18-03-2018, 10:29
Sunderland 0 Preston North End 2 Maguire, Robinson
Sunderland: Camp, Matthews, Clarke-Slater, O'Shea, Kone, Oviedo, Honeyman (Lualua 69), Cattermole, Ejaria (McNair 76), Asoro, Maja (Fletcher 63). Subs (not used): McManaman, McGeady, Robson, Stryjek.
PNE: Maxwell, Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Earl, Pearson, Gallagher (Johnson 72), Robinson (Harrop 86), Browne, Barkhuizen (Bodin 86), Maguire. Subs (not used): Clarke, Woods, Moult, Hudson.
Referee: Darren Bond (Wigan)
Attendance: 28,543 (2,277 PNE)
A banana skin on paper against the divisions bottom club turned out to be a stroll, only one criticism and team likje Manchester City would have gone for the kill we had a great chance to boost goal difference yesterday, this game may just come back to haunt us but saying that three points were all that mattered.
First half was fairly equal probably have to say the home side had the clearer chances with the two young lads ups front causing us a bit of problems and Oviedo giving Fisher some difficulties down our right hand side, Maxwell had a couple of saves to make but nothing taxing. We had the majority of the ball but when we got into the danger zone the ball did not sem to drop kindly for us, Robinson played a fantastic ball through to Barkhuizen just couldn't control it and Camp smothered the ball at his feet. Browne also got the ball close to goal but was defeated by the bounce of the ball and Huntington headed over from a corner should have scored. Yep we should have had a penalty when Robinson was shoved the fact he tried to stay on his feet but couldn't should have made Mr Bond's mind up for him.
Second half started in a blizzard a bit of Sunderland pressure then with 25 minutes to go game over. Gallagher free kick home defenders playing statues Maguire heads home. Maguire then couldn't find Barkhuizen close in and Robinson missed a sitter. Then early bath for Clarke-Salter wanted to exchange bshirts with Barkhuizen during play, second yellow, he'd only just come back from a three match ban.
Two up similar to first only cross by Barkhuizen, Robinson header back post points in the back. With 25 minutes to go the vast majority of the home support voted with their feet and left. We had the chances to bury them but apart from one Johnson effort which was cleared from the line played the wrong ball or took to long to make the right decision and the chance would disappear. Played possession football at the end to the sound of there's only one Simon Grayson. Only one effort from the home side a LuaLua free kick tipped over by Maxwell
Easy indeed it was .
Two points from the play offs, if Cardiff beat Derby today one place won't be up for grabs but two will be.
As for Sunderland, fabulous stadium although from seven miles up the view from the away end can induce vertigo, feel a bit for their support but you have to stick by your team through thick and thin and to see loads leave long before the end can be dispiriting for the players. Also apparently Darron Gibson was arrested on match day morning for drink driving!!!
Finally a word of praise to all the coach drivers not easy driving conditions yesterday lots of thanks from us all.
Chris Coleman was left to rue his side’s 20-minute collapse in the second period as Preston secured the points on Wearside today.
With little to separate the two teams at the midway interval, the visitors stepped it up a level in the second 45 and it wasn’t long before they gained full control.
Just five minutes after the restart Sean Maguire scored his fifth goal in as many games off a free-kick from the right before Jake Clarke-Salter was dismissed for a second bookable offence with 59 minutes played.
Preston doubled their advantage shortly after when Callum Robinson nodded home from inside the six-yard box, to leave Coleman frustrated with his side’s performance once more.
“We are left disappointed again here,” he said.
“The first half was tight; the conditions were very difficult but in the second half it took just five minutes for us to concede a goal like we did.
“It’s painful and it’s a common theme, hence why we are bottom of the table.
“A game of football is over 90 minutes. A 45-minute performance is never enough.
“There was nothing in the match in the first half, but you can’t defend set-pieces like we did.
“That just puts everyone on a downer after that because it is so soon after the restart,” he continued.
“Jake Clarke-Salter got sent off which is another body blow and then we are facing a huge uphill task.
“It’s a hugely disappointing day again.”
Manager Alex Neil labelled this afternoon’s 2-0 win over Sunderland as professional, and a job well done, as PNE ensured they went into the international break with three points.
Second half headers from Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson secured the victory for Alex Neil’s side who closed to gap on the top six to two points, and the gaffer spoke of the importance of taking maximum points at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
“We looked at the other fixtures of the teams around us and we knew this was a good opportunity to catch up some ground. After the disappointment of Fulham it was always important to bounce back. With the international break coming up we didn’t want to go into it on the back of a loss.
