[themaclad]

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LAST TIME OUT

FULHAM 2 LEEDS UNITED 1


CAERDYDD CITY 0 PRESTON NORTH END 0



LAST SEASON

LEEDS UNITED 3 PRESTON NORTH END 0


A performance of ineptitude that night although we did have a few injuries at the time, we were well beaten

The first of the return fixtures having drawn 1 all at Deepdale we head to Elland Road to face a United team who have not won in two games hardly a crisis but having thrown a three goal lead away against 10 man Cardiff in the last home game may be looking to put matters right against us.
One other factor for us is our inability to actually put the ball in the net on away grounds apart from Swansea when we scored two, we have only scored four goals in the remaining away games and against a side who are far more solid than they were last season at the back we may struggle to score on Boxing Day.
Which takes me back to 8 years ago when we actually scored six at this ground with this man scoring three

Hernandez likely to be out injured for Leeds as he was in the game at Deepdale but they have enough talent to make it difficult for us.
Good news after this game is over our two suspended right backs will be available for the Reading game. Touch and go whether Davies will be fit, if he is will be a touch harsh on Huntington who has not let us down in the games he has played but probably will need a more mobile defender against these lads.
Wouldn't be surprised if there is approaching 40,000 on we are taking a few but soe will not pay the £39 to get in however us oldies get in for £26.
Hopefully a like performance by the whites and on that best wishes to all for the last Christmas of the decade.

Match Officials: Leeds United Away

Our Boxing Day match official has not taken charge of a North End game since 1st February, when the game with Derby County ended goalless at Deepdale.

Lancashire referee Darren Bond takes charge of his first North End game of the season when the Lilywhites face Leeds United at Elland Road, although it is his third Leeds game of the season, having officiated their 1-0 home defeat to Swansea City and their 1-0 away win at Reading.

Last season, the Derby game was his second PNE game of the 2018/19 campaign, his first being the home clash with Reading back in mid-September.

The previous year Darren took charge of three PNE games. He was the match official in the club’s home draw against Millwall in September, our 2-1 win at Bristol City back in November 2017 and the 2-0 victory over Sunderland up at the Stadium of Light in March.
This will be his 17th game of this season, having issued 58 yellow cards and one red in the 16 games so far refereed, his last being West Brom’s 1-1 home draw with Brentford on the Saturday before Christmas.

Although he had done numerous friendlies and other games involving Preston North End, the 2016/17 season was the first time the experienced official took charge of competitive fixtures involving the club, as he refereed the two home 1-1 draws with Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest.

The referee will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Nick Greenhalgh, with experienced referee Carl Boyeson as the fourth official.