15-10-2022, 20:09
Preston North End 0 Stoke City 2 Smallbone, Campbell
PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Diaby (Evans, 83), Hughes; Browne (Potts, 71), Whiteman, McCann, Brady (Woodburn, 71), Fernández; Maguire (Cross-Adair, 82), Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson.
Stoke City line-up: Bursik; Wilmot, Jagielka, Fox; Sterling, Laurent, Baker, Smallbone (Clucas, 78), Fosu; Campbell (Delap, 70), Gayle (Clarke, 86). Subs not used: Bonham, Flint, Thompson, Wright-Phillips.
Attendance: 17,498 (3,235 Stoke City fans)
Referee: Mr M Donohue.
No complaints apart from a ten minute spell before half time, we were barely in this, no shots on target throughout the match which is not surprising as we don't shoot. A grey afternoon and that greyness spread to the team in White, Mr Neil got a good reception from the home support which was good to see, decent man.
A well populated away end who were noisy all afternoon, interesting song Delilah, about holding a castrated male capon in ones hand.
The first thirty minutes could be described as mind numbing, they had plenty of the ball, did little with it in the way of goalmouth chances apart from one decent save from Woodman.
Midfield was out muscled which meant the front two got little servce, we improved towards half time, had a shout for a penalty when Hughes went down nothing quite rightly given although the one for hand ball on the stroke of half time possibky should have been given. Forced a couple of corners looked dangerous but the best chance at the other end, Gayle about to shoot brilliant block by Storey.
Didn't get the penalty and level it was at half time and Mr Donohue left to boos at the break
The second period we created absolutely nothing, to be fair to them they denied us space, cannot recall Bursik having a shot in the second period which he had to save. They passed the ball about and we chased shadows, eventually Gayle got behind Storey, wasn't offside Diaby played him on, into the area, cross towards the 6 yard line Richard Chaplow lookalike Smallbone sidefooted home with ease.
From then on in looked a foregone conclusion and following a breakaway Campbell managed to fire home a second with two defenders in front of him.
They could have had more but job done, it was all too easy.
Another two games this week both away and the second at Bloomfield., given they have had three sent off today may give us a chance however on that performance the ominous clouds of doom are hanging above Deepdale.
Still not struck on Mr Fantastic yet.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"There was a pivotal moment just before half time when we thought we should have had a penalty when it hit Phil Jagielka's arm. It's a different game if that had been given.
"Until they got the goals, we were well in the game. But we didn't really create enough chances to win it.
"We were beaten by the better team. We just have to debrief it and move on.
"There will be some positives to take but not many. The biggest would be young Finlay Cross-Adair making his debut at 17."
Stoke City boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We were good value for that. It was a proper team performance. We know we have quality in the squad, but it's all about having the organisation and showing the right work ethic - and in the last two games we've more than done that.
"The first goal came from Dwight Gayle. From his movement off the centre-back and to then get in behind him - and then the cutback for Will Smallbone.
"Then Tyrese showed a real bit of quality for the second goal. He had two defenders in front of him. but he shaped them up, bent it outside them and them and gave the keeper no chance.
"From that moment we played extremely professionally and could have scored more. Definitely another step in the right direction."
PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Diaby (Evans, 83), Hughes; Browne (Potts, 71), Whiteman, McCann, Brady (Woodburn, 71), Fernández; Maguire (Cross-Adair, 82), Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson.
Stoke City line-up: Bursik; Wilmot, Jagielka, Fox; Sterling, Laurent, Baker, Smallbone (Clucas, 78), Fosu; Campbell (Delap, 70), Gayle (Clarke, 86). Subs not used: Bonham, Flint, Thompson, Wright-Phillips.
Attendance: 17,498 (3,235 Stoke City fans)
Referee: Mr M Donohue.
No complaints apart from a ten minute spell before half time, we were barely in this, no shots on target throughout the match which is not surprising as we don't shoot. A grey afternoon and that greyness spread to the team in White, Mr Neil got a good reception from the home support which was good to see, decent man.
A well populated away end who were noisy all afternoon, interesting song Delilah, about holding a castrated male capon in ones hand.
The first thirty minutes could be described as mind numbing, they had plenty of the ball, did little with it in the way of goalmouth chances apart from one decent save from Woodman.
Midfield was out muscled which meant the front two got little servce, we improved towards half time, had a shout for a penalty when Hughes went down nothing quite rightly given although the one for hand ball on the stroke of half time possibky should have been given. Forced a couple of corners looked dangerous but the best chance at the other end, Gayle about to shoot brilliant block by Storey.
Didn't get the penalty and level it was at half time and Mr Donohue left to boos at the break
The second period we created absolutely nothing, to be fair to them they denied us space, cannot recall Bursik having a shot in the second period which he had to save. They passed the ball about and we chased shadows, eventually Gayle got behind Storey, wasn't offside Diaby played him on, into the area, cross towards the 6 yard line Richard Chaplow lookalike Smallbone sidefooted home with ease.
From then on in looked a foregone conclusion and following a breakaway Campbell managed to fire home a second with two defenders in front of him.
They could have had more but job done, it was all too easy.
Another two games this week both away and the second at Bloomfield., given they have had three sent off today may give us a chance however on that performance the ominous clouds of doom are hanging above Deepdale.
Still not struck on Mr Fantastic yet.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"There was a pivotal moment just before half time when we thought we should have had a penalty when it hit Phil Jagielka's arm. It's a different game if that had been given.
"Until they got the goals, we were well in the game. But we didn't really create enough chances to win it.
"We were beaten by the better team. We just have to debrief it and move on.
"There will be some positives to take but not many. The biggest would be young Finlay Cross-Adair making his debut at 17."
Stoke City boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We were good value for that. It was a proper team performance. We know we have quality in the squad, but it's all about having the organisation and showing the right work ethic - and in the last two games we've more than done that.
"The first goal came from Dwight Gayle. From his movement off the centre-back and to then get in behind him - and then the cutback for Will Smallbone.
"Then Tyrese showed a real bit of quality for the second goal. He had two defenders in front of him. but he shaped them up, bent it outside them and them and gave the keeper no chance.
"From that moment we played extremely professionally and could have scored more. Definitely another step in the right direction."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?