“The one thing I will say is that the players deserve a lot of credit because the conditions weren’t easy today. I know it was snowing and you could see the wind but when you’re in it, it was bitterly cold for a start, which means muscles are tightening up all of the time and equally the wind and the snow made it difficult to play in, so the players deserve a lot of credit with how they passed the ball in spells of the game.
“The only disappointment for us is that we didn’t put the game to bed. We had five or six opportunities to score five, however, what I will say is that coming here, it was a professional job and we got the three points.
“When they went down to ten men, we should have kept the ball better. We had countless counter attacking opportunities to put the game to bed but we didn’t take them, but I don’t want to take the shine off it as any three points at this level is good.
"We know there’s bits we need to improve on, but we came here, got the job done, got the three points. We can enjoy the break, and then we can get prepared and ready for the run in.”
The first half wasn't straight forward, with North End not quite able to find a way through the Black Cats' defence in the first half, but a key change enforced by the manager at the interval saw Callum Robinson pushed up further forward in expense of Sean Maguire, who dropped back for the second half.
The change proved dividends with both players getting on the score sheet, and the manager was pleased with the flexibility of his front four this afternoon.
He continued “With Sean up front in the middle, they were quite happy to stay in their shape with Sean running down the sides but when we put Callum down the side, he almost played like a false nine and we’ve done that on quite a few occasions and it worked really well. That tactical change certainly helped us get the three points,
“Sometimes you can over analyse when you win and be a bit picky, but I think what we’ve got to do is understand what we’ve got to do to get to where we want to get to and we’re quite happy to win the game.”
Alex made three changes from Saturday’s defeat to Fulham, with a notable inclusion in-between the sticks with Chris Maxwell starting ahead of Declan Rudd, whose wife went into labour on Friday, and the manager was pleased with Maxwell’s contribution in the game.
“He’s managed a clean sheet, and his distribution was good in the main in testing conditions. Maxi’s been frustrated that he’s not been playing but Declan has come in and done relatively well and obviously Declan’s not here as he’s probably had his baby by now, his wife was in labour overnight which is why he wasn’t with us today.”
North End head into the international break on the back of the win, and Alex explained to iFollowPNE how they’ll use the break ahead of the remaining eight games of the season.
He continued: “We’ll use it for a bit of a rest to start off with - and then we’ll get the players in for a few days and put some hard work in their legs and pick up some things we can improve on.
“We’re getting more and more players away on International duty as we get which is a recognition of the work we are doing which is great. We’ll give them next week off, and then in and get ready for the Sheffield Wednesday game."
Sunderland: Camp, Matthews, Clarke-Slater, O'Shea, Kone, Oviedo, Honeyman (Lualua 69), Cattermole, Ejaria (McNair 76), Asoro, Maja (Fletcher 63). Subs (not used): McManaman, McGeady, Robson, Stryjek.
PNE: Maxwell, Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Earl, Pearson, Gallagher (Johnson 72), Robinson (Harrop 86), Browne, Barkhuizen (Bodin 86), Maguire. Subs (not used): Clarke, Woods, Moult, Hudson.
Referee: Darren Bond (Wigan)
Attendance: 28,543 (2,277 PNE)
A banana skin on paper against the divisions bottom club turned out to be a stroll, only one criticism and team likje Manchester City would have gone for the kill we had a great chance to boost goal difference yesterday, this game may just come back to haunt us but saying that three points were all that mattered.
First half was fairly equal probably have to say the home side had the clearer chances with the two young lads ups front causing us a bit of problems and Oviedo giving Fisher some difficulties down our right hand side, Maxwell had a couple of saves to make but nothing taxing. We had the majority of the ball but when we got into the danger zone the ball did not sem to drop kindly for us, Robinson played a fantastic ball through to Barkhuizen just couldn't control it and Camp smothered the ball at his feet. Browne also got the ball close to goal but was defeated by the bounce of the ball and Huntington headed over from a corner should have scored. Yep we should have had a penalty when Robinson was shoved the fact he tried to stay on his feet but couldn't should have made Mr Bond's mind up for him.
Second half started in a blizzard a bit of Sunderland pressure then with 25 minutes to go game over. Gallagher free kick home defenders playing statues Maguire heads home. Maguire then couldn't find Barkhuizen close in and Robinson missed a sitter. Then early bath for Clarke-Salter wanted to exchange bshirts with Barkhuizen during play, second yellow, he'd only just come back from a three match ban.
Two up similar to first only cross by Barkhuizen, Robinson header back post points in the back. With 25 minutes to go the vast majority of the home support voted with their feet and left. We had the chances to bury them but apart from one Johnson effort which was cleared from the line played the wrong ball or took to long to make the right decision and the chance would disappear. Played possession football at the end to the sound of there's only one Simon Grayson. Only one effort from the home side a LuaLua free kick tipped over by Maxwell
Easy indeed it was .
