[themaclad]

Another massive match at the home of quality football as we take on a Fulham side who are on an unbeaten run of 14 games and making a determined bid for the last automatic promotion spot, they should have gone up last season but for some unexplained reason lost to a piss poor Reading side.
They started slowly this season but are racing through the gears at the moment, we managed a draw at the Cottage really though if we had held on for another 30 seconds we would have won but Maxi's last second blunder cost us the game.
Personally think Fulham are the best footballing side in the division under manager Slaviša Jokanović wo previously led Watford out of this division.
To boost their squad they made the inspired loan signing of Alexsander Mitrovic from Newcastle and he has repayed the club already with several vital goals, plenty of pace in the side plus highly experienced Kevin McDonald in midfield and then there is the wonder kid Ryan Seesegnon, apparently Spurs going to bid about 35 million in the summer for him, scored double figures this season and he's only 17, frightening talent.
Great going forwrd think they can be slightly suspect at times at the back but a formidible team, tough game but we have already coped in the last month against Wolves, Villa and Brizzle.
Neil has stated he almost has a full squad to pick from although Gally departed early with what looked like a hamstring strain on Tuesday, have to say we looked slightly weary at the end of that one but will he make changes, old saying never change a winning side. Looking forward to this one.
Ref Watch: Fulham
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Taking charge of his third North End game of the season this weekend will be Wiltshire official Simon Hooper.

This is his second at Deepdale, his first game was in November, for the televised goalless draw with Phil Parkinson’s Bolton Wanderers. He then took charge of our game away at Brentford last month.

Last season he also took charge of PNE three times. Those games were the reversal of today’s game - against Fulham on Gentry Day at Craven Cottage in March - for the League Cup victory over AFC Bournemouth back in September and the league win at Bristol City in December 2016.

The two games the previous season that he took charge of were also long distance games, the 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town and our 3-0 win at Charlton Athletic back in October 2015.
The match official, who made his first ever trip up to Deepdale from his Wiltshire base for the clash with Walsall in January 2015, is an experienced referee and is now in his tenth season on the EFL list and he has taken charge of PNE in games at Crawley, Southampton and a previous trip to AFC Bournemouth as well.

So far this season he has taken charge of 33 games, issuing 107 cautions and four red cards and this will also be his third Fulham game of the season, having officiated their early season draw at Reading and their Boxing Day win at Cardiff City.

The assistants on Saturday afternoon will be Akil Howson and Nick Greenhalgh, whilst experienced official Andy Haines will be in the fourth official role.

Stat Attack: Fulham
We welcome our visitors from the north bank of the Thames to Deepdale for the 32nd time and they will be hoping to maintain a decent record here.
The Cottagers first made their way north from the capital 105 years ago next week, that opening fixture coming on 15th March 1903. George Barlow’s solitary goal settled the second division match and we also won the next two meetings, the first of Fulham’s 11 wins to date coming in 1933.

We only met ten times in the first 48 years of matches between our two clubs and it was only from the late 1960s that this became a regular fixture.

Goals have often been at a premium, with only 82 shared in the previous 31 matches, although 1968’s goalless draw is the only time the scoreline has ended blank. Our 4-1 win in 1960 is one of only four occasion we have scored three or more times in a match, whilst our visitors have achieved the same feat once less. Their record win was by 4-1 in 1989, despite Tony Philliskirk giving us a third minute lead, with two goals in the final three minutes finally sealing the points for Fulham.

Twenty-three years ago tomorrow, we came out on top in a five goal thriller in a match notable for David Beckham demonstrating his prowess from free kicks when he scored at the Town End.
To this day, David still includes this strike amongst his favourites of all those he scored during this career.

Some notable goalscorers have worn the white shirts of North End and Fulham, including Gary Brazil and Mike Conroy.

Gary joined us from Sheffield United in the dark days of 1985, initially on loan, and spent four years at Deepdale. He scored 72 goals in just over 200 appearances as he helped revive the club under John McGrath and Les Chapman before becoming equally successful at Fulham after a brief spell at Newcastle.

Mike Conroy followed Gary to Craven Cottage in 1995 after two seasons with North End after joining us from Burnley. Mike is best remembered for a ten minute first half hat-trick against Shrewsbury Town on his home debut and of course scoring the winner on television in the first round of the FA Cup the following season. As Tom Clarke can testify, any winner scored against our Fylde coast neighbours guarantees a special place in the hearts of all North End fans!

Flying winger Eddie Lewis joined us from Fulham in 2002 and became a real favourite in his 124 appearances before moving to Leeds in 2005 – following in the footsteps of fellow USA international Brian McBride - whilst the most recent players with both clubs were Andy Lonergan and Ben Pringle.

On This Date
We have only played five previous league games at Deepdale on this date, but three of them are worthy of closer attention.

