28-11-2018, 10:57
Preston North End 1 Browne Middlesbrough 1 Tavernier
PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke ©, Earl, Pearson, Huntington, Storey, Barkhuizen, Gallagher, Moult (Nmecha, 73), Browne, Barker. Subs not used: Maxwell, Fisher, Woods, Hughes, Ledson, Barker.
Middlesbrough line-up: Randolph, Friend ©, Ayala (Braithwaite, 46), Batth, Clayton, Hugill, Fry, Saville, Flint, Wing (Howson, 49), Gestede (Tavernier, 27). Subs not used: Lonergan, Assombalonga, McNair, Fletcher.
Attendance: 10,990 (971 Middlesbrough fans)
Referee: Mr P Bankes
Would have taken a point before the game however afterwards this really was an oppotunity missed to beat a one dimensional Boro side whose sole ambition for the majority of the match was to hoof it long.
Injury hit North End made several changes from the side thbat demolished the plastics on Saturday, first sighting of Storey since the Hull game instead of Davies who I assume was injured was the only surprise.
Could have been two up in the first 10 minutes, Barker should have really scored after racing lear of the Boro defence in the first minute, he delayed his shot too long before being denied by a great recovery tackle from Wing. A corner caused mayhem in the Boro area looked like we had scored however the ball was cleared from the line and Boro survived. Then Moult played in by Browne fired straight at Randolp when well placed,
An injury to Gestede worked to Boro's advantage they brought on Tavernier to replace him and he immediately made an impact, finding space and taking people on, looks a decent prospect this lad. Boro got on top forcing a series of corners and free kicks, we got lucky from one corner but in the main dealt really well with them.
We took the lead on the stroke of half time slightly against the run of play although in saying that we deserved to lead.
Barker advanced down the left fed the ball to Browne, he cut inside a defender and fired home.
Boro were level within 45 seconds of the second half kicking off, poor defending by us Huntington was left exposed by the speedy Tavernier he advanced on goal and fired past Rudd. From then on in the game tended to die as a spectacle, both sides cancelled each other out although we did get into some good positions although tended to waste the final ball. Braithwaite another Boro sub caused us some problems like Tavernier actually looked more comfortable with the ball at his feet.
The flow of the game wasn't helped by Mr Bankes who had an inconsistent night to say the least and seemed to be more ready to penalise us for the slightest infringement but in the end a points a point but it could have been even better.
Preston North End manager Alex Neil:
"To play as well as we did tonight against second in the league, with six first team players missing, any team would struggle to do that if you take those players out of your squad.
"We haven't got any players left really, we had young Jack Baxter in the squad today doing the warm up because we are really stretched in terms of fit players we have available.
"It was a great goal. Alan (Browne) got dropped out at Bristol because I felt he was showing signs of fatigue, mentally more than anything. In the last two games he's shown why he is a player I rely on and I trust.
"The (Middlesbrough) goal is disappointing because it's a bad error from us and I don't think they created too much apart from that.
"We are playing well at the moment and we just want to keep that going now."
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis:
"We take a point, and we've taken four points from two away games at Brentford and Preston, who are the form team at the moment, especially at home.
"It's always difficult going to Brentford. Four points, it's not too bad.
"It's the second one on the bounce, and it's the second one where we have to travel and bed the lads down again and we didn't get much time.
"I'm really pleased again with the effort, but there's certain things we didn't do that we did the other Saturday, but having said that I still think we deserved what we got."
PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke ©, Earl, Pearson, Huntington, Storey, Barkhuizen, Gallagher, Moult (Nmecha, 73), Browne, Barker. Subs not used: Maxwell, Fisher, Woods, Hughes, Ledson, Barker.
Middlesbrough line-up: Randolph, Friend ©, Ayala (Braithwaite, 46), Batth, Clayton, Hugill, Fry, Saville, Flint, Wing (Howson, 49), Gestede (Tavernier, 27). Subs not used: Lonergan, Assombalonga, McNair, Fletcher.
Attendance: 10,990 (971 Middlesbrough fans)
Referee: Mr P Bankes
Would have taken a point before the game however afterwards this really was an oppotunity missed to beat a one dimensional Boro side whose sole ambition for the majority of the match was to hoof it long.
Injury hit North End made several changes from the side thbat demolished the plastics on Saturday, first sighting of Storey since the Hull game instead of Davies who I assume was injured was the only surprise.
Could have been two up in the first 10 minutes, Barker should have really scored after racing lear of the Boro defence in the first minute, he delayed his shot too long before being denied by a great recovery tackle from Wing. A corner caused mayhem in the Boro area looked like we had scored however the ball was cleared from the line and Boro survived. Then Moult played in by Browne fired straight at Randolp when well placed,
An injury to Gestede worked to Boro's advantage they brought on Tavernier to replace him and he immediately made an impact, finding space and taking people on, looks a decent prospect this lad. Boro got on top forcing a series of corners and free kicks, we got lucky from one corner but in the main dealt really well with them.
We took the lead on the stroke of half time slightly against the run of play although in saying that we deserved to lead.
Barker advanced down the left fed the ball to Browne, he cut inside a defender and fired home.
Boro were level within 45 seconds of the second half kicking off, poor defending by us Huntington was left exposed by the speedy Tavernier he advanced on goal and fired past Rudd. From then on in the game tended to die as a spectacle, both sides cancelled each other out although we did get into some good positions although tended to waste the final ball. Braithwaite another Boro sub caused us some problems like Tavernier actually looked more comfortable with the ball at his feet.
The flow of the game wasn't helped by Mr Bankes who had an inconsistent night to say the least and seemed to be more ready to penalise us for the slightest infringement but in the end a points a point but it could have been even better.
Preston North End manager Alex Neil:
"To play as well as we did tonight against second in the league, with six first team players missing, any team would struggle to do that if you take those players out of your squad.
"We haven't got any players left really, we had young Jack Baxter in the squad today doing the warm up because we are really stretched in terms of fit players we have available.
"It was a great goal. Alan (Browne) got dropped out at Bristol because I felt he was showing signs of fatigue, mentally more than anything. In the last two games he's shown why he is a player I rely on and I trust.
"The (Middlesbrough) goal is disappointing because it's a bad error from us and I don't think they created too much apart from that.
"We are playing well at the moment and we just want to keep that going now."
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis:
"We take a point, and we've taken four points from two away games at Brentford and Preston, who are the form team at the moment, especially at home.
"It's always difficult going to Brentford. Four points, it's not too bad.
"It's the second one on the bounce, and it's the second one where we have to travel and bed the lads down again and we didn't get much time.
"I'm really pleased again with the effort, but there's certain things we didn't do that we did the other Saturday, but having said that I still think we deserved what we got."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?