[themaclad]

The last home game of the year I suspect will end the same way as the next to the last home game with a defeat against Villa, given our thread bare attack somehow don't think we have the firepower to score against the usually suspect Villa defence and keeper. Sadly for us Villa going forward are more than decent. Strangely thought we would get beat at Villa Park and looked what happened there.
Villa have been a bit inconsistent this season as well as conceeding five at home to the Trees they let a 2 goal lead slip against Leeds before losing to a late goal, although from what I saw Leeds were excellent. They had a sound win against Swansea on Boxing Day with a rare clean sheet however they were bailed out by a late penalty save by Nyland. Away from home they have stuffed both Boro and Derby and got a point at the Hawthorns denied by a more than slightly dubious goal by the Baggies.
At Swansea they had Adomah, Kodjita and Hogan on the bench against Hull we had Connor Simpson who had been recalled from a loan period at Hyde United.
For wise they are 11th at the moment we are 13th.
No doubt Neal will play Clarke and Hunts at centre back given I would assume Davies is injured, with Fisher coming in at right back. Up front hopefully won't play Burke as he is a long way from Championship material, Gallagher was wasted on the wide left on Wednesday however Ledson did well when he came on.
Sadly think we are stuffed in this one roll on 1/1/2019 the window will be open and help is desperately required.

Ref Watch: Aston Villa

For the third time this season we have experienced match official Geoff Eltringham taking charge of the Lilywhites, for what is our final game of 2018.

The referee last took charge of one of our games when the Lilywhites travelled to Ashton Gate and defeated Lee Johnson’s Bristol City in October.

He was also in charge of North End’s trip to Elland Road back in September, having officiated five games for Alex Neil’s side in the 2017/18 season.

Last year, having taken charge our early season game at Derby County, Geoff also took charge of the Boxing Day trip to Barnsley, our January win at Nottingham Forest, March’s victory over Bristol City at Deepdale – our last clash with the Robins - and finally our goalless draw with Norwich City in mid-April.
He also refereed one North End game in 2016/17, the home clash with our Barnsley, having also done one the previous season, the 1-0 home win over Reading.
The year prior to that he took charge of three PNE games, including the 2-0 home win over Peterborough United in March. Back in the 2013/14 campaign he also took charge of North End twice, both of those at Deepdale - the 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers back in November 2013 and then the goalless draw with Sheffield United in March.

The County Durham official is an experienced referee who had taken charge of North End a number of other times in the past including the very first game after the departure of Graham Westley, when John Dreyer took the team against an in-form Bournemouth side and ran out 2-0 winners.

He also looked after a thriller back in 2010, when North End overcame Crystal Palace 4-3 at Deepdale.

For the game, the referee will be assisted by James Wilson and Shaun Hudson, whilst Alan Young will act as the fourth official.

Geoff has so far taken charge of 19 games this season, with 63 cautions and three red cards issued, his last game being Sheffield United’s 3-1 home win over Derby County on Boxing Day.

[themaclad]

Cripple corner Browne injured

[themaclad]

Preston North End 1 Nmecha Aston Villa Abraham
PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke © (Fisher, 85), Hughes, Ledson, Storey, Huntington, Barkhuizen, Johnson, Nmecha, Burke (O’Reilly, 90), Gallagher (Walker, 90). Subs not used: Crowe, Fisher, Woods, Simpson, Baxter.

Aston Villa line-up: Nyland, Chester ©, Whelan (Bjarnason, 75), McGinn, Bolasie (Adomah, 68), Hourihane, Bree, Abraham, Hutton, El Ghazi, Almohamady. Subs not used: Bunn, Whelan, Hogan, Davis, Kodjia, Revan.

Attendance: 19,126 (5,629 Aston Villa fans)

Referee: Mr G Eltringham

Considering the circumstances of our massive injury list, this was by far and away our best performance of the season in probably the best game at the ground this season. If we had had the first team out think we might have won this but fair play to the Whites lesser players they played well.
Great atmosphere electric start by North End could have had two goals in the first three minutes, Storey hitting the bar from a corner and Barkhuizen trying to lob Nyland when through didn't get his angles right.
Villa gained a modicum of control and pressed us back Burke cleared a corner from the line and El Ghazi in a good position put it in the Town End. Could have been ahead before the break, good team move, Johnson's pass to Burke whose first time shot was goal bound or it would have been but Nyland made a stunner of a save. Nmecha got into a couple of good positions couldn't finish thn on the stroke of half time our weakness at corners found us out again, Abraham scoring at the back post, harsh it ceratinly was.
Both sides could have scored Nmecha had an effort cleared from the line and McGinn haeded over from close range should have headed home, then we absolutely played out of our skins for the next 20 minutes, personal view could possibly had one penalty for a foul on Ledson following a Barkhuizen header being cleared from the line also thought he could have penalised Nyland when he cleaned out Barky after collecting the ball. The equaliser when it came was downto a fired up Johnson who got a harsh booking, into the inside right channel croos into the six yard box Nmecha poaching did the rest.
The striker was inches wide from getting a second minutes later but energy levels started to drop and Villa looked the more likely in the closing stages with El Ghazi getting into several good positions and forcing Rudd into a couple of decent save.
Villa relly should have clinched the points near the end. ball in from the right, they had two players spare and Bjarnason managed to spoon the ball over the bar from a yard.
There was just enough time for two youngsters to come on and make their debuts for North End 17 year old Adam O'Reilly and 16 year old Ethan Walker.
Great entertainment and well done to those wearing White a top notch performance which was well received by the home fanswho applauded them off both at half and full time.
Preston manager Alex Neil:

"Since I've been here, we've put in a lot of important performances in big games but for this one, against a side that has expectations of being in the Premier League, everything came together.

"When you look at our starting line-up and the young players involved, this is probably as proud as I've been since I came here.

"The effort, the quality we showed and our approach to the game were all excellent. The only disappointing thing is that we didn't win the game, as I thought we deserved to win.

"The players rolled up their sleeves and showed what they can do, particularly in the second half, and I am really pleased with that."

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith:

"We did not deserve to win based on the amount of big chances that we gave away. I thought that defensively we weren't great, and on the ball also.

"We played well in the first half in certain elements but every time we got forward, the ball was turned over and they created a chance.

"They created numerous chances with simple balls over the top and we didn't deal with that. I know we have issues with defenders out injured and we had three right-backs playing, but we have to deal with this type of play better.

"They've had big chances but so have we, in the late stages. We had a great chance right at the end with Bjarnason, for example."