North End return to league action on Saturday after their less than epic defeat in the cup to Doncaster against Graham Potter(no relation of Brian) Swansea City, it is the Swans first visit since a 2-1 defeat in our relegation season, at the time their manager was Brendan Rogers who complained about the length of the grass after the game, the Swans also won promotion that season.
City have not been consistent this however do not drawn a game since 2/10/2018 when they drew with the Pies on the rugby league ground. Play decent football and think they will be tough opponents will have to keep an eye on McBurnie.
Selection problems of the right kind for us 9 who didn't start last week available interesting team selection for the manager, form guide they are 7th and we are 16th, looking forward to this one.
Team News: Swansea City
It’s a very different problem for manager Alex Neil this weekend, after five games of the team picking itself!
Having had 12 or senior outfield players to pick from for the festive period, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for the gaffer in terms of options available to him for the visit of Swansea City to Deepdale.
Ben Pearson is available again after completing his four-match ban for his second red card of the season, picked up at Sheffield Wednesday prior to Christmas.
New signings Jayden Stockley, Brad Potts, Josh Ginnelly and latest recruit, goalkeeper Connor Ripley, are all in contention to be involved in the squad for the first time against Graham Potter’s Welsh outfit.
Alan Browne returned to play 45 minutes against Doncaster Rovers last weekend, whilst Brandon Barker and Sean Maguire also came off the bench, which also included Josh Earl, another back from injury.
These four, plus goalkeeper Declan Rudd and skipper Tom Clarke, who were both rested for the clash with Donny, are all in contention to be involved in the clash with the Swans.
Ben Davies and Louis Moult (both hamstring) are also edging closer to a return to training and will be monitored closely this week. Once they have returned it will leave only the long-term injured; Callum Robinson (hamstring) and Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop (both ACL) unavailable for selection.
Like his opposite number, City boss Potter will hope to welcome back some key men, with strike duo Ollie McBurnie and Wilfred Bony expected to have recovered from the sickness bug that ruled them out of last weekend’s convincing cup win over Aston Villa, along with a number of other members of the squad, who all returned to training this week.
However, he also has long-term absentees and is still without Martin Olsson and Tom Carroll for the trip up to Lancashire.
Ref Watch: Swansea City
Taking charge of his first Preston North End game of the season at Deepdale this weekend is experienced official Keith Stroud.
Last season, the Hampshire official took charge of two PNE games, both away from Deepdale, the first at Birmingham City back in September 2017, when goals from Tom Barkhuizen, Daniel Johnson and Jordan Hugill saw the side come from behind at the break to end Harry Redknapp’s tenure at St Andrews and the second, the win at Burton Albion in December the same year.
In 2016/17 his only game with the whistle for a PNE game was our loss at Brentford, whilst the previous season he also took charge of our game at Birmingham, as North End came from 2-0 down against what was then Gary Rowett’s men, with goals from Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham earning the Lilywhites a point.
That was his second North End game in two months after he took charge of the Lilywhites' home win over Sheffield Wednesday in February 2015, as well as PNE's last clash with a steel city side at Deepdale, 2014/15's FA Cup tie with Sheffield United. The win over the Owls was his last visit to Deepdale, so it will be almost four years since his last trip to PR1.
The official also refereed the Lilywhites Play-Off clash with Rotherham United in May 2014 as well as the previous season’s 3-2 home win over Ipswich, when Joe Garner scored a second half hat-trick as a substitute to knock the Tractor Boys out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage.
His two previous league trips to Deepdale prior to that also saw wins, the famous 6-0 triumph over Cardiff City, which led to the Play-Offs in 2009 and a 2-1 win over West Brom the previous year, when the Lilywhites ended the game with nine men after the dismissal of both Youl Mawene and Chris Brown.
On Saturday back here at Deepdale Keith will be assisted by John Flynn and Matt Foley, with Martin Coy acting as the fourth official.
It will be Keith’s 16th game of the season, having so far issued 51 cautions and one red card, his last game being West Brom’s 1-0 home FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
City have not been consistent this however do not drawn a game since 2/10/2018 when they drew with the Pies on the rugby league ground. Play decent football and think they will be tough opponents will have to keep an eye on McBurnie.
Selection problems of the right kind for us 9 who didn't start last week available interesting team selection for the manager, form guide they are 7th and we are 16th, looking forward to this one.
Team News: Swansea City
It’s a very different problem for manager Alex Neil this weekend, after five games of the team picking itself!
Having had 12 or senior outfield players to pick from for the festive period, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for the gaffer in terms of options available to him for the visit of Swansea City to Deepdale.
Ben Pearson is available again after completing his four-match ban for his second red card of the season, picked up at Sheffield Wednesday prior to Christmas.
New signings Jayden Stockley, Brad Potts, Josh Ginnelly and latest recruit, goalkeeper Connor Ripley, are all in contention to be involved in the squad for the first time against Graham Potter’s Welsh outfit.
Alan Browne returned to play 45 minutes against Doncaster Rovers last weekend, whilst Brandon Barker and Sean Maguire also came off the bench, which also included Josh Earl, another back from injury.
These four, plus goalkeeper Declan Rudd and skipper Tom Clarke, who were both rested for the clash with Donny, are all in contention to be involved in the clash with the Swans.
Ben Davies and Louis Moult (both hamstring) are also edging closer to a return to training and will be monitored closely this week. Once they have returned it will leave only the long-term injured; Callum Robinson (hamstring) and Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop (both ACL) unavailable for selection.
Like his opposite number, City boss Potter will hope to welcome back some key men, with strike duo Ollie McBurnie and Wilfred Bony expected to have recovered from the sickness bug that ruled them out of last weekend’s convincing cup win over Aston Villa, along with a number of other members of the squad, who all returned to training this week.
However, he also has long-term absentees and is still without Martin Olsson and Tom Carroll for the trip up to Lancashire.
Ref Watch: Swansea City
Taking charge of his first Preston North End game of the season at Deepdale this weekend is experienced official Keith Stroud.
Last season, the Hampshire official took charge of two PNE games, both away from Deepdale, the first at Birmingham City back in September 2017, when goals from Tom Barkhuizen, Daniel Johnson and Jordan Hugill saw the side come from behind at the break to end Harry Redknapp’s tenure at St Andrews and the second, the win at Burton Albion in December the same year.
In 2016/17 his only game with the whistle for a PNE game was our loss at Brentford, whilst the previous season he also took charge of our game at Birmingham, as North End came from 2-0 down against what was then Gary Rowett’s men, with goals from Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham earning the Lilywhites a point.
That was his second North End game in two months after he took charge of the Lilywhites' home win over Sheffield Wednesday in February 2015, as well as PNE's last clash with a steel city side at Deepdale, 2014/15's FA Cup tie with Sheffield United. The win over the Owls was his last visit to Deepdale, so it will be almost four years since his last trip to PR1.
The official also refereed the Lilywhites Play-Off clash with Rotherham United in May 2014 as well as the previous season’s 3-2 home win over Ipswich, when Joe Garner scored a second half hat-trick as a substitute to knock the Tractor Boys out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage.
His two previous league trips to Deepdale prior to that also saw wins, the famous 6-0 triumph over Cardiff City, which led to the Play-Offs in 2009 and a 2-1 win over West Brom the previous year, when the Lilywhites ended the game with nine men after the dismissal of both Youl Mawene and Chris Brown.
On Saturday back here at Deepdale Keith will be assisted by John Flynn and Matt Foley, with Martin Coy acting as the fourth official.
It will be Keith’s 16th game of the season, having so far issued 51 cautions and one red card, his last game being West Brom’s 1-0 home FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?