[themaclad]

A game being played due to both clubs inability to be arsed about the cup this year, although missing out on a trip to play Arteta's boys we can also take pleasure in the fact Ryan Fantastic Lowe won't be going either.

www.watfordfc.com/

MANAGER

Edward Still (born 30 December 1990) is a football manager. He is currently the manager of EFL Championship club Watford.

He has managed Charleroi, Eupen, Kortrijk and Anderlecht in the Belgian Pro League, starting at age 30. In February 2026, he was appointed manager of Championship club Watford.

All I know is he's the brother of the Southampton manager we got sacked in November, Will hard work beat ability Still.
As it's his first game think he will survive the chop but as it's Watford you can never tell.

Form guide



MYSTIC MACS MAGIC FORM GUIDE

PNE 5 WATFORD 5

Could be a close game on the paddy fields of Deepdale

HISTORY




The 1-5 still stands out to this day, could quite easily have been 9 and the Rugby Union kick off to the second half with seven players out of position as soon as we lost the ball still brings shudders to this day.
Should have sacked Lowe after that one but didn't.

DANGER MAN


Timmy96

Imrân Louza (Arabic: عمران لوزة; born 1 May 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains EFL Championship club Watford. Born in France, he represented the Morocco national team.

Louza came through Nantes' youth academy and made his first team debut in 2019, and his international debut in 2021.

Mainly one footed but class player

NEW SIGNING

Watford officially signed midfielder Edoardo Bove from AS Roma in January 2026 on a five-and-a-half-year contract. The 23-year-old Italian, who previously played for Fiorentina, joined on a free transfer to resume his career after recovering from a cardiac arrest suffered in December 2024, which necessitated the fitting of a defibrillator.

Banned from playing in Italy due to having a pacemmaker fitted.

KIT


Content CC BY SA

Shades of Valencia in the early 1980's top notch.

New manager for the visitors therefore will be unknown tactics, could be a very interesting team selection from us,Lang, Moran and our Red card Montenegran back in the fold, Hughes and possibly Iversen as well.

Forecast is dry but chilly and it will be daylight as I walk back to the car.​

[themaclad]

Team News​
Paul Heckingbottom has confirmed that a number of players are edging closer to a first-team return, with the likes of Andrew Hughes and Robbie Brady in full training.

Milutin Osmajić is available for selection, having served his three-match ban for the red card he received against Hull City.

The Visitors​
Watford arrive in Lancashire having recently appointed Ed Still as their new manager, with the 35-year-old becoming their 14th head coach since 2019.

The Hornets come into this game sitting 12th in the Championship standings, three points shy of PNE and the play-offs. Having won four matches in a row over the festive period, they are currently six league matches without a win.

Edoardo Bove, Stephen Mfuni, Saba Goglichidze and Pierre Ekwah all moved to Vicarage Road in the recent winter transfer window, providing a mix of youth and experience which should bolster their squad throughout the next few months.

Match Officials​
Referee: Dean Whitestone

Assistant Referees: Graham Kane and David Harrison

Fourth Official: Ben Toner

Dean Whitestone will take charge of North End’s clash with Watford at Deepdale.

He last officiated PNE in August 2024, when the Lilywhites beat Luton Town 1-0 in Paul Heckingbottom’s first game as PNE manager.

Whitestone has shown 52 yellow cards in 17 contests so far in the 2025/26 campaign.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom believes PNE’s squad has gotten stronger heading into their game against Watford at the weekend.

Robbie Brady, Callum Lang, Andy Moran, Miloš Luković and Jamal Lewis all started against Stockport County in North End’s recent Central League match, whilst Milutin Osmajić was named on the bench.

The manager revealed that getting more minutes in the legs of those who have been sidelined was the main factor behind that decision, as they prepare to return to the first team.

“Training was really good, the standard was good,” stated Hecky. “We've got 15 games left, 11 weeks. I feel we've strengthened, we're getting bodies back, so we just need to attack every day, every training day, every match, and get as many points as we can in the last 15 games.

