03-05-2018, 15:38
Here we are at the last match of the league season for 2017-18 and whoever decided the fixtures in the Championship for the last day deserves a medal for what could possibly be the most nailbiter of a last day that has been seen for many a year.
Five teams at the bottom are in competition to avoid the last two relegation places whilst at the other end two are in competition for the last promotion spot and the other two are after the last play off spot and all the teams at the top play all those at the bottom, calculators at the ready a buttock twitching afternoon is coming.
Birmingham v Fulham
Cardiff v Reading
Bolton v Forest
Derby v Barnsley
plus us against Burton.
Our opponents Burton have won three on the bounce since being hammered 0-5 at home to Hull City having seen off Derby, Sunderland and Bolton has given them a tremendous chance of staying up although their goal difference is not good. The fact that they didn't win a home game for the best part of six months does suggest that they are harder to beat away from home although they have defended better away from the Pirelli and have been harder to beat away from home, on Sunday though they need a win.
This will be no pushover as Clough is a decent manager and will have them well organised. They have sum decent players Luke Murphy on loan from Leeds cost a million, however we need to keep an eye out for Liam Boyce the Brewers record signing who unluckily did knee ligaments just after he signed, if he had been fit all season they may not be in the bottom three.
McCrory and Dyer are both fitness doubts for Burton
For us same again will do nicely only injury doubt is Pearson, also this Sunday it could also be the last time we see a couple of other players although they may be needed for another couple of weeks depending on results.
Hard to predict what will happen however think the key game for both Barnsley and Burton is the Bolton game as they are the only side playing someone with nothing to play for in Forest.
No matter what happens the lads have done the club proud this season and we won't finish 11th
Stat Attack: Burton Albion
We bring to a close our 119th season of regular league action with only the second visit of Burton Albion to Deepdale.
Last season’s inaugural fixture ended all square, when Callum Robinson’s goal on the stroke of half-time equalised Jackson Irvine’s 23rd minute strike. That was the Brewers’ first away goal for over 400 minutes and the first at Deepdale by a club from Burton on Trent since 1902, when Burton United also drew 1-1.
That was one of three visits here by Albion’s predecessors and the only time they gained a point so let’s hope for a continuation of that record as we say goodbye to club football for another summer.
The final day of the season has resulted in some memorable occasions over the years, whether celebrating promotions, marking retirements or looking forward with hope after a campaign that has ended in relegation.
Our final home game of the inaugural league season took place as early as 5th January in 1889, as the 22 game season gave way to the FA Cup in February. We still had two away games to play, but our 4-1 victory over Notts County sealed what had been virtually inevitable all season as the Invincibles were crowned the first league champions in the world.
In later years the season ended at Easter, which saw us play both Sheffield clubs here on successive days in 1905, winning on both occasions.
Having the final league game at home has resulted in some high-scoring matches over the years. We’ve had 5-0 vs Derby (1898), a 4-2 victory over Barnsley in 1926, our 4-0 defeat of Liverpool in 1952 and most memorably our final day win over Cardiff City by 9-0 in 1966 all saw the North End faithful sent off with a smile on their faces.
Less happy was the result of our final game in 1948, which ended a record home defeat as our Fylde coast neighbours came out on top by 7-0. Not a scoreline to dwell on as we mark the end of another successful campaign!
On This Date
Former left back David Buchanan marks his 32nd birthday today, having spent the last three seasons as captain of Northampton Town after ending his time here in 2015. David spent three seasons at Deepdale after being signed by Graham Westley from Tranmere Rovers and he shared the left back spot with Scott Laird.
Several players have made their final appearances for North End on this date over the years, most recently when David Nugent pulled on the Lilywhite shirt for the last time.
His 107th appearance came in a 1-0 home win over Birmingham City, in which he was replaced by another player turning out for us for the last time in Michael Ricketts. Nuge had the better goalscoring record for us, hitting the net 37 times compared to Michael’s sole strike
.
This date in 1963 saw Willie Cunningham bring to an end his 14 year playing career as he turned out for the 487th time for North End. Signed from Airdrie in 1949, Willie was 38 when he left for Southport before retiring and opening a sports shop on Church Street in the town centre. He won eight caps for Scotland and was his country’s captain at the 1954 World Cup Finals in Switzerland.
