After the dross of Tuesday a chance to redeem it on Saturday at home to Scunthorpe who amongst their ranks the ever slIm ex North Ender Jon Parkin. There was a possibility yesterday that the game might be called off due to a bunch of French Travellers who thought they could park up on the Deepdale car park, they left after being offered tickets for Saturday's game. Can it get any worse probably, not expecting a classic and won't get one. Roll on 5pm on Saturday when I will be on my way home from the game.
Compared to the utter tosh that was served up on Tuesday night althoiugh still a long way from being perfect maybe just maybe Preston may have turned the corner under new manager Westley. Although goalless again this was a mildly entertaining game with Scunthorpe. In the Irons line up were three ex North Enders icluding Jon (the Beast) Parkin, indeed it was Parkin who forced a save from a header, Ryan then tried his luck from a pot shot but this was easily held by Stuckmann.Then miracle upon miracle North End had the ball in the net after fine work by Mayor, Holroyd netting from close range, sadly thiough he was offside. This raised the home fans spirits and shortly afterwards Hume was denied by a brilliant block by a Scunthorpe defender. North End were on top but inability to put the ball in the net is a problem at the moment. Half time came and the home side wetre applauded off the pitch for a change. Scunthorpe started the better witha couple of efforts on goal, but mainly it was Preston who had the advantage, Slocombe in the visitors goal being lucky when failling to collect a cross and also when Procter headed over from close range. Devine also went close with another header from a corner. Scunthorpe brought on Gary Thompson and he began to pose problems for the home defence and he was unlucky near the end when a header flew across the face of the goal with nobody to apply the final touch. Although Scunthorpe dominated the latter stages of the game it was North End who could count themselves unlucky when what looked like a fould possibly just inside the box was given as a free kick just outside the box. Nicholson's shot was cleared and that was that. Goalless but the work effort of the home side was to be applauded. Preston North End 0 Scunthorpe United 0 Att 10600
For me it was the first signs that Westley is starting turn things around. Even though the result was the same as against Walsall and Chesterfield, the performance was notably better. Small crumbs, I know.