“My main thing was giving the boys minutes who needed minutes. Some wanted to stay on, but my priority was making sure everyone was fit and available for training on Thursday, so everyone's at the same starting point for the Watford game.”

The Central League clash saw PNE run out 5-1 victors, with new signings Callum Lang and Andy Moran both getting on the scoresheet.

Although not on the Championship stage, Hecky was still pleased with what he saw from his new additions.


“I've seen loads of Callum,” said the manager. “The header he scored, we've not got many in our squad who score that header. Our attacking players aren't that type; he is that type, and that's what he brings: a different quality, attacking the ball in the box.

“Andy getting goals and assists in that game and linking up, learning a bit more about the players, his teammates. It served a purpose, it was valuable, and it was important.”

This weekend’s opponents enter the game at Deepdale under the leadership of a new manager, with Ed Still recently appointed as the Hornets’ boss.

With not much known about how Watford will set up, North End’s boss stated that his team will continue to approach the match as they would usually.


“The same way we approach them all,” affirmed Hecky.

“In terms of any tactical information, it'd be handy if he'd not come in until after the weekend or he'd been in post a few weeks, and you can have a good look at what the opposition are going to do.

“But it just forces our hand a little bit. We have to just focus on ourselves, do what we're familiar with, do what we think is important and then make any adaptations to the game.

"I believe and I know that we're capable of beating anyone. I also know that the opposition's capable of beating us if we don't perform, so we have to just enjoy giving our best and performing."

ED

New Watford Head Coach Ed Still said that he is raring to go on Saturday (February 14, 3:00pm KO) as Watford travel north to take on Preston North End.

The 35-year-old was appointed on Monday and has been working hard to get his squad prepared for the league clash at Deepdale.

“I’m delighted, I’m buzzing to be here,” he said.

“The last couple of days have been really positive. The players have responded really well and the staff have been fantastic.

“Especially at this time of the season, with the pitch, it will be one of the hardest games of the season.

“They are in a good position, a few points above us and it is a big challenge.

“From what the squad have shown this week and from what I know the squad is capable of, we are more than good enough to go there and get a good result.”


The Golden Boys are in 12th spot, just three points off sixth with 15 matches left to play.

Still said that he has confidence in his squad to implement his style, beginning at the weekend.

“We want to be playing forwards and with pace,” said the new Head Coach. “It will take a few games to see all of it.

“These few days have been important to get the message across to the players of what we want.

“Then if it is clear enough on the training pitch, we will see the first signs of that on Saturday.

“The challenge is a positive one – we’re playing games to win and look upwards. We’re not stuck in a relegation fight or stuck in mid-table, we are three points from the play-offs.”

Very interesting team selection, new signings, some returning from injury and the lover of suspension from Montenegro also availabe.
Hammered down all night, possible frost and snow tonight, luckily the tide will be out on the Ribble so the water table will be lower by about a centimetre

[themaclad]

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https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup
Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 14,611 (927 Watford fans)

Traditional game of two halves, both sides dominated one, although Watford will probably think their domination of the second half should have led to three points.
Cold frosty orning which would have done wonder to the patch of mud aka as the pitch, bizarrely they watered it before before both halves, in truth though it probably played better than last week.
Thought we were fairly comfortable in the first half, early devine effort blocked by Goglichdze, we got a lot of joy down the left were Vukcevic, Devine and Dobbin did their damage, the goal when it came was excellently finished by Dobbin with a flick with the outside of his right foot from a Whitema pass.
Only one clear chanc at the other end, Kjerrumgaard header well saved by Corner. Ahead at half time against a side who were probably slightly unsure of how to go about their task under a new manager.
One substituton for the Hornets and it made a difffeence Baah onto the right wing and it was a whole new ball game, lads pace combined with the other speed merchant Abankwah playing behind him blocked off the danger from our left hand side, Devine and Dobbin were not as effective.
Two goals in double quick time put the visitors ahead, first we lost the ball in midfield and after a series of passes the ball ended up with Maamma, he ran at Offiah cut to his right and put into far right corner. Minutes later Baah into the box, byline, Offiah diverted the ball past Cornell and the phrase oops came to mind.
Subs made and two of them combined to level the score, Lang fought off a couple of challenges ball to the man from Montenegro whose left footed shot beat the Hornets keeper, for his 5th goal in four games against these opponents.
Watford piled on the pressure narrowly wide on about three occasions especially Mendy's effort which hit the post and fired across te line before going out of play past the other post.
Could have sneaked it at the header, Storey's header from a corner narrowly over the top.

