Match Day Thread PNE v Sheffield United Deepdale 16/12/2017

The Blades arrive on an iffy run of results although having watched the televised clash against Brizzle last Friday they do not appear to be playing that badly. Luck seems to have deserted them having hit the woodwork four times last Friday, also had Fleck sent off which means he won't be ab;e to hit last minute goals as he did for Coventry a couple of seasons ago.
Bigger loss for them though is Paul Coutts, the midfielder broke his leg at Burton and probably no coincidence that results have slightly dipped since his injury.
Surprisingly given his rather patchy record in the past Leon Clarke seems to be banging in goals left right and centre, he has a useful partner in Billy Sharp as well, possibly may be a bit iffy at the back letting in five against Fulham at home not recommended.
Wilder has done a great job at the Lane and being a Blades supporter as well seems to be bringing the good times back to the Lane.
They have sold 3700 at last count so should be a ripping atmosphere on Saturday, big game this one.
Question for us do we start with Hugill, looked a different side when he came off last Saturday with Harrop and Horgan running sat the Burton defenders. Will have to be careful with free kicks against the Blades so best stay on that line Maxi

Stat Attack: Sheffield United
6 Hours ago

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@pnefc

For the second time this season, we welcome visitors from the steel city of Sheffield to Deepdale.

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Ticket News
Ticket Information: Sheffield United
6 Hours ago
After Wednesday were our opening day guests, today it is the turn of the side from Bramall Lane to head over the Pennines.

Since 1894, the Blades have made exactly 50 previous visits here, coincidentally the same number as their city neighbours.

So far, we have had the upper hand over United, with 23 wins and 11 draws to 16 defeats. There have been 142 goals in this fixture, 87 to North End, but a very creditable 55 to our visitors, all of which suggests there might well be yet more today.

However, there had only been one goalless draw until 2005, but three of the four games since have seen neither side score so it is about time goals featured again in this fixture.
We have scored four goals on three occasions, including our biggest win by 4-0 in 1905 and we have only failed to score in nine games, whilst keeping 17 clean sheets. The highest match aggregate is seven goals, courtesy of our 4-3 win in 1895, and there have been two occasions when six goals were shared; 3-3 in 2004 and a 4-2defeat six years ago.

Numerous players have appeared in the plain white shirt and the red and white stripes, but perhaps the most fondly remembered by both sets of fans are Ian Bryson and Alan Kelly Jnr, who each served both clubs with great distinction and have remained in the Preston area at the end of their careers.

On This Date
One of the few locally members of the Invincibles was born on 16th December in 1863. Fred Dewhurst was a schoolmaster at Preston Catholic College and combined his work there with his role as a kingpin of our pre-Football League side.

A regular provider of goals for his more illustrious colleagues, Fred was no slouch in front of goals himself and was a member of our Double winning side of 1888/89. He only scored one hat-trick, in the 26-0 demolition of Hyde – but he also scored four goals in a match on three occasions. All four of these feats were achieved in the FA Cup prior to the start of the Football League and he also scored 11 goals for England in only nine appearances. Sadly, as with so many of his team-mates, he died very young, aged only 31 in April 1895.

Centre half Tony Singleton played the last of his 333 games for his only league club on this date in 1967. A Preston lad, Tony only scored two goals, both in the FA Cup, but both gave him and the North End fans some wonderful memories.
The first was in the semi-final of 1964, when he hit the winner from more than 30 yards with a thunderous shot through the pouring rain at Villa Park to take second division North End to Wembley rather than our third division opponents Swansea Town. His only other goal came two years later at Old Trafford when he equalised against Manchester United in our Sixth Round replay before two late goals finally put North End out.

Last Five Games At Deepdale
Preston North End 1 (Gallagher) Sheffield United 1 (De Girolamo), 24th January 2015
Preston North End 1 (Little) Sheffield United 1 (Baxter), 30th August 2014
Preston North End 0 Sheffield United 0, 17th March 2014
Preston North End 0 Sheffield United 1 (Kitson), 20th October 2012
Preston North End 2 (Carlisle, Hume) Sheffield United 4 (Phillips, 2; Williamson, 2), 19th October 2011

Ref Watch: Sheffield United

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This weekend’s clash with Sheffield United at Deepdale will see Tim Robinson as the man with the whistle at a PNE game, for the second time in three weeks.

