Pre-match preamble
A brief history: Preston North End Football Club, properly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE was a founder member of the Football League in 1888.
They played their first matches in the Preston suburb of Ashton, but when they switched to Moor Park in the north of the town, they added ‘North End’ to denote the new location. In 1875, the club leased a field opposite Moor Park, on the site of the current Deepdale stadium, which has been its home ever since.
Deepdale is now football's oldest ground in terms of continuous use by a league club.
The club is known as ‘Proud Preston’, and the ‘Old Invincibles of the previous century set some incredible records Cup winning wise. (So they would likely not be pleased that my brother always called them ‘Pressed on Both Ends’).
Mostly now simply known as ‘The Invincibles.’
Interestingly, Preston became one of the first professional clubs by hiring players from Scotland. The players who came from Scotland to play in England in those days were known as the ‘Scotch Professors’. The Scotland national football team is the joint-oldest international football team, but though I quite like Andy Robertson, I’m not sure he deserves a PhD.
On the train
Quick chat with Rob and Roger, Town fans who had only just found out they are close neighbours in West Mersea.
The train was pretty full, but I managed to grab a seat next to Ben – both of us wondering what the game had in store. We were expecting a fairly tough match, probably with a lot of defensive blocking, ‘parking the bus’ as it’s known; that was their main tactic when we played them back in August at Deepdale. It’s a tough one to call this season as we have beaten some of the ‘better’ teams and lost to some of the worst. Talked about Szmodics…hoping he will stay, given a chance centrally, he might be just what we need.
First half
We were right in our assumptions about the bus park, 11 men ranged in the box.
Town started off fairly positively, though their first shot at goal didn’t come for about 20 minutes. Matusiwa cleverly evaded his marker for a forward pass to Clarke, whose shot went over the bar. Although most of the possession fell to Town, PNE, had breakaway chances too with O’Shea blocking an attempt by Jebbison a few minutes later.
A great pass from Davis, back to Burns, on to Azon, who pulled off a decent overhead kick at goal that their keeper, Cornell, gathered. The next big chance of a goal in the match saw Jebbison chip the ball over Walton’s head but luckily it went wide.
Town created chances throughout the rest of the half, with Cajuste and Mehmeti coming close but even with most of the possession Town could not muster a shot on target.
Second half
George Hirst came on for Azón at the break, who was feeling unwell. A great pass from Mehmeti should have seen him score but he pushed it wide.
We saw Walton make his first real save of the match by tipping a dangerous shot by Thompson over the bar. This resulted in a corner which turned into a scrambled disaster and ended with the ball in the net from a rebound scored by Gibson.
We then had a similar scenario in the Town’s goal with Hirst’s shot not getting through and a second attempt by Davis leading to appeals for handball. The rebound again fell to Hirst and was similarly unsuccessful.
Just before the 90 minute mark, Town were awarded a penalty kick from a foul on Clarke. He stepped up and took it himself in inimitable style.
A fair bit of kerfuffle ensued as Preston players surrounded the referee with complaints that it was double kicked. I was right opposite and it looked fine to me – but even if it wasn’t he would have been given the chance to take it again, I believe, according to the rules?
This incident caused time added on to stretch to 9 minutes and Town were pressing hard, determined to try for another goal. Again Clarke was brought down in the box in a more obvious nailed on penalty situation – but nothing was given.
Two further definite calls for hand ball in the area were also ignored. A last ditch header by Kipre was safely gathered by Cornell before the whistle was finally blown.
The ref was escorted from the pitch by security staff, to a huge chorus of boos – something I have never witnessed at Portman Road before.
Men of the match
Davis, Burns and Furlong were stand out stalwarts trying to get the ball into the box, and Mehmeti put in a good shift with some nice touches and useful runs.
But my MotM was Jack Clarke, with his cool, perfect penalty-taking ability. At that late stage in a very disrupted game, it would be understandable for nerves to kick in, but I am always confident that he will score.
Post-match pondering
Couldn’t help wondering if twenty seven thousand fans singing “Shit Referee” at the top of their lungs for more or less the whole match, would make the subject of the song more or less liable to view our team in a balanced way? He did make some very odd decisions. PNE were lucky not to have incurred a penalty in the first half for blatant handball (or more correctly ‘arm ball’) by a Preston defender. Even one of our coaching staff on the bench – a very reserved bunch generally, was given a yellow card for, I assume dissent, when Clarke was grabbed by his shirt front, lifted off the ground and thrown on his back. I think he was just trying to bring it to someone’s attention?
I don’t understand why the assistant referees aren’t given more of a role, or perhaps don’t ‘take’ more of a role, to make decisions more balanced. Their name changed officially in 1996 to better reflect their expanded duties, which now include assisting with fouls and disciplinary actions – but I’ve rarely seen it put into action. Perhaps it’s because they are not keen on being called ARs?
However, colloquially most are still called linos.
I am not going to debate the referee’s professional attributes, proficient or otherwise, the game is over - it serves no purpose. It leaves a bad taste to lay ‘blame’, and they are human - they make mistakes, as do all of us. All I will say in this instance is that I’ve seen us play better, sharper and with more cohesion - BUT – a game that is constantly interrupted, be it a genuine infringement or not, is not going to have the best flow or allow teams to play well and get into a rhythm.
But I did have to laugh at a PNE fan on one of the Football Forums who posted a rant about the ‘unfairness’ of the penalty decision for us. When I responded to him, about the match generally he said “Oh I haven’t seen it yet”. You have to laugh…
I thought there was too much emphasis/reliance on the left side of the pitch – would have like to have seen more use of Burns. When he did get the ball he looked tricky and caused them trouble – several good runs and crosses into the box. I’d like Egeli to play a more central role too, and Davis should take the corners, not Mehmeti. Having said that I thought the latter had a good game, with two near misses and lots of energy, he appears to have settled in well.
Nunez and Philogene were much missed, let’s hope they are back from injury very soon.
When we are allowed, we play good, attractive and clever football in most matches – but we are still lacking the finishing touch on many occasions and if necessary, ways to handle the more physical teams that are determined to just ‘block’ with bodies, holding or even fouls as a last resort. It may be be my imagination, but some of the weaker teams in the Championship have excellent goal keepers! We now have a run of away games, which will be tough, but not an insurmountable obstacle to putting points on the board.
I am staying relentlessly optimistic until the end. Yes. it’s very annoying I’m told!
Next up Town face Portsmouth on Tuesday evening – another long journey but fingers crossed for a good result – especially for our amazing travelling supporters. They fill the total quota of seats every time and make plenty of noise for our team. I salute you all! I’ll be there in spirit, and shouting at the telly I promise you…
