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Match Day Thread Reading @ Deepdale 11/3/2017

Discussion in 'Preston' started by themaclad, Mar 9, 2017.

  1. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Reading vist Deepdale on Saturday as the opening day fitures are reversed, have to say they are the surprise packet of this season under the Dutch manager Jaap Stam. They are fifth and are the only non Yorkshire side in the play off zone, they have a decent cushion as well being seven points clear from Fulham.
    The Royals won the game at the Mad Stad 1-0 with a first half goal by John Swift, last time on the road they got a pounding at the Amex losing 3-0 although dominating possession they got caught on the break and suffered a bit of a tonking, away from home they have won at the home of Birmingham, Brizzle, Venky's and Wygan, Barnsley and Cardiff, actually won more than us away.
    Squad wise Stam has brought in three decent loan signings Oxford, Grabban and Mutch, they are a fairly cosmopiltan bunch with speedy winger Roy Beerens beingb a big money signing in the summer, up front Yann Kermogant is still banging them in, quite a dangerous side this year.
    Goingb back in history we did stuff them 18-0 on 27/1/1894 and no I wasn't there. Originally they were nick named the Biscuitmen due to the Huntley and Palmers factory in the town at that time.
    If you can get hold of a copy of "the greatest player the world never saw", all about the lower league George Best who was called Robin Friday, a character if ever there was.
    As for us would be surprised if there are many changes though we still probably won't have a right back who is fit doubt whether we'll see much of the ball so repeating the 18-0 scoreline could be difficult.
     
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  2. themaclad

    themaclad Well-Known Member

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    Took a while for North End to get a grips with the total football that Reading play, but once in front the Whites absoultely demolished the high flying visitors with one of the best performances for a long while. The 3-0 scoreline in the end could have been more but not to worry still took the three points.
    Early on though different story as Reading dominated the ball and got into some decent positions with the dangerous McLeary coming close twice, once nearly deceiving Maxwell with a swerving effort from 25 yards. Interesting still of play from the visitors with players seeming to be comfortable in any position on the park. It wasn't all one way though as Horgan and Hugill both went close.
    Although going forward the Royals were good they looked less than impressive at the back and on the half hour defensive frailties were exposed. Blackett lost the ball to Horgan who advanced into the box squared the ball to Barkuizen who scored with a classy finish.
    The second wasn't long in coming, for a chance we took advantage from an opposition corner the ball was cleared to Barkuizen he turned away from two Reading players who colloded with each other, he sped into the box(believe me he is rapid) should have shot passed to Horgan who at the 57th attempt just about managed to get the ball into the net.
    From then on in North End were exceptional.
    The third just after half time came after Reading couldn't deal with a Horgan free kick and Barkuizen netted at the back stick. That's four in three for the ex Morecambe player.
    He cold have had two more although he was a tad greedy with one effort when he should have passed. Hugill was a inch away from heading the team goal of the season after two superb passes from Pearson and McGeady. Cunningham also went close as did Tom Clarke who got in some really great positions.
    Kermogant was denied at the other end by a fabulous block by Perason and fair play to the Frenchman who acknowleged the quality of the tackle.
    Absolute quality performance from back to front with Barkuizen proving for £200,000 you can still find bargains, gap to the last play off place is back to six points, game on again still some tough away games to come but confidence is high and anything could happen.

    Preston North End 3 Reading 0 Att 10000 est

    Preston North End boss Simon Grayson: "I'm obviously delighted when you beat somebody who are in the play-off positions 3-0, keep a clean sheet, with very good individual performances and could have had a lot more goals if we'd taken our chances.

    "It's enhanced our opportunity of trying to catch the teams above us. We've always said over the last few weeks, we'll just see where it takes us. We've got nine games to go, I think if we win the next nine then we might have a chance but we've got some tough games from now until the end of the season."

    "Wherever we finish, we'll have had a great season because they're an honest bunch of players and we'll keep fighting till the end and see where it takes us."

    Reading boss Jaap Stam: "Everybody knows where we are, if you want to stay there, you need to defend and play in a certain way with a certain aggression and it's not only now towards the end of the season, it's the whole season because this is a tough league.

    "It's very difficult to stay in the top six. All the teams, they want to stay up there, they want to do well, we do as well. I'm not interested in other teams, I'm focusing on our team, what we need to do and what we need to improve.

    "If we keep on winning then we still can end up there and we need to be aware of that as well."
     
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