Match Day Thread Preston North End v Sheffield United Deepdale 6/4/2019

Well the next three games will make or break the season, first up Sheffield United with happy Chris in charge, until last Saturday they were on a run of not losing or conceeding that all changed hanks to Andy Weimann, with their defeat to Brizzle they dropoped to third so pressure has ramped up on them to get back into the automatic positions, with Leeds away at Birmingham which is also not a gimme so not just a big game for us but a huge match for the Blades as well, they have also lost the Billy Sharp record of when he scores they never lose as well.
To be fair to the Blades, Wilder has an interesting playing style with two of the three centre backs playing as extra widemen, obviously worked a treat this season given their position, rate Chris Basham excellent player, Sharp is no mug also have Hogan on loan from Villa and McGoldrick who has scored against us on a regular basis.
We vlost at the Lane 3-2 as we were just about to come to the end of our early season slump scoring our first goals away from Deepdale this season, we will have to perform way better than we did last week at teh Mad Stad but returning players may enhance the squad, looking forward to the Blades goal keeper Henderson having a mare he is a twat.
Looking forward to this 5000 plus support from Sheffield it will be loud on Saturday and with Leeds at Home on Tuesday as I said a pivotal week.

First Team News
Team News: Sheffield United

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Preston North End manager Alex Neil revealed earlier this week he has two more players who have been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Tom Barkhuizen (knee) and Andrew Hughes (hamstring) will both not be available for the Lilywhites, alongside long-term casualties Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop (both ACL).

However, the PNE boss does have good news, as he hopes to be able to recall both Alan Browne (ankle) and Brad Potts, who both missed the trip to Reading last weekend.

Skipper Tom Clarke and Ben Pearson – who hobbled off against the Royals – will both be assessed before the squad is named, but winger Brandon Barker is out after injuring his hamstring after coming on as a second half substitute at the Madejski Stadium and the injury could also see an early end to his season.

Callum Robinson and Louis Moult boosted their match minutes with a behind closed doors game on Tuesday and they will again push for an inclusion; the former having got 45 minutes from the start against the Royals.

Blades boss Chris Wilder will be without striker Gary Madine, who sits out the last game of his three-match suspension for the trip to Deepdale.

He has two injury worries on top of the banned forward, with Jack O'Connell damaging a calf towards the end of United's first defeat at home in the league since December against Bristol City last Saturday, although he is expected to be fit to take his place in the team.

But Mark Duffy, who also pulled out of the game late with an Achilles problem, is more of a doubt, as he had not returned to training by the middle of the week.


Ref Watch: Sheffield United

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The match official for Saturday’s clash with Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United at Deepdale is experienced referee Gavin Ward.
Gavin, from Surrey, is in his 12th season on the EFL lists, and although he has officiated the Lilywhites on seven previous occasions, this will be his first at Deepdale!

As mentioned, in those 12 seasons he has also taken charge of North End on seven previous occasions, including our late draw at Hull City in October and our early season trip to Carrow Road to face Norwich City.

Prior to our trip to Norfolk, the last game he officiated was at Elland Road against Leeds United in December 2015, when Jordan Pickford was sent off, only to have the card rescinded on appeal – Mathew Hudson that day making his debut for the Lilywhites.

His other games in charge of PNE were at Brentford and in 2010 at Leicester City, and his first two in the space of a few months back in early 2010, at Bristol City and a 1-1 draw with Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.
He has refereed the Blades on one previous occasion this season, their goalless draw with Birmingham City at Bramall Lane back in September.

This will be his 35th game of the season, having so far issued 110 yellow cards and six red cards in his 34 previous games, the last of which being Bristol City’s 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

On Saturday afternoon Nick Greenhalgh and James Mainwaring will be the match official’s assistants, whilst the fourth official will be last Saturday’s referee, Tony Harrington.

 

I'm hoping you nick this one with a crafty 1-0

 

They are a well organised side just have to beat your lads on Tuesday now.

 

Preston North Ene 0 Sheffield United 1 McGoldrick

PNE: Rudd, Fisher, Storey, Davies, Earl, Pearson, Ledson (Gallagher 65), Nmecha (Stockley 76), Browne, Robinson (Moult 54), Maguire. Subs (not used): Rafferty, Huntington, Crowe.

United: Henderson, Baldock, Basham, Egan, Stevens, Dowell (Cranie 63), Norwood, Fleck, Duffy (Stearman 78), Sharp (Hogan 83) McGoldrick. Subs (not used): Coutts, Freeman, Washington, Moore.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)

Attendance: 18,339 (5,577 away)

The difference between the two sides was they scored we didn't and once they went ahead it was always going to be a tough ask to break them down which apart from a glorious early chance when Robinson in a great position put in a tame left footed effort easily saved by Henderson, sfter that United went for the kill forcing a series of corners and giving our defenders a severe work out in truth they didn't create many clear cut chances but generally bossed the play and put themselves in a good position for automatic.
They don't concede simple as that.
First half we played really well, created the better chances especially in the first 15 minutes after Norwood had had an early shot which Rudd saved at the second attempt, twice we got in down the United left back area ball into great positions both blocked. Robinson also had a shot well saved by Henderson.
On the half hour the Blades fans were celebrating as Leeds went 1 down at Brum they were celebrating even more within a couple of minutes when we didn't deel with a corner(not for the first time this season) Rudd tried to tip the ball over but hit the bar the ball dropped in the 6 yard area scramble and McGoldrick scored from close range.
We had a big shout for a penalty maybe should have been given but wasn't, we were still in the game at half time but as stated United gave us little to sniff at in the second half and took three vital points
One thing to say about the Whites the oldest player for us today was Declan Rudd at 27 until Gallagher came on as sub for Ledson.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The game was going to be decided on who limits their mistakes and who takes their opportunities when they come, because both teams had opportunities. We just didn't take our opportunities.

"If you watch the games at the top end of the Championship, the difference is taking your chances when they come along and limiting your mistakes.

"I don't think you can look and say we didn't try (or) we didn't play in a manner which would give us the best chance in the game."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It was always going to be tough, but it's not surprising in terms of the players' reaction. It's a special group of players and you could see how much they wanted this result today.

"It's a week in football, I've been in it long enough to know it can change really quickly and it can change back as well. There's still a long way to go, we'll just keep grinding away.

"They gave me a few heart attacks (during the game) and probably did the same for the supporters as well."

 

Looks as though that is the story of the season: Just not quite good enough by a thau!