05-03-2018, 13:17
The first of two big matches at Deepdale this week, Bristol City being the visitors just above us in the table having had a non too shabby season, performing in the league but also having a decent run in the Cara whatever it is cup only narrowly losing to some excessive rich club from the East of Manchester, give them credit they at least did have a go unlike Chelsea yesterday but like most of the others who have come up against Pep's mob lost but with no disgrace.
Mr Johnson tells the players they are a Premiership side in waiting, mind you, you could say Barnet are a Premiership side in waiting, to be fair the diminutive Johnson he did say we were one of the best sides in the League that they have played so obviously knows what he is talking about.
Their squad hasn't changed overly much since promotion a couple of seasons back although they seem to keep taking our players, Brownhill and Wright and there were suggestions they were after Hugill mind you so was Steve Cotterill for Brum.
They seem to have found a niche for bringing in player from the French second division, meanwhile at the back Flint is stilkl the main man although if he ends up playing centre forward then it might not be going well for them.
As I said they are having a decent season but three words tend to scare the living day lights out of them and the words are Preston North End, we have a decent record against them over the last few years which with a bit of luck will continue tomorrow night. Last season we won 5-0 which worked as a catalyst for them as they put together a great run which kept them up and continued until Christmas when form has dipped a bit although they beat shotless Wednesday 4-0 on Saturday.
Fisher back for North End following his ban which I am glad about because right back has been a worry the last two games. Does Neil start with Maguire plenty of options up front for us, cannot see it being a dull game however the pitch may be a concern under frost covers for the best part of a week wasn't great against Ipswich and given the recent weather may not be the best.
Hopefully the goal celebration GIF's on social media will be strikingly absent tomorrow night
Stat Attack: Bristol City
Eleven months after their previous visit, we welcome the Bristol version of the Robins back to Deepdale.
This is the 41st time we have played hosts to today’s visitors and we are looking to maintain an excellent record in this fixture, having won 20 and drawn 15 of the previous 40 matches.
It is seven years and five games since City last won here, but it was memorable for them as they beat us 4-0 for the biggest of their five victories at Deepdale.
Goals are virtually assured, with only two goalless draws and even then they were 106 years apart.
Both teams drew a blank on our first ever meeting in 1901 and the scoreline was not repeated until 2007, whilst six games have ended up 2-2 and in 1972 we shared six goals. After both sides took a point on City’s first visit, we went on a run of ten consecutive wins, during which we only conceded five goals and it was not until the 18th attempt that the Robins were able to claim their first victory here, that coming by 1-0 in 1929.
Results have been more even this century, with three North End wins, four draws and that solitary success for City in 2011. Last season’s 5-0 win was our biggest against City and the first time we had scored more than three times against them here.
Joe Anyinsah, Matt Hill and Marcus Stewart not only played for both City and North End, but they were also born in Bristol.
Joe only made eight appearances for North End, all as a substitute, after joining us from City in 2005 before moving on to Carlisle in 2009 and ending his league career at City’s rivals Bristol Rovers.
Marcus also played for both clubs in Bristol before spending a brief, injured affected spell on loan here in 2006. A notable goalscorer throughout his career with over 250 goals to his name, he was unable to add to his tally in four appearances for North End before a hamstring injury cut short his time in Preston.
Matt Hill is of course fondly remembered for his sterling performances at left back, having started his career at Ashton Gate before making 119 appearances for North End over a three and half year period from 2005 onwards.
Connections between the clubs are currently maintained by the presence of Bailey Wright, Josh Brownhill, Callum Robinson and Greg Cunningham in our respective squads.
On This Date
Jamaican centre half Claude Davis celebrates his 39th birthday today. Brought to Deepdale by Craig Brown from Portmore United in 2003, Claude was a popular figure during his three seasons in a North End shirt. He is perhaps most fondly remembered for his celebration dance after lashing a volley past stand-in Luton keeper Kevin Nichols for the final goal in our 5-1 victory in 2006.