Others to say farewell to Deepdale on this date include Sean Haslegrave (1981), Matt Carmichael (1995) and Bjarki Gunnlaugsson (2001).
We have only played four previous home games on this date, beating Southampton 3-1 in 1933, West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in 2001 and the 1-0 win over Birmingham mentioned earlier. The second of those four fixtures saw us sign off the disastrous 1984/85 season with a 5-2 hammering by Wigan Athletic in front of only 4,800 spectators.
Last Game At Deepdale
Preston North End 1 (Robinson) Burton Albion 1 (Irvine), 26th November 2016
Ref Watch: Burton Albion
For the fourth time this season Andy Madley will be the match referee for the Lilywhites’ fixture.
It is his first game at Deepdale since right back at the start of the season, having taken charge of the 1-0 win over Reading at Deepdale back in August, and since then he refereed our games at Ipswich Town and away at the Madejski Stadium last month.
He is one of the most familiar faces in terms of match officials for North End fans, as not only did he take charge of five of our games last season, but he also refereed the Play-Off Final win at Wembley in 2015 and our last encounter with local rivals Blackpool – when Tom Clarke wrote his name in PNE folklore.
Last season he was the referee away at Queens Park Rangers, in both games we played at St James’ Park, Newcastle, the away game at Aston Villa in January and the 5-0 home thrashing of Bristol City in April.
He also had the whistle for three PNE games in 2014/15, including the win at Wembley, having been the referee in the first league win of the season, the 4-0 triumph at Scunthorpe United back in August of 2014 and then the live TV game against Fleetwood Town at Highbury in March 2015.
Mr Madley, as mentioned, was also in charge of our now memorable League Cup win over Blackpool in 2013/14 and then at Port Vale when North End won 2-0 with ten men.
This year he has so far officiated 41 games, issuing 133 cautions and just one red card. This is his third game in the middle for the Brewers this season – taking charge of their goalless draw at QPR earlier in the season and then their 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers back in December.
He will be assisted on Saturday by Neil Davies and Robert Merchant and the fourth official will be Andy’s fellow select group two match official Darren Bond.
Five teams at the bottom are in competition to avoid the last two relegation places whilst at the other end two are in competition for the last promotion spot and the other two are after the last play off spot and all the teams at the top play all those at the bottom, calculators at the ready a buttock twitching afternoon is coming.
Birmingham v Fulham
Cardiff v Reading
Bolton v Forest
Derby v Barnsley
plus us against Burton.
Our opponents Burton have won three on the bounce since being hammered 0-5 at home to Hull City having seen off Derby, Sunderland and Bolton has given them a tremendous chance of staying up although their goal difference is not good. The fact that they didn't win a home game for the best part of six months does suggest that they are harder to beat away from home although they have defended better away from the Pirelli and have been harder to beat away from home, on Sunday though they need a win.
This will be no pushover as Clough is a decent manager and will have them well organised. They have sum decent players Luke Murphy on loan from Leeds cost a million, however we need to keep an eye out for Liam Boyce the Brewers record signing who unluckily did knee ligaments just after he signed, if he had been fit all season they may not be in the bottom three.
McCrory and Dyer are both fitness doubts for Burton
For us same again will do nicely only injury doubt is Pearson, also this Sunday it could also be the last time we see a couple of other players although they may be needed for another couple of weeks depending on results.
Hard to predict what will happen however think the key game for both Barnsley and Burton is the Bolton game as they are the only side playing someone with nothing to play for in Forest.
No matter what happens the lads have done the club proud this season and we won't finish 11th
Stat Attack: Burton Albion
We bring to a close our 119th season of regular league action with only the second visit of Burton Albion to Deepdale.
Last season’s inaugural fixture ended all square, when Callum Robinson’s goal on the stroke of half-time equalised Jackson Irvine’s 23rd minute strike. That was the Brewers’ first away goal for over 400 minutes and the first at Deepdale by a club from Burton on Trent since 1902, when Burton United also drew 1-1.
That was one of three visits here by Albion’s predecessors and the only time they gained a point so let’s hope for a continuation of that record as we say goodbye to club football for another summer.