The most recent match, versus Scunthorpe United in 2012, ended goalless and was the first time in our history we had recorded three consecutive goalless draws at home after similar scores against Chesterfield and Walsall.

Going further back, we drew 3-3 with Blackpool in front of over 38,000 fans, a Tom Finney penalty and goals from Tommy Thompson and Ken Waterhouse ensuring a share of the points.

Five years earlier, the game featured one more goal than the six shared with Blackpool, but this time we ran out 7-0 winners against Barnsley. Tom Finney and Charlie Wayman both scored twice whilst Ken Horton recorded his only hat-trick for North End. We were four goals up after an hour and the players might have taken pity on Barnsley but if they did, they clearly changed their minds with three goals in the last ten minutes adding a gloss to the scoreline.

On Saturday we will wish happy 59th birthday to Geoff Twentyman, who made his name as a free-scoring centre half with Chorley before turning full-time with us in 1983. He was unable to continue his scoring feats in over 100 games but he was a mainstay of our defence for two years before moving to Bristol Rovers.
The only player born in Cameroon to play for North End (so far) made his debut 11 years ago today. Franck Songo’o was a promising 19-year-old winger at Portsmouth when he joined us on loan in March 2007.

He made his debut as a substitute at Hull before starting the next four games, but being replaced in all of them. His final appearance was again as a substitute in a defeat at Crystal Palace before he returned to Fratton Park. Franck left Portsmouth the following year and continued his career in Spain, the US and Greece.

Last Five Games At Deepdale
Preston North End 1 (Robinson) Fulham 2 (Aluko, Smith), 13th August 2016
Preston North End 1 (Vermijl) Fulham 2 (McCormack, Dembele), 5th April 2015
Preston North End 1 (Jackson) Fulham 1 (Davis), 2nd December 2000
Preston North End 0 Fulham 1 (Coleman), 19th December 1998
Preston North End 3 (Ashcroft, 3 (1 pen)) Fulham 1 (Scott), 29th November 1997

[St Charles Owl]

They won't come any tougher than this one for you. Fulham are certainly the form team but this is a great chance for you to stake a claim on one of those top 6 places.

[themaclad]

Their manager has made some interesting comments about our style of play will post them later

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Slaviša Jokanović insists his Fulham side will not be resting on their laurels as they enter the final stretch of the season.

A superb run of 14 unbeaten games has seen the Whites solidify our presence in the Play-Off positions, but Jokanović believes there is always more to come.

“It’s true we improved, especially the last two months,” he said in Thursday’s pre-match press conference. “I believe we can still be in a higher level, the space exists for us to grow and to try and be better still.


“We are satisfied now with our momentum but we cannot relax. We need to push ourselves on the training ground to be in a still better condition and compete better.

“10 games are ahead of us and we haven’t done anything at the moment. We must be brave and keep going and push hard.”

He continued: “We have positive momentum and we must be careful about everything around us. It’s important we don’t make mistakes and relax by thinking we’ve already done something so important.

“We are where we are, we are fourth in the Championship, and we have the option to fight. We must be strong and brave enough and show our desire and ambition to keep going forward and win the games.”

Saturday’s opponents Preston North End are enjoying some positive form of their own having only lost once in their previous 10 outings.

Jokanović expects a difficult encounter at Deepdale, and is hoping that his side are given ample protection.

“Every game is important and in the end it’s a chance for us to fight for three points against a really good team with a young and experienced manager who did a very good job with Preston,” he stated.


“They are one of the more aggressive teams in the competition and we must try and find our style and move the ball. They are going to want to stop this way that we play.

“It depends what kind of referee we find against Preston. When I watch the Premier League I know what the level of protection is, more or less.

“Sometimes in the Championship I am a little bit confused, and it depends how the referee takes the situation and manages the game.

“I’ve had the opportunity to watch some [Preston] games, and they’re on the border of the limit. They’re going to try and stop us in a legal or illegal way, and it’s going to depend on the referee.”

Tomas Kalas and David Button have been absent from the matchday squad for our wins over Derby County and Sheffield United, and Jokanović provided an update on their current status.

“Tomas Kalas started working today with us,” he revealed. “We have one more training session and we must observe his situation.

“[Button] was sick and we expect he can be in the squad for the next game. The other players are available for the game.”

