[themaclad]

Seasons greeetings to all, at this time of the year it is easy to forget that the true meaning of Christmas is Boxing Day football.big crowds and usually good atmosphere and a good game to watch.
This years Boxing Day guest are Hull City who after an iffy start to the season are now starting to put in a decent run of results, presently in the form table they have taken 11 points from the last six games, we are eighth losing only once since late October , also a bit free scoring in recent weeks 10 gaols in four games. We drew at the KC Com although in truth we got absolutely battered City missed a stack of chances and Moult scored late on toget us an undeserved point.
Jarrod Bowen scored twice at the weekend, decent player suspect they will do well to hold onto him during the window, Frazier Campbell also seems to be in decent form.
Can only guess who will be available for us, Moult must be a doubt after limping of at Hillsborough, Pearson may be available if we win any ppeal against his sending off on Saturday however as it is Pearson suspect the decision will be a resoung No.
Not sure who is going to score for us, Nmecha not scored yet, only Browne and Barkhuizen seemed to be capable iof putting the ball in the net,. Defensively we are OK strangely will settle for a point givenour lack of resources.
Ref Watch: Hull City
For the third time this season Scott Duncan takes charge of the Lilywhites for our Boxing Day clash with Nigel Adkins’ Hull City.

This is his second visit to Deepdale in 2018/19, having officiated the seven-goal thriller with Brentford in October, as well as being the man with the whistle for our trip to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in September.

Scott took charge of three North End games last season, although he unfortunately only finished two! The official was appointed to take charge of the last game before Christmas, at home to Nottingham Forest, but picked up an injury early in the game and was replaced by the fourth official.

That was his second PNE appointment of the campaign, having been the ref for our goalless draw at Leeds United – our opening away game of the season back in August 2017, as well as the home clash with Ipswich Town.
The season before that he refereed the 3-0 home win over Reading in March of last year, which was his third PNE game of that season, having been referee for the EFL Cup win over Oldham Athletic at Deepdale and the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in early December.
In 2015/16 he was the match official for the League Cup tie at Crewe Alexandra, which saw a 3-1 win for the Lilywhites and the year before that he took charge of the team twice, both at Deepdale, our 1-0 home win over Oldham back in August 2014 and the 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient in January.

This is Scott’s seventh year on the EFL lists, having been appointed to the elite group in 2012/13, taking charge of his first PNE game in what proved to be Graham Westley’s final home game, against Shrewsbury Town.

This will be his first Hull City game of the season, in what will be his 19th game of the campaign, where he has issued 63 cautions and five red cards so far, his last game being Ipswich Town’s 1-0 win over Wigan Athletic before Christmas.

On Wednesday he will be assisted by James Mainwaring and Nick Greenhalgh, whilst fellow Championship referee Anthony Backhouse is the fourth official.

Pearson appeal to be heard tonight expect to lose it and he'll get a 20 game ban

[themaclad]

Pearson ban 4 games confirmed lost the appeal FUFA

[themaclad]

Preston North End 1 Browne Hull City 2 Irvine 2
PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke © (Fisher, 83), Hughes, Browne, Huntington, Davies (Storey, 35), Burke (Ledson, 46), Gallagher, Nmecha, Johnson, Barkhuizen. Subs not used: Crowe, Woods, Simpson, Walker.

Hull City: Marshall, De Wijs, Stewart, Grosicki (Burke, 90), Irvine, Kane, Bowen (Lichaj, 90), Henriksen ©, Kingsley, Campbell (Martin, 85), Elphick. Subs not used: Long, Dicko, Batty, McKenzie.

Attendance: 14,026 (684 Hull City fans)

Referee: Mr S Duncan

Down to the bare bones a first half performance which suggested defeated before a ball was kicked, lose Davies with an injury after City score and Moult out for up to 8 weeks. Second half Ledson for Burke instant improvement for 20 minutes before inability to defend a corner again costs us the game.
The first half was a bit of a non event although in fairness Hull deserved to lead when they got pleenty of space down the left and an inch perfect cross saw Irvine just about get his pony tail to the ball to head home. We had one effort on goal with a Gallagher effort well saved by Marshall. City were a danger down the flanks with the speedy Grosicki causing the non too speedy Clarke a lot of problems especially when City attacked on the break.. We were ponderous and seemed to lack belief.
A half time change chnaged the game back our way Ledson contributing more in the first two minutes than Burke had in the previous 45, a fine passing move led to Browne rocketing home from about 25 yards. We were all over City for about 20 minutes Gallagher only just wide with a header, Nmecha had an overhead kick saved by Marshall and we looked like going on for an unlikely win at this stage, then grim reality again kicked in City back down the left wing gaps started to look more omninous for the home side.
City thought they should have had a penalty when Irvine was halted by a last ditch tackle by Huntington, the wonderful Mr Duncan didn't agree unsurprisingly the away team, management and suypport were less than impressed. Grosicki got in again down the left hand side and another last ditch tackle denied the visitors although not for long. Our weakness at corners cost us the game, Grosicki's corner seemed to go straight in but was headed clear to Irvine who nodded home to give the Aussie a double.
Never looked like recuing a point and so it proved to be.
Next up Villa roll on the transfer window.

Hull City manager Nigel Adkins told BBC Radio Humberside:

"We knew it was going to be really challenging. They're a big, physical side and we knew it was going to be very competitive.

"The first half was good. I thought we played some good football, passed it about and the first goal was a super goal.

"At half-time, the first thing we said was that our biggest threat was complacency. I was disappointed with the goal we conceded.

"To be fair to the players, we weathered that period and looked a massive threat ourselves. We got the winner and then saw it out at the end."