07-05-2021, 09:55
Preston North End will look to end the season with a positive result as they head to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday lunchtime.
Results in recent weeks have got the Lilywhites into a position where they know they will finish in either 13th or 14th position, with a win able to take them to 61 points should they beat Chris Hughton’s side.
Forest were victorious at Deepdale back in the opening game of the calendar year, when a controversial penalty, that Lewis Grabban struck twice, proved the only goal of the game.
It will also be Gentry Day on Saturday, virtually, with the team looking to remember all those we have lost connected with the club in the past 12 months by putting on a positive display in what everyone hopes is the last ever game without fans.
Head To Head: PNE wins – 33; Draws – 31; Nottingham Forest - 42
Team News
There are no new concerns for Frankie McAvoy ahead of the team’s last game of the season, with Daniel Johnson, Declan Rudd, Patrick Bauer and Joe Rafferty all missing out, but hopefully all being fit by the next time the players pull on a shirt in anger in July.
For Chris Hughton, Luke Freeman looks like missing out again and thus he would have played the last game of his loan spell with the Reds.
For last weekend’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday, they were also without Sammy Ameobi (ankle) and Samba Sow (groin), with the latter unlikely to be ready for this one, but Ameobi should be back.
Match Officials
Darren Bond will take charge of a Lilywhites game for the final time this season – his third game, after Millwall at home and Boxing Day’s last minute victory over Derby County at Pride Park.
This will be his first – and last – trip to the City Ground this season, having only officiated Forest on the road at Norwich City back in the early stages of the season.
Last season he refereed our July trip to Huddersfield Town and the Boxing Day draw with Leeds United. Prior to the clash with the Peacocks, he had not taken charge of a North End game since February 2019, when the game with Derby County ended goalless at Deepdale.
Darren in 2017/18 also officiated our 2-1 win at Bristol City and the 2-0 victory over Sunderland up at the Stadium of Light in March.
This will be his 32nd game of this season, having issued 102 yellow cards and six reds so far. The referee will be assisted by Robert Hyde and George Byrne, with Ross Joyce as the fourth official.
MACS VIEW
Be nice to finish off with a win tomorrow but to be honest the last game of the season when there is nothing to play for is usual a good day for an end of season party, no doubt we woulld have packed the away end at what I consider one of the best away games of the season.
Big close season for us new manager and maybe a different way of bringing in players
Given the forecast looks like I'll be stuck in front of the computer providing updates but will be more interested in watching the Owls Rams game.
Tomorrow is a Gentry Day, remebering those North Enders who have departed this life. Know one who has gone sadly by his own hand, remember folks it's good to talk no matter however hard it is.
The last thread of the season let's hope on 7/8/21 we are were we should be in the grounds.
Results in recent weeks have got the Lilywhites into a position where they know they will finish in either 13th or 14th position, with a win able to take them to 61 points should they beat Chris Hughton’s side.
Forest were victorious at Deepdale back in the opening game of the calendar year, when a controversial penalty, that Lewis Grabban struck twice, proved the only goal of the game.
It will also be Gentry Day on Saturday, virtually, with the team looking to remember all those we have lost connected with the club in the past 12 months by putting on a positive display in what everyone hopes is the last ever game without fans.
Head To Head: PNE wins – 33; Draws – 31; Nottingham Forest - 42
Team News
There are no new concerns for Frankie McAvoy ahead of the team’s last game of the season, with Daniel Johnson, Declan Rudd, Patrick Bauer and Joe Rafferty all missing out, but hopefully all being fit by the next time the players pull on a shirt in anger in July.
For Chris Hughton, Luke Freeman looks like missing out again and thus he would have played the last game of his loan spell with the Reds.
For last weekend’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday, they were also without Sammy Ameobi (ankle) and Samba Sow (groin), with the latter unlikely to be ready for this one, but Ameobi should be back.
Match Officials
Darren Bond will take charge of a Lilywhites game for the final time this season – his third game, after Millwall at home and Boxing Day’s last minute victory over Derby County at Pride Park.
This will be his first – and last – trip to the City Ground this season, having only officiated Forest on the road at Norwich City back in the early stages of the season.
Last season he refereed our July trip to Huddersfield Town and the Boxing Day draw with Leeds United. Prior to the clash with the Peacocks, he had not taken charge of a North End game since February 2019, when the game with Derby County ended goalless at Deepdale.
Darren in 2017/18 also officiated our 2-1 win at Bristol City and the 2-0 victory over Sunderland up at the Stadium of Light in March.
This will be his 32nd game of this season, having issued 102 yellow cards and six reds so far. The referee will be assisted by Robert Hyde and George Byrne, with Ross Joyce as the fourth official.
MACS VIEW
Be nice to finish off with a win tomorrow but to be honest the last game of the season when there is nothing to play for is usual a good day for an end of season party, no doubt we woulld have packed the away end at what I consider one of the best away games of the season.
Big close season for us new manager and maybe a different way of bringing in players
Given the forecast looks like I'll be stuck in front of the computer providing updates but will be more interested in watching the Owls Rams game.
Tomorrow is a Gentry Day, remebering those North Enders who have departed this life. Know one who has gone sadly by his own hand, remember folks it's good to talk no matter however hard it is.
The last thread of the season let's hope on 7/8/21 we are were we should be in the grounds.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?