29-12-2018, 20:49
Preston North End 1 Nmecha Aston Villa Abraham
PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke © (Fisher, 85), Hughes, Ledson, Storey, Huntington, Barkhuizen, Johnson, Nmecha, Burke (O’Reilly, 90), Gallagher (Walker, 90). Subs not used: Crowe, Fisher, Woods, Simpson, Baxter.
Aston Villa line-up: Nyland, Chester ©, Whelan (Bjarnason, 75), McGinn, Bolasie (Adomah, 68), Hourihane, Bree, Abraham, Hutton, El Ghazi, Almohamady. Subs not used: Bunn, Whelan, Hogan, Davis, Kodjia, Revan.
Attendance: 19,126 (5,629 Aston Villa fans)
Referee: Mr G Eltringham
Considering the circumstances of our massive injury list, this was by far and away our best performance of the season in probably the best game at the ground this season. If we had had the first team out think we might have won this but fair play to the Whites lesser players they played well.
Great atmosphere electric start by North End could have had two goals in the first three minutes, Storey hitting the bar from a corner and Barkhuizen trying to lob Nyland when through didn't get his angles right.
Villa gained a modicum of control and pressed us back Burke cleared a corner from the line and El Ghazi in a good position put it in the Town End. Could have been ahead before the break, good team move, Johnson's pass to Burke whose first time shot was goal bound or it would have been but Nyland made a stunner of a save. Nmecha got into a couple of good positions couldn't finish thn on the stroke of half time our weakness at corners found us out again, Abraham scoring at the back post, harsh it ceratinly was.
Both sides could have scored Nmecha had an effort cleared from the line and McGinn haeded over from close range should have headed home, then we absolutely played out of our skins for the next 20 minutes, personal view could possibly had one penalty for a foul on Ledson following a Barkhuizen header being cleared from the line also thought he could have penalised Nyland when he cleaned out Barky after collecting the ball. The equaliser when it came was downto a fired up Johnson who got a harsh booking, into the inside right channel croos into the six yard box Nmecha poaching did the rest.
The striker was inches wide from getting a second minutes later but energy levels started to drop and Villa looked the more likely in the closing stages with El Ghazi getting into several good positions and forcing Rudd into a couple of decent save.
Villa relly should have clinched the points near the end. ball in from the right, they had two players spare and Bjarnason managed to spoon the ball over the bar from a yard.
There was just enough time for two youngsters to come on and make their debuts for North End 17 year old Adam O'Reilly and 16 year old Ethan Walker.
Great entertainment and well done to those wearing White a top notch performance which was well received by the home fanswho applauded them off both at half and full time.
Preston manager Alex Neil:
"Since I've been here, we've put in a lot of important performances in big games but for this one, against a side that has expectations of being in the Premier League, everything came together.
"When you look at our starting line-up and the young players involved, this is probably as proud as I've been since I came here.
"The effort, the quality we showed and our approach to the game were all excellent. The only disappointing thing is that we didn't win the game, as I thought we deserved to win.
"The players rolled up their sleeves and showed what they can do, particularly in the second half, and I am really pleased with that."
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith:
"We did not deserve to win based on the amount of big chances that we gave away. I thought that defensively we weren't great, and on the ball also.
"We played well in the first half in certain elements but every time we got forward, the ball was turned over and they created a chance.
"They created numerous chances with simple balls over the top and we didn't deal with that. I know we have issues with defenders out injured and we had three right-backs playing, but we have to deal with this type of play better.
"They've had big chances but so have we, in the late stages. We had a great chance right at the end with Bjarnason, for example."
PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke © (Fisher, 85), Hughes, Ledson, Storey, Huntington, Barkhuizen, Johnson, Nmecha, Burke (O’Reilly, 90), Gallagher (Walker, 90). Subs not used: Crowe, Fisher, Woods, Simpson, Baxter.
Aston Villa line-up: Nyland, Chester ©, Whelan (Bjarnason, 75), McGinn, Bolasie (Adomah, 68), Hourihane, Bree, Abraham, Hutton, El Ghazi, Almohamady. Subs not used: Bunn, Whelan, Hogan, Davis, Kodjia, Revan.
Attendance: 19,126 (5,629 Aston Villa fans)
Referee: Mr G Eltringham
Considering the circumstances of our massive injury list, this was by far and away our best performance of the season in probably the best game at the ground this season. If we had had the first team out think we might have won this but fair play to the Whites lesser players they played well.
Great atmosphere electric start by North End could have had two goals in the first three minutes, Storey hitting the bar from a corner and Barkhuizen trying to lob Nyland when through didn't get his angles right.
Villa gained a modicum of control and pressed us back Burke cleared a corner from the line and El Ghazi in a good position put it in the Town End. Could have been ahead before the break, good team move, Johnson's pass to Burke whose first time shot was goal bound or it would have been but Nyland made a stunner of a save. Nmecha got into a couple of good positions couldn't finish thn on the stroke of half time our weakness at corners found us out again, Abraham scoring at the back post, harsh it ceratinly was.
Both sides could have scored Nmecha had an effort cleared from the line and McGinn haeded over from close range should have headed home, then we absolutely played out of our skins for the next 20 minutes, personal view could possibly had one penalty for a foul on Ledson following a Barkhuizen header being cleared from the line also thought he could have penalised Nyland when he cleaned out Barky after collecting the ball. The equaliser when it came was downto a fired up Johnson who got a harsh booking, into the inside right channel croos into the six yard box Nmecha poaching did the rest.
The striker was inches wide from getting a second minutes later but energy levels started to drop and Villa looked the more likely in the closing stages with El Ghazi getting into several good positions and forcing Rudd into a couple of decent save.
Villa relly should have clinched the points near the end. ball in from the right, they had two players spare and Bjarnason managed to spoon the ball over the bar from a yard.
There was just enough time for two youngsters to come on and make their debuts for North End 17 year old Adam O'Reilly and 16 year old Ethan Walker.
Great entertainment and well done to those wearing White a top notch performance which was well received by the home fanswho applauded them off both at half and full time.
Preston manager Alex Neil:
"Since I've been here, we've put in a lot of important performances in big games but for this one, against a side that has expectations of being in the Premier League, everything came together.
"When you look at our starting line-up and the young players involved, this is probably as proud as I've been since I came here.
"The effort, the quality we showed and our approach to the game were all excellent. The only disappointing thing is that we didn't win the game, as I thought we deserved to win.
"The players rolled up their sleeves and showed what they can do, particularly in the second half, and I am really pleased with that."
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith:
"We did not deserve to win based on the amount of big chances that we gave away. I thought that defensively we weren't great, and on the ball also.
"We played well in the first half in certain elements but every time we got forward, the ball was turned over and they created a chance.
"They created numerous chances with simple balls over the top and we didn't deal with that. I know we have issues with defenders out injured and we had three right-backs playing, but we have to deal with this type of play better.
"They've had big chances but so have we, in the late stages. We had a great chance right at the end with Bjarnason, for example."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?