[themaclad]

v




LAST TIME AT DEEPDALE

PRESTON NORTH END 1 FULHAM 2



We got Mitroed

LAST TIME OUT

QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 PRESTON NORTH END 0
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FULHAM 1 BRISTOL CITY 2



MANAGER

Scott Parker

Spent his youth in TV series Thunderbirds before playing for various sides throughout the capital always played with his shirt neatly tucked into his shorts as they did in the old days good player, just starting to make an impression as a manager although having seen the Cottagers get crushed by Hull may not have a plan B

DANGER MAN

Aleksander Mitrovic



Far too good for this league and in every appearence against us the Serbian has scored hopefully goes down with flu or a late injury so is ruled out, total class this guy.

TRANSFERS

10 Internationals in the squad main signings Michael Hector from Chelsea plus a shed load of loans Knockaert, Cavaliero who apparently nearly died on his last visit to Deepdale after a gentle touch by John Welsh

Just what we needed another televised game, four straight defeats and no goals and now we are up against Mitro.
Need to be at the top of our game for this one, they are beatable but need to press them all over the pitch, we will not have a lot of the ball but will have to deny them the time on it. As I said not sure whether Parker has a plan B.
Hopefully we will play the ball on the ground instead of some of teh alehouse stuff personally think we need to play a couple of fresh faces just to liven the side up, come on Alex time for Bayliss.

[themaclad]

Match Officials: Fulham Home
For the first time this season, taking charge of North End as referee on Tuesday night is experienced official Keith Stroud.

Whilst it is his first game of this season, it is his third PNE match of the calendar year, having been referee of our win at Middlesbrough in March and the 1-1 draw with Swansea City back in January, his first game at Deepdale for a number of years.

Whilst this is the first time he sees PNE this campaign, it is already his fourth Fulham match of the season, having officiated their 2-0 opening day win over Blackburn Rovers at Craven Cottage, their 2-2 home draw with Charlton in October and their 3-0 defeat at the Cottage against Hull City last month – but this is his first game refereeing them away from home.
In 2017/18, the Hampshire official took charge of two PNE games, both away from Deepdale, the first at Birmingham City back in September 2017, when goals from Tom Barkhuizen, Daniel Johnson and Jordan Hugill saw the side come from behind at the break to end Harry Redknapp’s tenure at St Andrews and the second, the win at Burton Albion in December the same year.

In 2016/17 his only game with the whistle for a PNE game was our loss at Brentford, whilst the previous season he also took charge of another game at Birmingham, as North End came from 2-0 down against what was then Gary Rowett’s men, with goals from Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham earning the Lilywhites a point.

That was his second North End game in two months after he took charge of PNE’s home win over Sheffield Wednesday in February 2015, as well as PNE's last clash with a steel city side at Deepdale, 2014/15's FA Cup tie with Sheffield United. The win over the Owls was his last visit to Deepdale prior to January.

The official also refereed the Lilywhites Play-Off clash with Rotherham United in May 2014 as well as the previous season’s 3-2 home win over Ipswich Town, when Joe Garner scored a second half hat-trick as a substitute to knock the Tractor Boys out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage.

His two previous league trips to Deepdale prior to that also saw wins, the famous 6-0 triumph over Cardiff City, which led to the Play-Offs in 2009 and a 2-1 win over West Brom the previous year, when the Lilywhites ended the game with nine men after the dismissal of both Youl Mawene and Chris Brown.

On Tuesday, Keith will be assisted by Nick Greenhalgh and James Mainwaring, with Ross Joyce acting as the fourth official. It will be Keith’s 15th game of the season, having so far issued 38 cautions and no red cards, his last game being West Brom’s 5-1 thrashing of Swansea City on Sunday.

[themaclad]

Preston North End 2 Maguire, Nugent Fulham 1 Mitrovic


PNE line-up: Rudd, Rafferty, Hughes, Pearson (Clarke, 83), Bauer, Huntington, Bodin (Harrop, 84), Browne ©, Nugent (Barkhuizen, 75), Potts, Maguire. Subs not used: Hudson, Bayliss, Ledson, Stockley.

Fulham line-up: Rodak, Odoi, Mawson (Kebano, 60), Johansen, Mitrović ©, Ream, Cavaleiro (Bryan, 32), Christie, Knockaert (De La Torre, 90), Onomah, Kamara. Subs not used: Bettinelli, O’Riley, Taylor-Crossdale, Harris.

Attendance: 10,093 (331 Fulham fans)

Referee: Mr K Stroud

Maybe 10 a side is the way to go the amount of space on the pitch made the second half terrific viewing for thse who made the way through dire weather conditions and managed to avoid the gridlock in Preston.
Absolutely now complaints about either red card defuinitely shoud have been one more issued and possibly another in the second half according to those who saw it on television.
Bonus for the home side no Cairney for the visitors although you would not have noticed early on as they looked very dominant, exceptional pace on the break let down by the final ball although has to be said North End defended well and in truth Rudd didn't have a lot to do throughout the match.
We took the lead credit goes to Browne who intercepted some loose passing outside the box could have gone down in the box when caught but earned the side a corner. From the corner the ball hit Browne's back from this Maguire turned and fired home through Rodak's legs, the barren spell was over.
Then the red cards first Odoi clattered into Bauer when the German cleared the ball he made the mistake of not looking at the ball caught Bauer with his shoulder

Then the non sending off of Pearson got booked for the tackle, saw the replay at haf time got away with that one.
Rafferty next to g mistimed the challenge probably looked worse than it was although catching the lad at the top of his thigh was not the way to go, both down to 10 however personal view the sending off affected Fulham more than us, they had to make a change taking a forward off we just moved Browne to right back.
Nugent missed a great chance by shooting straight at Rodak when well placed but he didn't have to wait long great break away by the home side Potts shot saved by Rodak's foot ball went upwards towards the back post Nugent won the header and was first to the loose ball to fire home.
Fulham went for broke with four up front possibly could have been reduced to 9 following a foul on Huntington (view of those watching on TV). Johansen curled a great effort against the underside of the bar, before Mitro got his traditional goal against us following a deflection. We had chances to score more but decision making on the final pass was somewhat lacking, Fulham pressed at the end but we came away with three welcome points against a side we had not beaten at home since 1997.

Preston North End boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We've built an expectation up this season, we've done really well so far and after our previous defeats it hurts more.

"I still don't think the balance is quite right, we're missing that tactician in the centre of midfield. Once we have everybody available I think we'll be strong."

[On Joe Rafferty's sending off] "At the time I thought he had been hard done by. I've actually had a word with him now because it was a really bad challenge."

Fulham manager Scott Parker told BBC Radio London:

"I am disappointed we have not been able to get a result out of the game, but I am disappointed with our performance as well.

"We didn't defend well and I didn't think we had enough quality in the final third. At both ends of the pitch we weren't on it and ultimately we need to improve on that.

"We huffed and puffed and had a few chances, and maybe on another day we can get a draw. But you can't walk around feeling sorry for yourself, especially in this league."

[johnno_pne]

Good to see Clarke back, at least on the bench. Unfortunate that it wasn't a couple of games earlier.

Nevertheless, this is most welcome - the result that turned NE's bad run around.

Decent performance from Potts - also good to see.