Another former player having a birthday today is Bjarki Gunnlaugsson, who reaches 45. The first Icelander to play for North End, Bjarki was seriously hampered by a persistent hip injury that led to his premature retirement in 2001 aged only 28. His meagre return of only seven goals from 54 appearances is not an accurate reflection of his goalscoring instincts or his contribution to the team.
Fred Else made his debut in goal on this date in 1954 in 4-0 home win over Manchester City. Aged only 19 at the time, Fred went on to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper with 238 appearances before he was allowed to leave for Blackburn in 1961 following the emergence of Alan Kelly senior.
We have played ten previous home games on 6th March over the years, winning six and drawing four. These include a 5-3 thriller versus Wolves in 1915, a 3-1 win over Chelsea in 1929 and the heavy defeat of Manchester City in which Fred Else made his debut.
Last Five Games At Deepdale
Preston North End 5 (Barkhuizen, McGeady (pen), Clarke, Robinson, 2) Bristol City 0, 4th April 2017
Preston North End 1 (Kilkenny) Bristol City 1 (Wilbraham), 15th September 2015
Preston North End 1 (Beckford) Bristol City 1 (Wilbraham), 11th April 2015
Preston North End 1 (King) Bristol City 0, 30th November 2013
Preston North End 0 Bristol City 4 (Keogh, Clarkson, 2, Pitman), 5th February 2011
Ref Watch: Bristol City
Geoff's a bit hit and miss when taking games although he is consistent in upsetting managers.
Taking charge of his fourth Lilywhites game of the season, Geoff Eltringham will be the referee for our Tuesday night clash with Lee Johnson’s Bristol City at Deepdale.
Having officiated our early season game at Derby County, Geoff also took charge of the Boxing Day trip to Barnsley and our January win at Nottingham Forest, so all three of his games this season so far have been away from Deepdale, until Tuesday.
He also refereed one North End game last season, 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. The previous season 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 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.
This will be the match official’s third Robins game of the season, having refereed their 1-1 home game with Aston Villa and their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Stoke City at Ashton Gate. In his 26 games so far, he has issued 93 cautions and one red card.
For the game, the referee will be assisted by Billy Smallwood and Philip Dermott, whilst David Webb will act as the fourth official.
Mr Johnson tells the players they are a Premiership side in waiting, mind you, you could say Barnet are a Premiership side in waiting, to be fair the diminutive Johnson he did say we were one of the best sides in the League that they have played so obviously knows what he is talking about.
Their squad hasn't changed overly much since promotion a couple of seasons back although they seem to keep taking our players, Brownhill and Wright and there were suggestions they were after Hugill mind you so was Steve Cotterill for Brum.
They seem to have found a niche for bringing in player from the French second division, meanwhile at the back Flint is stilkl the main man although if he ends up playing centre forward then it might not be going well for them.
As I said they are having a decent season but three words tend to scare the living day lights out of them and the words are Preston North End, we have a decent record against them over the last few years which with a bit of luck will continue tomorrow night. Last season we won 5-0 which worked as a catalyst for them as they put together a great run which kept them up and continued until Christmas when form has dipped a bit although they beat shotless Wednesday 4-0 on Saturday.
Fisher back for North End following his ban which I am glad about because right back has been a worry the last two games. Does Neil start with Maguire plenty of options up front for us, cannot see it being a dull game however the pitch may be a concern under frost covers for the best part of a week wasn't great against Ipswich and given the recent weather may not be the best.
Hopefully the goal celebration GIF's on social media will be strikingly absent tomorrow night
Stat Attack: Bristol City
Eleven months after their previous visit, we welcome the Bristol version of the Robins back to Deepdale.
This is the 41st time we have played hosts to today’s visitors and we are looking to maintain an excellent record in this fixture, having won 20 and drawn 15 of the previous 40 matches.
It is seven years and five games since City last won here, but it was memorable for them as they beat us 4-0 for the biggest of their five victories at Deepdale.
Goals are virtually assured, with only two goalless draws and even then they were 106 years apart.
