This is a welcome fixture in the fact that Hibs have a chance to quickly "bounce back" after being really "hard done by" in the dying secs of a match that was not well managed by certain Hibs players to ensure a deserved win and four-in-a-row. I reckon Hibs have "thrown away" about 15 pts under the same circumstances during this season and imagine our league position had this consistent failing been rectified!! I expect Jack Ross to finally "change it" and absolutely demand that the players really "react with conviction" and push for a positive result - NO FEELING SORRY FOR THEMSELVES PLEASE!! Ideally respond positively and "bury" the Staggies to push on up the league table.
And please be aware of the threat of certain ex Hibs players, like Brian Graham, who have a habit of scoring in these kiinda matches against us!!

GGTTH

Sincere heartfelt condolensces to Benik Afobe and his family as they mourn the devastating passing of his 2 year old daughter Amora.

Absolutely tragic news and may this poor little angel rest in peace

v

             

LAST TIME OUT

HULL CITY 4 PRESTON NORTH END 0


WEST BROMWICH ALBION 4 BRISTOL CITY 1


LAST MEETING AT DEEPDALE
PRESTON NORTH END 2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3


TRANSFER ACTIVITY
Zohore, Austin, Sawyers for non too shabby fees
Some classy loan players Diangara being the pick however probaly the best signing the Baggies made over the summer was this man. Still have memories of that night at Wembley when the Wally with the brolley was out smarted by him standing in the pouring rain not remotely given a toss about the weather as Croatia beat England that night 3-2

A couple of weeks ago we were two points behind the Baggies lose tomorrow we would be 11 points behind them, although it was nice whilst it lasted top six should now be the target as Leeds, Fulham and the Baggies will fight it out for the top three places.
They have only lost once this season to Leeds, they do concede a few but have the good habit of scoring more than their opponents.
Fresh from Wednesday'shorror show the word is that we have player's returning hopefully a full back ortoo wouldn't go amiss, looking back on Tuesday maybe we should have played Huntington at centre back and the classy Storey at right back however that match is now gone.
Tough one this and all in view of live TV

Match Officials: West Bromwich Albion Home

For the first time this season Oliver Langford will take charge of a Preston North End fixture, having refereed three of our Championship matches in 2018/19.
His last game was the 1-0 derby day win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, when Daniel Johnson scored the winner. The ref was also the match official at the end of January, as the Lilywhites triumphed 2-0 at the Bet365 Stadium against Stoke City.

Prior to that he refereed our Carabao Cup third round tie with Middlesbrough back in September and before that it had been 12 months since he last took charge of a game at Deepdale.

The West Midlands official, prior to the aforementioned Boro game, last took charge of our clash with Cardiff City at Deepdale in September 2017, when the Lilywhites ran out 3-0 winners against Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds.
The previous season he took charge of another three North End games. His first was the live Sky victory over Wigan Athletic back in September 2016, his second, our first match of the new year, at Burton Albion and his third the goalless draw away at Barnsley in February.
He also twice took charge of the Lilywhites in 2015/16; the goalless draw against Derby County, when goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard made his debut for the club, and the April trip to Middlesbrough.

His first game in change of North End before that was the clash with Swindon at the County Ground in November 2014.

This will also be second Baggies game of the season, having officiated their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough; one of his 14 games, that have seen 54 cautions and two red cards so far.

He will be assisted by Akil Howson and Adam Crysell, with experienced Championship match official Darren Bond acting as the fourth official for the game.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50616341

So today's UEFA draw provides a piece of intrigue in the fact that the eventual winner of Scotland's play-off grouping will end up in Group D alongside Croatia, Czech Republic and England. However, it looks England get another advantage when they could play Scotland at Wembley. The other groups are even more intriguing with the likes of Germany up against France and Portugal plus Wales given a tough assignment to play what looks like a rejuvenated Italy.

Cheltenham Town 1 Port Vale 3

Oh dear what a terrible performance.

A goal up after only 3 minutes;  Rueben Read from the penalty spot. Minutes later the same player miss kicks from 10 yards from the centre of the goal.
Other chances go begging and we could have been out of sight before half time.

Reid pulls a hamstring just one minute into the second half and suddenly the game is turned on its head.

