09-12-2017, 22:29
Burton Albion 1 Akins Preston North End 2 Clarke, Horgan
Burton: Bywater, Brayford, Turner (Varney 81), Buxton, Flanagan, Naylor, Murphy (Sbarra 71), Miller (Scannel 62), Palmer, Dyer, Akins. Subs (not used): Warnock, Allen, McFadzean, Ripley.
PNE: Maxwell, Clarke (O'Connor 80), Huntington, Davies, Fisher, Pearson, Gallagher, Barkhuizen, Browne (Horgan 62), Robinson, Hugill (Harrop 62). Subs (not used): Boyle, Johnson, Mavididi, Rudd.
There must be something about our visits to the Pirelli been twice won twice, Tom Clarke has scored twice and oth games have been shite.
Have to say the manager got this half right, his decision to play Fisher at left back and play Clrke at right back left us unbalanced becaus Darnell is not a left back as today proved, but praise to the boss for the double substitution bringing off Hugill and Browne and put on the H boys Harrop and Horgan because the introduction of these two won us the game.
The first half was dire as both sides hammered it long into the stratosphere, when playing on the floor looked the better option and when did pass it about we looked semi decent.
Survived an early scare when Maxwell went on a nature ramble towards the right touchline to try and tackle Akins he failed miserably, Akins just couldn't get enough curl on the ball to score in an unguarded net. That was apart from a tame shiot Albion's only that in the first half .
North End huffed and puffed with the unfortunate Hugill having to chase balls 40 yards in front of him. Getting towards half time started to look dangerous with Robinson having an effort cleared from the line.
The second half early stages were poor although there appeared to be some life in the home side when Palmer managed to escape the entire North End back line before firing tamely into the arms of Maxwell.
On came the subs and lo and behold we started to play the ball on the floor and looked miles better, Harrop running at defenders and Horgam causing the ageing backline of the home side problems. The little Irishman forced a corner from which we scored a bit of head tennis and Clarke scored on the same ground were he had scored his last North End goal.
Instant response from the home side possibly could have had a penalty for hand ball against Fisher, also forced a couple of corners but North End were a different proportion going forward, Barkhuizen went close before Horgan had a clear run on goal before being denied by Bywater. Not be denied following good work by Robinson and Barkhuizen the ball was played to the little Irishman who calmly picked his spot to more or less win the game. Robinson was denied by Bywater and the post and Gallagher shot wide when well placed. But being North End let in one from a corner in the dying second when Akins volleyed home off the underside of the bar.
Did what we had to do, took the points, Albion were poor and looked destined to for the drop and with gates of about 3500 which included 1180 from the Gods county you can understand why.
Burton boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:
"We felt two decisions today changed the course of the game. We thought it was a clear foul on Ben Turner before the first goal and then we should have had a penalty awarded for a handball moments later. We're disappointed.
"I think the players gave us everything in terms of effort but it's just not quite enough at the moment.
"I thought they started the second half well and then we came back into it but we just can't get a break in either penalty area.
"I think the way it's looking our home run could go on."
Preston boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"The one thing we were conscious of is that we didn't want to turn it into a fight for the full game.
"The substitutes coming on gave us fresh legs and more pace to get in behind and they struggled to deal with that as time went on.
"The supporters will be delighted with the last 30 minutes. We've won three out of four and hopefully we can keep that run going."
Burton: Bywater, Brayford, Turner (Varney 81), Buxton, Flanagan, Naylor, Murphy (Sbarra 71), Miller (Scannel 62), Palmer, Dyer, Akins. Subs (not used): Warnock, Allen, McFadzean, Ripley.
PNE: Maxwell, Clarke (O'Connor 80), Huntington, Davies, Fisher, Pearson, Gallagher, Barkhuizen, Browne (Horgan 62), Robinson, Hugill (Harrop 62). Subs (not used): Boyle, Johnson, Mavididi, Rudd.
There must be something about our visits to the Pirelli been twice won twice, Tom Clarke has scored twice and oth games have been shite.
Have to say the manager got this half right, his decision to play Fisher at left back and play Clrke at right back left us unbalanced becaus Darnell is not a left back as today proved, but praise to the boss for the double substitution bringing off Hugill and Browne and put on the H boys Harrop and Horgan because the introduction of these two won us the game.
The first half was dire as both sides hammered it long into the stratosphere, when playing on the floor looked the better option and when did pass it about we looked semi decent.
Survived an early scare when Maxwell went on a nature ramble towards the right touchline to try and tackle Akins he failed miserably, Akins just couldn't get enough curl on the ball to score in an unguarded net. That was apart from a tame shiot Albion's only that in the first half .
North End huffed and puffed with the unfortunate Hugill having to chase balls 40 yards in front of him. Getting towards half time started to look dangerous with Robinson having an effort cleared from the line.
The second half early stages were poor although there appeared to be some life in the home side when Palmer managed to escape the entire North End back line before firing tamely into the arms of Maxwell.
On came the subs and lo and behold we started to play the ball on the floor and looked miles better, Harrop running at defenders and Horgam causing the ageing backline of the home side problems. The little Irishman forced a corner from which we scored a bit of head tennis and Clarke scored on the same ground were he had scored his last North End goal.
Instant response from the home side possibly could have had a penalty for hand ball against Fisher, also forced a couple of corners but North End were a different proportion going forward, Barkhuizen went close before Horgan had a clear run on goal before being denied by Bywater. Not be denied following good work by Robinson and Barkhuizen the ball was played to the little Irishman who calmly picked his spot to more or less win the game. Robinson was denied by Bywater and the post and Gallagher shot wide when well placed. But being North End let in one from a corner in the dying second when Akins volleyed home off the underside of the bar.
Did what we had to do, took the points, Albion were poor and looked destined to for the drop and with gates of about 3500 which included 1180 from the Gods county you can understand why.
Burton boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:
"We felt two decisions today changed the course of the game. We thought it was a clear foul on Ben Turner before the first goal and then we should have had a penalty awarded for a handball moments later. We're disappointed.
"I think the players gave us everything in terms of effort but it's just not quite enough at the moment.
"I thought they started the second half well and then we came back into it but we just can't get a break in either penalty area.
"I think the way it's looking our home run could go on."
Preston boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"The one thing we were conscious of is that we didn't want to turn it into a fight for the full game.
"The substitutes coming on gave us fresh legs and more pace to get in behind and they struggled to deal with that as time went on.
"The supporters will be delighted with the last 30 minutes. We've won three out of four and hopefully we can keep that run going."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?