The final day of the season has resulted in some memorable occasions over the years, whether celebrating promotions, marking retirements or looking forward with hope after a campaign that has ended in relegation.
Our final home game of the inaugural league season took place as early as 5th January in 1889, as the 22 game season gave way to the FA Cup in February. We still had two away games to play, but our 4-1 victory over Notts County sealed what had been virtually inevitable all season as the Invincibles were crowned the first league champions in the world.
In later years the season ended at Easter, which saw us play both Sheffield clubs here on successive days in 1905, winning on both occasions.
Having the final league game at home has resulted in some high-scoring matches over the years. We’ve had 5-0 vs Derby (1898), a 4-2 victory over Barnsley in 1926, our 4-0 defeat of Liverpool in 1952 and most memorably our final day win over Cardiff City by 9-0 in 1966 all saw the North End faithful sent off with a smile on their faces.
Less happy was the result of our final game in 1948, which ended a record home defeat as our Fylde coast neighbours came out on top by 7-0. Not a scoreline to dwell on as we mark the end of another successful campaign!
On This Date
Former left back David Buchanan marks his 32nd birthday today, having spent the last three seasons as captain of Northampton Town after ending his time here in 2015. David spent three seasons at Deepdale after being signed by Graham Westley from Tranmere Rovers and he shared the left back spot with Scott Laird.
Several players have made their final appearances for North End on this date over the years, most recently when David Nugent pulled on the Lilywhite shirt for the last time.
His 107th appearance came in a 1-0 home win over Birmingham City, in which he was replaced by another player turning out for us for the last time in Michael Ricketts. Nuge had the better goalscoring record for us, hitting the net 37 times compared to Michael’s sole strike
.
This date in 1963 saw Willie Cunningham bring to an end his 14 year playing career as he turned out for the 487th time for North End. Signed from Airdrie in 1949, Willie was 38 when he left for Southport before retiring and opening a sports shop on Church Street in the town centre. He won eight caps for Scotland and was his country’s captain at the 1954 World Cup Finals in Switzerland.
Others to say farewell to Deepdale on this date include Sean Haslegrave (1981), Matt Carmichael (1995) and Bjarki Gunnlaugsson (2001).
We have only played four previous home games on this date, beating Southampton 3-1 in 1933, West Bromwich Albion 2-1 in 2001 and the 1-0 win over Birmingham mentioned earlier. The second of those four fixtures saw us sign off the disastrous 1984/85 season with a 5-2 hammering by Wigan Athletic in front of only 4,800 spectators.
Last Game At Deepdale
Preston North End 1 (Robinson) Burton Albion 1 (Irvine), 26th November 2016
Ref Watch: Burton Albion
For the fourth time this season Andy Madley will be the match referee for the Lilywhites’ fixture.
It is his first game at Deepdale since right back at the start of the season, having taken charge of the 1-0 win over Reading at Deepdale back in August, and since then he refereed our games at Ipswich Town and away at the Madejski Stadium last month.
He is one of the most familiar faces in terms of match officials for North End fans, as not only did he take charge of five of our games last season, but he also refereed the Play-Off Final win at Wembley in 2015 and our last encounter with local rivals Blackpool – when Tom Clarke wrote his name in PNE folklore.
Last season he was the referee away at Queens Park Rangers, in both games we played at St James’ Park, Newcastle, the away game at Aston Villa in January and the 5-0 home thrashing of Bristol City in April.
He also had the whistle for three PNE games in 2014/15, including the win at Wembley, having been the referee in the first league win of the season, the 4-0 triumph at Scunthorpe United back in August of 2014 and then the live TV game against Fleetwood Town at Highbury in March 2015.
Mr Madley, as mentioned, was also in charge of our now memorable League Cup win over Blackpool in 2013/14 and then at Port Vale when North End won 2-0 with ten men.
This year he has so far officiated 41 games, issuing 133 cautions and just one red card. This is his third game in the middle for the Brewers this season – taking charge of their goalless draw at QPR earlier in the season and then their 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers back in December.
He will be assisted on Saturday by Neil Davies and Robert Merchant and the fourth official will be Andy’s fellow select group two match official Darren Bond.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?