Good advert for the Champinship, thought Still's interview on ITV was virtually spot on.

HECK

Paul Heckingbottom accepted that Preston North End did well to get a point, having trailed Watford at one stage, in their 2-2 draw at Deepdale.

Lewis Dobbin provided PNE with the lead after 19 minutes, having latched on to a Ben Whiteman cross, but a quickfire double from Watford at the start of the second half saw the Lilywhites fall behind.

With 20 minutes to play, substitutes Milutin Osmajić and Callum Lang combined to level the match up, with the manager admitting that a draw was a fair result.

“A good point in the end, having gone behind,” said Hecky. “I thought we were in control of the game. I know how dangerous they are and the players they've got, the individuals they've got, but we gave them no encouragement until that first goal.

“It's a totally different game, it's spun on its head and then we make changes to try and get back in it, but it leaves a lot of space, and we've brought their good players to life. Credit to our players that we got back in it. It would have been great if we'd got the winner at the end.

“Jordan Storey had arguably the best chance after that, but they had some shots from distance as well.”

Lang and Osmajić appeared to connect immediately, finding each other in tight areas to provide PNE with opportunities to attack.

With this combination one the Lilywhites could look to utilise on a regular basis, Hecky affirmed that decisions surrounding his squad are made depending on the unique state of any given match, whilst also mentioning some of the players that didn’t get on the pitch against Watford.


“The game calls for what you want to do,” stated the boss. “We'd have probably made different subs if we'd still been in front, we'd have certainly used the bench.

“Jordan, Jamal, fantastic experienced, international players. Smudge has been valuable this season and also Andy, who got his debut last week. The bench was good.”

Andrew Hughes returned to the matchday squad, having last featured against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.

The Welshman came on for the final 11 minutes of the contest, with the manager pleased to have him back amongst his defensive options.

“It's important because he gives us good balance,” said Hecky.

“If we want to play that way, if we play three centre-backs, him in that left one gives us really good balance. It's important. It also gives that competition and that ability to change a team around that you're lacking.”

New Watford Head Coach Ed Still hopes his side will kick-on from their second-half performance at Preston after his first game in charge ended in a 2-2 draw.

The hosts led 1-0 at half-time but the Hornets were much improved after the break and got in front through Othmane Maamma and an own goal.

Milutin Osmajić struck back for the Lilywhites and the Golden Boys were left disappointed not to win after spending significant amounts of time in the Preston box.

“I hope the team has taken a lot of confidence from the second half,” Still said.

“From the speed and tempo that we put into the game – and because we’ve put them under a lot of pressure.

“We’ve created enough chances to win that and although in the end it is a good point, I’m disappointed for the dressing room that they didn’t get more.”


Still introduced Kwadwo Baah at half-time and explained what his message was to the players at the interval.

“To try and stretch the opposition a little bit more which we didn’t manage to do in the first half,” he said.

“That’s why we wanted Baah on the pitch in the second half, so we could get behind them and stretch them.

“Once you can do that it opens up the space in midfield, to control the ball a little bit more.”

Still admitted he was disappointed with both goals which were conceded, after a game which took place on a tricky pitch at Deepdale.


“There are things we can improve on, and we need to improve on quickly, to capitalise on the good stuff we’ve done,” he said. “There’s stuff to build on.

“I think the fans realised from where they were sitting that it wasn’t easy. This wasn’t a home game at Vicarage Road!

“We felt their support from minute one which makes a difference to us.

“The players responded with the fight and the attitude that they showed.”/align]