02-11-2017, 16:16
Preston North End 0 Aston Villa 2(Chester, Snodgrass)
PNE: Maxwell, Fisher, Boyle, Woods (Gallagher 46), Earl (O'Connor 46), Pearson, Johnson, Barkhuizen (Horgan 77), Browne, Maguire, Hugill. Subs (not used): Harrop, Mavididi, Robinson, Hudson.
Villa: Johnstone, Elmohamady, Terry, Chester, Hutton, Adomah, Whelan, Snodgrass (De Laet 88), Hourihane, Onomah (Jedinak 66), Davis (Hogan 71). Subs (not used): Taylor, Samba, Bjarnason, Steer.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
Attendance: 14,212 (2,228 away)
Well the better side won no excuses although the two we let in could have been avoided but the better side take their chances and make no mistake this Villa side were better. Six wins in the last eight for Bruce's men starting to move into a challenging position, also have what we lacked last night experience, Terry and Whelan established internationals at one time plus a bench load of international substitutes as well.
North End's first half performance was way off the pace although we did have chances two clearing headers by Villa defenders and a Barkuizen shot which went narrowly wide however we were already losing by that point. Villa started well and the makeshift defence struggled against the pace of Davis and Onomah, Maxwell had already pulled off a blinding save but from a corner Chester was allowed a free header inside the six yards box. (0-1)
We had a period were we actually got on top that is until Pearson's pass to Boyle was underhit, Onomah pounced sped towards the box squared the ball to Snodgrass 2 down and game virtually over. Misery all around compounded by two more injuries to defenders Woods and Earl both damaged medial ligaments. On came Gallagher and O'Connor to make his league bow. Personal view at the time we would do well to avoid a hammering however although without really looking like scoring we battled away and didn't throw in the towel. Only a Horgan shot troubled Johnstone in the Villa goal near the end, whilst Adomah missed a glorious chance from a break away. Villa sat deep in the second and dealt with any threat we may have without too much trouble.
One to forget onto Portman Road we go.
Honourable mentions to Boyle and the poppy less Alan Browne who did a sterling job at centre back in the second half. Nothing sinister about the lack of a poppy the shirt didn't have a GPS tracker in it.
Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've been in football since I was 16 and I've never known as many injuries at any club at one time.
"Both lads tonight are medial ligament injuries and there's nothing you can do about those injuries.
"The disappointing thing is we defended better with a patched up defence in the second half that we did in the first half."
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM: "In the first half in particular, we were excellent.
"With the chances we've created, it could have been more comfortable, but overall it was a really decent performance.
"My two centre-backs and my goalkeeper were immaculate all night."
PNE: Maxwell, Fisher, Boyle, Woods (Gallagher 46), Earl (O'Connor 46), Pearson, Johnson, Barkhuizen (Horgan 77), Browne, Maguire, Hugill. Subs (not used): Harrop, Mavididi, Robinson, Hudson.
Villa: Johnstone, Elmohamady, Terry, Chester, Hutton, Adomah, Whelan, Snodgrass (De Laet 88), Hourihane, Onomah (Jedinak 66), Davis (Hogan 71). Subs (not used): Taylor, Samba, Bjarnason, Steer.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Merseyside)
Attendance: 14,212 (2,228 away)
Well the better side won no excuses although the two we let in could have been avoided but the better side take their chances and make no mistake this Villa side were better. Six wins in the last eight for Bruce's men starting to move into a challenging position, also have what we lacked last night experience, Terry and Whelan established internationals at one time plus a bench load of international substitutes as well.
North End's first half performance was way off the pace although we did have chances two clearing headers by Villa defenders and a Barkuizen shot which went narrowly wide however we were already losing by that point. Villa started well and the makeshift defence struggled against the pace of Davis and Onomah, Maxwell had already pulled off a blinding save but from a corner Chester was allowed a free header inside the six yards box. (0-1)
We had a period were we actually got on top that is until Pearson's pass to Boyle was underhit, Onomah pounced sped towards the box squared the ball to Snodgrass 2 down and game virtually over. Misery all around compounded by two more injuries to defenders Woods and Earl both damaged medial ligaments. On came Gallagher and O'Connor to make his league bow. Personal view at the time we would do well to avoid a hammering however although without really looking like scoring we battled away and didn't throw in the towel. Only a Horgan shot troubled Johnstone in the Villa goal near the end, whilst Adomah missed a glorious chance from a break away. Villa sat deep in the second and dealt with any threat we may have without too much trouble.
One to forget onto Portman Road we go.
Honourable mentions to Boyle and the poppy less Alan Browne who did a sterling job at centre back in the second half. Nothing sinister about the lack of a poppy the shirt didn't have a GPS tracker in it.
Preston manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've been in football since I was 16 and I've never known as many injuries at any club at one time.
"Both lads tonight are medial ligament injuries and there's nothing you can do about those injuries.
"The disappointing thing is we defended better with a patched up defence in the second half that we did in the first half."
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce told BBC WM: "In the first half in particular, we were excellent.
"With the chances we've created, it could have been more comfortable, but overall it was a really decent performance.
"My two centre-backs and my goalkeeper were immaculate all night."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?