Two points from the play offs, if Cardiff beat Derby today one place won't be up for grabs but two will be.
As for Sunderland, fabulous stadium although from seven miles up the view from the away end can induce vertigo, feel a bit for their support but you have to stick by your team through thick and thin and to see loads leave long before the end can be dispiriting for the players. Also apparently Darron Gibson was arrested on match day morning for drink driving!!!
Finally a word of praise to all the coach drivers not easy driving conditions yesterday lots of thanks from us all.
Chris Coleman was left to rue his side’s 20-minute collapse in the second period as Preston secured the points on Wearside today.
With little to separate the two teams at the midway interval, the visitors stepped it up a level in the second 45 and it wasn’t long before they gained full control.
Just five minutes after the restart Sean Maguire scored his fifth goal in as many games off a free-kick from the right before Jake Clarke-Salter was dismissed for a second bookable offence with 59 minutes played.
Preston doubled their advantage shortly after when Callum Robinson nodded home from inside the six-yard box, to leave Coleman frustrated with his side’s performance once more.
“We are left disappointed again here,” he said.
“The first half was tight; the conditions were very difficult but in the second half it took just five minutes for us to concede a goal like we did.
“It’s painful and it’s a common theme, hence why we are bottom of the table.
“A game of football is over 90 minutes. A 45-minute performance is never enough.
“There was nothing in the match in the first half, but you can’t defend set-pieces like we did.
“That just puts everyone on a downer after that because it is so soon after the restart,” he continued.
“Jake Clarke-Salter got sent off which is another body blow and then we are facing a huge uphill task.
“It’s a hugely disappointing day again.”
Manager Alex Neil labelled this afternoon’s 2-0 win over Sunderland as professional, and a job well done, as PNE ensured they went into the international break with three points.
Second half headers from Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson secured the victory for Alex Neil’s side who closed to gap on the top six to two points, and the gaffer spoke of the importance of taking maximum points at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
“We looked at the other fixtures of the teams around us and we knew this was a good opportunity to catch up some ground. After the disappointment of Fulham it was always important to bounce back. With the international break coming up we didn’t want to go into it on the back of a loss.
“The one thing I will say is that the players deserve a lot of credit because the conditions weren’t easy today. I know it was snowing and you could see the wind but when you’re in it, it was bitterly cold for a start, which means muscles are tightening up all of the time and equally the wind and the snow made it difficult to play in, so the players deserve a lot of credit with how they passed the ball in spells of the game.
“The only disappointment for us is that we didn’t put the game to bed. We had five or six opportunities to score five, however, what I will say is that coming here, it was a professional job and we got the three points.
“When they went down to ten men, we should have kept the ball better. We had countless counter attacking opportunities to put the game to bed but we didn’t take them, but I don’t want to take the shine off it as any three points at this level is good.
"We know there’s bits we need to improve on, but we came here, got the job done, got the three points. We can enjoy the break, and then we can get prepared and ready for the run in.”
The first half wasn't straight forward, with North End not quite able to find a way through the Black Cats' defence in the first half, but a key change enforced by the manager at the interval saw Callum Robinson pushed up further forward in expense of Sean Maguire, who dropped back for the second half.
The change proved dividends with both players getting on the score sheet, and the manager was pleased with the flexibility of his front four this afternoon.
He continued “With Sean up front in the middle, they were quite happy to stay in their shape with Sean running down the sides but when we put Callum down the side, he almost played like a false nine and we’ve done that on quite a few occasions and it worked really well. That tactical change certainly helped us get the three points,
“Sometimes you can over analyse when you win and be a bit picky, but I think what we’ve got to do is understand what we’ve got to do to get to where we want to get to and we’re quite happy to win the game.”
Alex made three changes from Saturday’s defeat to Fulham, with a notable inclusion in-between the sticks with Chris Maxwell starting ahead of Declan Rudd, whose wife went into labour on Friday, and the manager was pleased with Maxwell’s contribution in the game.
“He’s managed a clean sheet, and his distribution was good in the main in testing conditions. Maxi’s been frustrated that he’s not been playing but Declan has come in and done relatively well and obviously Declan’s not here as he’s probably had his baby by now, his wife was in labour overnight which is why he wasn’t with us today.”
North End head into the international break on the back of the win, and Alex explained to iFollowPNE how they’ll use the break ahead of the remaining eight games of the season.
He continued: “We’ll use it for a bit of a rest to start off with - and then we’ll get the players in for a few days and put some hard work in their legs and pick up some things we can improve on.
“We’re getting more and more players away on International duty as we get which is a recognition of the work we are doing which is great. We’ll give them next week off, and then in and get ready for the Sheffield Wednesday game."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?