The Robins are unable to put more than two passes together unless going backwards and Vale are in the ascendancy big time.

There then follows a period of what I might have called 'schoolboy defending'; except it wasn't that good.

The Vale forward Tom Pope then scores a hatrick inside 8 minutes with the Robin's defence gone walkabout.

And so with 22 minutes of the game left, this author could stand no more and for the very first time in disgust walked out.

If you do your predictions after these specified times, they will not be accepted.

Weekend games 12 pm
Midweek games 7:30 pm

Just a reminder that you can use your on any fixture, but its not compulsory!! Get it right and you will score double points but getting it wrong will result in -2 points, so the reward and risk are there for all!!

Aldershot Town 4-2 Chesterfield
Boreham Wood 2-2 Woking
Bromley 1-2 Yeovil Town
Chorley 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge
Ebbsfleet United 2-2 Wrexham
Maidenhead United 1-3 Barrow
Sutton United 0-2 Harrogate Town
Torquay United 3-0 Stockport County

League Table after Matchday 23
Amelia = 322
Dancing = 294
Lord Snoots = 270
SaltergateBorn = 244
Spireitematt = 240
Theo = 236
St Charles = 234
Devon = 98

Unai Emery has been sacked as Arsenal manager after 18 months in charge.

The Spaniard, who previously led Paris St-Germain to the French league title and won three Europa Leagues with Sevilla, was appointed Gunners boss in May 2018, succeeding Arsene Wenger.

He has been replaced on a temporary basis by assistant and former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg.

Arsenal said the decision had been "taken due to results and performances not being at the level required".

The Gunners have not won in seven games and lost 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League on Thursday.

It is their worst competitive run without a victory since February 1992, which was eight games under George Graham.

They are without a Premier League victory since 6 October and eight points off the top four.

Ljungberg took training on Friday and the Arsenal statement added: "We have full confidence in Freddie to take us forward.

"The search for a new head coach is under way and we will make a further announcement when that process is complete."

On Wednesday, BBC Sport reported Arsenal had identified Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo as a potential replacement for Emery.

Other names linked with the post include former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, Manchester City assistant coach Mikel Arteta, ex-Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust (AST) said Emery's dismissal was "unfortunate but inevitable" and the "more difficult challenge is to recruit a suitable successor".

It added: "We are far from certain that Arsenal has the right personnel to lead this process.

"The AST has long been advocating that the most important changes needed at Arsenal are in the boardroom where Arsenal need better governance."

Arsenal finished fifth in 48-year-old Emery's first season in charge at Emirates Stadium after he replaced Wenger.

They went into this season having spent more than £130m in the summer after signing winger Nicolas Pepe, centre-back David Luiz, left-back Kieran Tierney, striker Gabriel Martinelli and defender William Saliba, who will join next summer.

The club also brought in midfielder Dani Ceballos on loan from Real Madrid.

They started this season with back-to-back victories against Newcastle and Burnley, but that run ended with defeat by Liverpool, before draws with north London rivals Tottenham and Watford followed.

Their last Premier League victory was a 1-0 win over Bournemouth.

On Saturday, they battled to a 2-2 draw - their sixth of the season - at home to Southampton, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring an injury-time equaliser.

Arsenal have conceded 19 goals in 13 top-flight games this season and former Gunners keeper Bob Wilson said the teams defensive statistics were "frightening".

"The interesting thing is every successful side starts with the defence," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Look at Liverpool and them spending millions [£75m] on Virgil van Dijk, who has made their defence solid.

"They [Arsenal] are shipping goals and don't seem to have any idea of the defensive structure."

Emery is the third managerial dismissal in the English top flight this season, after Javi Gracia and Pochettino departed Watford and Tottenham respectively.

Arsenal's last victory came against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League on 24 October, in which they needed two late Pepe free-kicks to secure a 3-2 win.

For as long as we are in the thing this is te thread Ball 31 i Monday's draw

Well this is a welcome home fixture at the current time and when Hibs are on a good 3-in-a-row winning run. I expect Jack Ross to field the same Hibs starting line up although I would like to see Rocky back in Hibs goal. Hopefully the boys will battle through this match to register another victory v testy opponents who easily put Hertz "to the sword" in their previous game at Rugby Park. Keep going Hibs!

GGTTH