18-01-2022, 11:57
PNE Team News
Ryan Lowe confirmed in his pre-match interview with iFollow that Josh Earl will miss out for the second game in a row with an ankle injury.
Ryan Ledson also missed the Birmingham City game through injury, but he is back in training and is expected to be available for selection.
Tom Barkhuizen will also be hoping to be included again after making his return from injury at the weekend following a month and a half on the sidelines.
The Opposition
Sheffield United come into this fixture level on points with PNE, with goal difference seeing the Blades just a position ahead of Ryan Lowe’s men.
Like North End, they have recently seen a change in management, with Paul Heckingbottom replacing Slavisa Jokanovic at the end of November.
He made an immediate impact, winning his first three games in charge of the side where he was previously U23s boss, but they arrive at Deepdale having lost their last two in all competitions.
Key Stats
Both Ben Whiteman and Daniel Iversen could make their 50th appearance in all competitions for PNE in this fixture.
Sheffield United are one of the top ball-keepers in the division, averaging 59.5% possession per game, with only Swansea City and Fulham bettering that number.
Top of the scoring charts in the league so far this season for Sheffield United is Billy Sharp, who has six to his name, and he is now just one goal behind all-time Championship top goalscorer and former PNE man David Nugent.
Our Last Meeting
Emil Riis scored a last-gasp equaliser in the reverse fixture between these two earlier this season, firing home a volley to make it 2-2 in the 95th minute.
Daniel Johnson scored his 50th goal for Preston North End that night to make it 1-1 early in the first half, but it looked as though Sheffield United would take all three points as they went ahead on 84 minutes, but up popped Riis to earn a point.
Man In The Middle
Experienced EFL official David Webb will take charge of his second PNE game of the season, with the previous fixture being North End’s 2-1 victory away to AFC Bournemouth earlier this campaign.
Webb’s first time refereeing the Lilywhites came back in 2009, when goals from Neil Mellor and Billy Jones earned victory for Alan Irvine’s side over Peterborough United.
So far this term, Webb has shown 71 yellow cards and one red.
MACS VIEW
This should have been played on Boxing Day, which when postponed greatly annoyed me given the circumstances behind our Covid outbreak, but they can redeem themselves if they win tonight. No easy task against a Blades side who will be a tougher prospect than they were at the Lane were they tended to overplay especially ouside the penalty area. Still a work in progress for us suspect may take until next season to fully see what Loweball is about. Heavy fixture schedule ahead may soon start to see a bit of rotation to eep the squad fresh but go with those that started on Saturday. No transfers yet looks like last minute deals as per usual
Ryan Lowe confirmed in his pre-match interview with iFollow that Josh Earl will miss out for the second game in a row with an ankle injury.
Ryan Ledson also missed the Birmingham City game through injury, but he is back in training and is expected to be available for selection.
Tom Barkhuizen will also be hoping to be included again after making his return from injury at the weekend following a month and a half on the sidelines.
The Opposition
Sheffield United come into this fixture level on points with PNE, with goal difference seeing the Blades just a position ahead of Ryan Lowe’s men.
Like North End, they have recently seen a change in management, with Paul Heckingbottom replacing Slavisa Jokanovic at the end of November.
He made an immediate impact, winning his first three games in charge of the side where he was previously U23s boss, but they arrive at Deepdale having lost their last two in all competitions.
Key Stats
Both Ben Whiteman and Daniel Iversen could make their 50th appearance in all competitions for PNE in this fixture.
Sheffield United are one of the top ball-keepers in the division, averaging 59.5% possession per game, with only Swansea City and Fulham bettering that number.
Top of the scoring charts in the league so far this season for Sheffield United is Billy Sharp, who has six to his name, and he is now just one goal behind all-time Championship top goalscorer and former PNE man David Nugent.
Our Last Meeting
Emil Riis scored a last-gasp equaliser in the reverse fixture between these two earlier this season, firing home a volley to make it 2-2 in the 95th minute.
Daniel Johnson scored his 50th goal for Preston North End that night to make it 1-1 early in the first half, but it looked as though Sheffield United would take all three points as they went ahead on 84 minutes, but up popped Riis to earn a point.
Man In The Middle
Experienced EFL official David Webb will take charge of his second PNE game of the season, with the previous fixture being North End’s 2-1 victory away to AFC Bournemouth earlier this campaign.
Webb’s first time refereeing the Lilywhites came back in 2009, when goals from Neil Mellor and Billy Jones earned victory for Alan Irvine’s side over Peterborough United.
So far this term, Webb has shown 71 yellow cards and one red.
MACS VIEW
This should have been played on Boxing Day, which when postponed greatly annoyed me given the circumstances behind our Covid outbreak, but they can redeem themselves if they win tonight. No easy task against a Blades side who will be a tougher prospect than they were at the Lane were they tended to overplay especially ouside the penalty area. Still a work in progress for us suspect may take until next season to fully see what Loweball is about. Heavy fixture schedule ahead may soon start to see a bit of rotation to eep the squad fresh but go with those that started on Saturday. No transfers yet looks like last minute deals as per usual
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?