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Tim, from West Sussex, in his sixth year on the EFL list and was the match official for the 1-1 draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road late last month.

Before that, he last took charge of North End in his only trip to Deepdale, when we overcame Birmingham City 2-1 back in March of this year.

That was his fourth game overall in charge of the Lilywhites, the others all being away trips; Brentford, Ipswich and a 2-0 victory at Coventry City when Joe Garner and recently returned club captain Tom Clarke were on the scoresheet.
He has also taken charge of one Sheffield United game this season, their 1-0 home win over Barnsley back in August, when both former North End striker Leon Clarke and Tykes skipper Angus McDonald were sent off late in the first half.

The assistants on Saturday afternoon will be Jonathan Hunt and Mark Jones, whilst the fourth official assigned to the game is Tom Nield.

Mr Robinson failed to give us a nailed on penalty at Norwich !!!!!!!!!

 

Preston North End 1 (Hugill) Sheffield United 0
PNE: Maxwell, Clarke, Huntington, Davies, Fisher (O'Connor 27), Pearson, Gallagher (Browne 77), Barkhuizen, Johnson, Robinson (Harrop 77), Hugill. Subs (not used): Boyle, Horgan, Mavididi, Rudd.

Sheffield United: Moore, Carter-Vickers (Donaldson 68), Stearman, O'Connell, Baldock (Lafferty 58)), Lundstram, Carruthers (Slater 74), Stevens, Sharp, Clarke. Subs (not used): Wright, Lavery, Henegan, Blackman. Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex) Attendance: 15,202 (3,850 away)

Deserved win for the Whites after a hard fought game against a useful Blades side who actually didn't force Chris Maxwell to make a meaningful save all afternoon. Took North End a while to get going today the Blades dominated midfiled with Chris Basham running the show however once we started to play the ball more on the floor we looked the better side.
As with last week Maxwell received his get out of jail card early, this week after about 30 seconds when his scuffed clearance landed at the feet of Clarke who delayed too long and was denied by two home defenders who blocked his effort on goal.
Maxwell struggled early on with a couple of cross which luckily were headed wide by well placed United players.
At the other end only Robinson caused the Blades danger with his ability to run at defenders, he had one shot well saved by Moore in the Blades goal. Towards half time the tide began to turn and North End almost took the lead from a Gallagher free kick which clipped the top of the bar.
We upped our game in the second half and started to pass it more, looked far more dangerous, Robinson was unlucky at the end of a fine flowing move when firing narrowly passed the far post, however just shy of the hour into the lead we went, quick throw in, inch perfect Robinson cross and at the back post was the big man Hugill to volley home, it had been coming.
United went for broke bringing on Donaldson and leaving three up front, had a lot of the ball but in truth never looked like scoring. We had half chances to increase the lead but didn't take them but didn't really matter the points were ours.
Up to ninth six games unbeaten, not bad apparently for everybody else's worse teams they have seen this season.

Hugill gave the defenders a hard afternoon, Pearson did a lot of unseen work but now seems to be cutting out his disciplinary problems, the defence was great but Cllum Robinson was a danger and personal view top lad this afternoon.

Preston manager Alex Neil:

"It's been a good spell for us. We've come up against a lot of different challenges so we are delighted with what we have done.

"Sheffield United are a really difficult team to play against. I felt at half-time we hadn't moved the ball well enough and a couple of individuals could give a bit more and they gave us that second half, which is why we won the game.

"We have a plan A, B, C and D, and the players can slip into different shapes quite easily. I have a young clever squad who are hungry and want to learn."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder:

"I don't like the spike that's appeared in the team over the last few weeks. I don't enjoy it. I am one for a consistent approach and performances and we are not getting it.

"I think some of them may have taken their eye off the ball a little bit. If that's the case they (had) better get ready for the consequences of taking their eye off the ball.