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LAST TIME OUT

READING 1 PRESTON NORTH END 0



LEEDS UNITED 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY 0



LAST SEASON

PRESTON NORTH END O LEEDS UNITED 2



A quick turnaround after Saturday's abject display apparently the squad were in early ths morning to discuss how crap they were on the Saturday.
A better display to be expected tomorrow and if if not we will get a roasting by our visitors Leeds, having celebrated their century of existance with a victory over the Yam Yam's on Saturday which took the into second place in the table.
United have changed slightly this season still play quick tempo football but have tightened things up at the back and currently have the best defence in the league whilst we are one of the top scorers at home.
Tuesday nght under the lights with a large attendance although surprisngly as of last Friday United had not sold out, although expect that they will so they will all be Marching all together.
United have not got great depth in the squad but gettng Costa and Arsenal youngster Nketiah does give them a boost.
Expect Alioski to receive a yellow card but only after commiting 50 fouls whilst Pearson will no boubt get a yellow as well which would be his 5th.
Should be fun this is why the Championship is the best league of all

Match Officials: Leeds United Home

It has been almost three years since we last saw Tuesday night’s match official, who has taken charge of some of the Premier League’s biggest games in recent years.


The referee is Kevin Friend, whose last match before the clash at Deepdale was Manchester United’s draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford before the international break.

His last trip to PR1 was in December 2016, when he oversaw North End’s 3-2 home win over Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers, in front of the Sky TV cameras, when Daniel Johnson’s brace was key to the win.

Prior to that he was no stranger to east-west Lancashire derby matches – as the select group referee took charge of both of the 2015/16 season’s North End-Burnley games, at both Turf Moor and Deepdale.
He was also the match official for a controversial affair back in the 2010/11 season between the Lilywhites and Burnley, where Darren Ferguson’s Lilywhites went 3-1 up, but saw Billy Jones sent off for taking a mere matter of seconds over a throw in, allowing the home side to come back and win 4-3.

This then led to a three-match touchline ban for Ferguson after a confrontation with the official in the tunnel, where a brawl had ensued post-match.

However, his last game in charge at Deepdale prior to that was a much happier occasion, when Graham Alexander had a fairy tale ending to his career with his last-minute free kick against Charlton Athletic on the last day of the 2011/12 season.

This will be his 13th game refereeing North End in his 17th season on the professional lists, his first being way back in April 2006; a 2-0 home win over Wolves.

This season he has refereed six games thus far, issuing 27 cautions and two red cards. He will be assisted by Matthew Wilkes and Adrian Holmes, whilst experienced official Andy Woolmer will be the fourth official.

Preston North End 1 Barkhuizen Leeds United 1 Nketiah
PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Rafferty, Pearson, Bauer, Davies, Potts, Browne, Nugent (Maguire, 72), Johnson, Barkhuizen (Green, 90). Subs not used: Ripley, Gallagher, Hughes, Ledson, Stockley.

Leeds United line-up: Casilla, Ayling ©, White, Bamford (Nketiah, 78), Alioski, Dallas, Costa, Harrison, Phillips, Berardi (Roberts, 77), Klich. Subs not used: Miazek, Douglas, Gotts, Davis, J Clarke.

Attendance: 18,275 (5,648 Leeds United fans)

Referee: Mr K Friend

Compared to the dross of Saturday this was a far more entertaining spectacles of the two sides Leeds will probably feel more disappointed and probably would have won if it had not been for Bamford's inability to hit the rectum of a bovine with a string instruments that is only used by squeal like a piggy merchants.
The aforementioned striker missed three really good chances two in the first period and one in the second.
Leeds dominated the first period and should have been ahead at the break as stated Bamford hit the side netting and had two efforts blocked by Bauer and Davies, they forced a shed load of corners but could not capitalise on them. They had
plenty of joy down both flanks with both full backs Ayling and Alioski backing up the two wingers Costa and Harrison. Got into lots of dangerous positions but could not capitalise on them. We had half chances some good balls into the box but with no one there to supply the end product.
Second period much better from us looked more of a threat but still had to be wary of Leeds on teh break and Bamford should have down better following a Costa run but sliced horribly wide from a good position.
We took the lead with 16 to go following a great block by Fisher, ball found it's way to Browne whose pass to Maguire found the Leeds defence totally AWOL, ball to Barkhuizen 1 up.
Deserved goal for the winger who early had almost set Potts up to score from close rnge.
North End pressed looking for a second but were pegged level near the end. Fisher was adjudged to have fould Nketiah even more harshly was booked by the otherwise excellent Kevin Friend. Original ball cleared to Harrison who pumped it bac in to Nketiah who headed home despite Bauer's efforts to clear it.
Both sides went for the win Potts coming close when narrowly heading wide from a corner. Massive shouts for a Leeds penalty in the last seconds but obviously Lancashire rules of playing the ball and not the man were observed by Friend.. Good game settle for a point against a good side.

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa told BBC Radio Leeds:

"Until they scored, the match was completely for us.

"After they scored, we multiplied our efforts to try to score. We could have won the match. After they scored, they had chances to score again, and they could have won the match.

"What is clear is that the opponent doesn't need to command the match to create chances."

Preston North End manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"Tactically, I think it was one of those games where both teams were trying to nullify each other.

"I don't think many teams will go to-to-toe with them.

"I think they have been really dominant against a lot of teams, so for the lads to do what they did tonight, and put that amount of effort into it, I was really, really pleased for the lads- I thought they did great."

Thanks for not winning this one, might give us more of a chance on Saturday. Lets hope Bamford stays in the team and continues to miss those chances!!!