Like Jones, there will be another former North Ender potentially in the United squad.

Jamie Proctor recently signed a new contract at the New York Stadium and should return to Deepdale for the game. He has missed much of the last year through injury, but it back fully fit and will be looking forward to the chance of a run out at his boyhood club.

Ref Watch: Rotherham United

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For the first time this season, Jeremy Simpson will take charge of the Lilywhites, as we entertain Paul Warne’s Rotherham United at Deepdale.

The Carnforth referee has not officiated the Lilywhites since January, when he was the match official for the draw at Millwall, his second North End game of 2017/18, his first the 1-0 home win over Queens Park Rangers in December 2017.

This will be Jeremy’s second Millers game of the season, having refereed their 3-2 home defeat to Hull City back in August, one of his 15 games of the season, where he has issued 67 cautions and four red cards so far.
In 2016/17, the select group two match official took the role for our Boxing Day clash with Leeds United and the Lilywhites’ Roses victory over Huddersfield Town in October, as well as acting as fourth official at two home games.
He also was in charge when North End took on Stoke City at PR1 in pre-season that year, and is an experienced official, with plenty of Championship action under his belt.

This weekend he will be assisted by Shaun Hudson and Matthew McGrath, whilst Ben Toner will be the fourth official.

 

If there are 'green shoots' of revival for NE, then they must beat Rotherham today at D'dale. Also, the defence should clam up. The 'we will score more than the opposition' attitude is too stressful for my blood pressure!

 

Preston North End 1 Barkhuizen Rotherham United 1 Smith

PNE line-up: Maxwell, Clarke ©, Hughes, Pearson, Huntington, Davies, Barkhuizen (Moult, 75), Johnson (Gallagher, 72), Nmecha (Maguire, 64), Browne, Robinson. Subs not used: Rudd, Fisher, Earl, Storey.

Rotherham United line-up: Rodak, Vyner, Mattock, Vaulks ©, Ajayi, Taylor (Newell, 68), Towell, Robertson, Vassell (Proctor, 76), Williams (Manning, 85), Smith. Subs not used: Price, Wood, Palmer, Wiles.

Attendance: 11,780 (700 Rotherham United fans)

Referee: Mr J Simpson

A fair result although the visitors had the better chances to score, this was a disjointed performance by the home side who gave awaypossession and sent the ball skywards for majority of the game. Personal view the game on Wednesday took it's toll whilst the Millers did have an extra days rest and looked far fresher and sharper than our lads.
Only one change for North End Clarke for Fisher which was the right move however we still have weakness with lack of cover in that position.
We started quickly and Barkhuizen may have been better getting closer to goal before firing off a tame shot which Rodak saved easily.
After the initial onslaught the visitors grew into the game and Smith hit the outside of the post after both centre halves got in each others way, Vassell also forced a decent save as the Millers looked to gain teh intitiative. As the game drifted towards half time North End took the lead, thought Robinson's corner was poor but Barkhuizen improved it by heading the ball home might have clipped a Miller's defender on the way in but in it went.
An early Vassell shot in the second half was well saved by Maxwell but it wasn't long until they were level, Williams easily beat Hughes his cross found Smith who had time to turn before firing past Maxwell no more than the deserved, following the goal the game became scrappy with both sides at times playing head tennis only one chance of note near the end Robinson worked himself some space but Rodak in the visitors goal did well to block his shot.
Still lots of work for Neil to do still look shaky at the back but with the Leagues bottom club up next with a new manager now is the perfect time to gain our first away win.

Rotherham United manager Paul Warne told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"I think the lads did enough to get a draw, we got a deserved goal in general after creating some good chancing and forcing some decent saves.

"I was disappointed with the first half, I thought we took too many chances in the middle of the pitch which I told them not to, and we weren't forceful enough and quick enough.

"I asked them to play in a different way in the second half and they definitely did that - if nothing else this group have got unbelievable character.

"After we rode the initial storm, I thought we were really in the game and were the side most likely to win."

 

Good and fair report, Mac. I also thought that with NE having a young team, the Wednesday-Saturday is not doing them any favours especially the type of quick closing down footy that seems to be the flavour of the month. By the way, I did read that Robinson was well thought of by the Irish supporters. Barkhuisen also seems to be picking up from where he left off 2 seasons ago. He was in the Sunday Times C'ship team this weekend.

 

To be honest Barnet would have settled for four points from the two home games as I didn't think we would get anything from the Brentford game, but five games unbeaten still not playing as we can settle for that