[themaclad]

Preston North End 1 Maguire Fulham 2 Mitrovic 2

PNE: Rudd, Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Cunningham (Woods 46), Pearson, Johnson (Harrop 83), Robinson, Browne, Barkhuizen, Maguire (Bodin 83). Subs (not used): Clarke, Horgan, Gallagher, Maxwell.
Fulham: Bettinelli, Fredericks (Christie 67), Odoi, Ream, Targett, McDonald, Johansen, Ayite (Piazon 59), Cairney, Sessegnon (Ojo 83), Mitrovic. Subs (not used): Fonte, Norwood, Kamara, Button.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 12,978 (968 away)

Well they've done us with a late goal again the one at the Cottage was hard to take but Mitovic's second could was an utter piss take, as the visitors snaffled three points in a game which we certainly didn't deserve to lose. Sadly a bit of collective brain freeze at the end when we completely switched off at a throw led to Fulham's loan signing nodding in a second.
This was a great game of football played in the right spirit competitive with both sides playing attractive attacking football with only one booking which was for an agricultural scything down of a opponent by North End substitute Woods.
First half North End started quickly for once and looked dangerous against a Fulham defence which looked a bit suspect under pressure, however when we got into great positions we tended to want one pass too many, best effort came from Fisher forcing Bettinelli into a good save pushing the ball away for a corner. Fulham had pace on the break with Ayite looking a danger down the right, they had several corners from one Rudd saved well from Targett.
Second half Fulham pushed on and forced several corner and Rudd pulledoff a tremendous one handed save from Ayite, North End were finding it harder to get into Fulham's half and probably the way the play seemed to be going it was Fulham who took the lead, Woods missed a tackle and Fulham crossed from the right, a deflection took the ball to Mitrovic didn't miss, sadly.
It didn't take us long to draw lvel although has to be said Fulham's keper gets an assist as he lets Maguire's header squirm through his hands.
Once level looked the more likely to win it but Fulham had tightened up at the back defended in numbers and we couldn't get through, then right at the end came the kick in the Mitro's,
Plenty still to play for however we are becoming a more than decent side.
As for the referee Mr Hooper played his part in letting the game flow.

[themaclad]

Although Alex Neil was proud of how his players performed today calling it one of their best performances of the season, the manager was frustrated that they were left empty handed.

Aleksandar Mitrovic’s winner in the 91st minute ensure the visitors claimed all three points at Deepdale after Sean Maguire equalised for North End, and Neil felt that the better team throughout the 90 minutes lost today.

“That might be our best performance of the season,” stated Alex in his post-match interview with iFollowPNE.

“People talk about Fulham being the best team in the league in passing the ball but I don’t think the best team won today but that’s what teams at the top of the division do.
"They find ways to win - there was a bit of naivety on our part towards the end and Ben Davies is really unfortunate that he slips and that allows them to guide the ball home.

“However, we had numerous opportunities when we could have done better at the higher end of the pitch. There’s real disappointment from the players - to play as well as they did and put that much effort in against a really good team - that should have been enough to win the game but you’ve got to turn good performances into points.”

Despite the defeat, PNE remain in contention of a Play-Off spot and Neil reiterated the belief inside the camp of achieving their end goal - and their optimism was equalled by the supporters who were vocal throughout this afternoon.

At the end of the game, there was an acknowledgement from the home crowd of how well the team played and Neil felt the reaction from the supporters reflected his side’s work rate today.
“Two things can happen now - we can either feel sorry for ourselves or use it as fuel going into the next few games because we’re capable of beating any team in this division on our day and if that doesn’t prove it today then in terms of belief for the players then nothing will.
“The fans are going to go home agitated and frustrated and they’ll say we could have done this and we could have done that and everybody feels exactly the same way and it’s painful for everybody.

However, anybody who’s come to watch Preston today, will have seen that the lads gave everything today and there’s not much more you can do. Sometimes I go away from games and think we could have done this, we could have done that but I just come away from this game frustrated and disappointed that we didn’t get a result.

“There was a lack of quality at times in the final third where we needed to find that final pass, that final touch or shift the ball a little bit quicker. The difficulty is trying to get into that situation. Generally when we have done that we’ve created and scored more goals but that didn’t happen today.

“All you can do to your players is to give everything they’ve got, and play as well as they can, listen to how we want to play and go and try and win the game and try to implement that and they did that. I’m frustrated for them but really proud of them as well.”


Fulham view

“It’s a massive win for us in one of the more tougher away games that we’ve played,” said Fulham’s Head Coach.

“We knew what we would find here and they put us under a lot of pressure. It’s not easy playing against Preston. They put us under stress, played many balls behind our defenders and are a strong side. In the end, it was the best way for us to win the game in this situation, so we must be extra satisfied.

“We didn’t find our way in the first half, but we grew up in the second half - showed spirit and pushed hard. After they equalised, we still felt we were strong enough to win the game. It’s credit to the players’ ambition, desire and quality.”

Attention now turns to the West London derby and Jokanović believes his side needs to show a similar attitude to come out victorious.

“We must rest. Ahead of us is another London derby and we must be ready to find our best performance” explained Jokanović.

“We know it’s an important game for our supporters and we must be ready to fight for another three points.”