Both teams drew a blank on our first ever meeting in 1901 and the scoreline was not repeated until 2007, whilst six games have ended up 2-2 and in 1972 we shared six goals. After both sides took a point on City’s first visit, we went on a run of ten consecutive wins, during which we only conceded five goals and it was not until the 18th attempt that the Robins were able to claim their first victory here, that coming by 1-0 in 1929.
Results have been more even this century, with three North End wins, four draws and that solitary success for City in 2011. Last season’s 5-0 win was our biggest against City and the first time we had scored more than three times against them here.
Joe Anyinsah, Matt Hill and Marcus Stewart not only played for both City and North End, but they were also born in Bristol.
Joe only made eight appearances for North End, all as a substitute, after joining us from City in 2005 before moving on to Carlisle in 2009 and ending his league career at City’s rivals Bristol Rovers.
Marcus also played for both clubs in Bristol before spending a brief, injured affected spell on loan here in 2006. A notable goalscorer throughout his career with over 250 goals to his name, he was unable to add to his tally in four appearances for North End before a hamstring injury cut short his time in Preston.
Matt Hill is of course fondly remembered for his sterling performances at left back, having started his career at Ashton Gate before making 119 appearances for North End over a three and half year period from 2005 onwards.
Connections between the clubs are currently maintained by the presence of Bailey Wright, Josh Brownhill, Callum Robinson and Greg Cunningham in our respective squads.
On This Date
Jamaican centre half Claude Davis celebrates his 39th birthday today. Brought to Deepdale by Craig Brown from Portmore United in 2003, Claude was a popular figure during his three seasons in a North End shirt. He is perhaps most fondly remembered for his celebration dance after lashing a volley past stand-in Luton keeper Kevin Nichols for the final goal in our 5-1 victory in 2006.
Another former player having a birthday today is Bjarki Gunnlaugsson, who reaches 45. The first Icelander to play for North End, Bjarki was seriously hampered by a persistent hip injury that led to his premature retirement in 2001 aged only 28. His meagre return of only seven goals from 54 appearances is not an accurate reflection of his goalscoring instincts or his contribution to the team.
Fred Else made his debut in goal on this date in 1954 in 4-0 home win over Manchester City. Aged only 19 at the time, Fred went on to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper with 238 appearances before he was allowed to leave for Blackburn in 1961 following the emergence of Alan Kelly senior.
We have played ten previous home games on 6th March over the years, winning six and drawing four. These include a 5-3 thriller versus Wolves in 1915, a 3-1 win over Chelsea in 1929 and the heavy defeat of Manchester City in which Fred Else made his debut.
Last Five Games At Deepdale
Preston North End 5 (Barkhuizen, McGeady (pen), Clarke, Robinson, 2) Bristol City 0, 4th April 2017
Preston North End 1 (Kilkenny) Bristol City 1 (Wilbraham), 15th September 2015
Preston North End 1 (Beckford) Bristol City 1 (Wilbraham), 11th April 2015
Preston North End 1 (King) Bristol City 0, 30th November 2013
Preston North End 0 Bristol City 4 (Keogh, Clarkson, 2, Pitman), 5th February 2011
Ref Watch: Bristol City
Geoff's a bit hit and miss when taking games although he is consistent in upsetting managers.
Taking charge of his fourth Lilywhites game of the season, Geoff Eltringham will be the referee for our Tuesday night clash with Lee Johnson’s Bristol City at Deepdale.
Having officiated our early season game at Derby County, Geoff also took charge of the Boxing Day trip to Barnsley and our January win at Nottingham Forest, so all three of his games this season so far have been away from Deepdale, until Tuesday.
He also refereed one North End game last season, 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. The previous season 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 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.
This will be the match official’s third Robins game of the season, having refereed their 1-1 home game with Aston Villa and their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Stoke City at Ashton Gate. In his 26 games so far, he has issued 93 cautions and one red card.
For the game, the referee will be assisted by Billy Smallwood and Philip Dermott, whilst David Webb will act as the fourth official.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?
