Preston North End 2 Riis, Storey Middlesbrough 1 Akpom
PNE line-up: Woodman; Potts, Storey, Lindsay, Fernández (Johnson, 86); Whiteman (Ledson, 56); Brady (Hughes, 76), Browne, McCann, Woodburn (Evans, 86); Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Maguire.
Middlesbrough line-up: Steffen; Smith, Dry, Lenihan, Giles; Jones, Howson, Hackney, McGree (Mowatt, 86); Muniz (Forss, 71), Akpom. Subs not used: Roberts, Hoppe, Dijksteel, McNair, Bola.
Attendance: 16,984 (2,839 away fans).
Referee: Mr G Ward.
The mood around Deepdale matched the weather grim, however following Storey's late winner maybe some of the despondency may have been lifted. Change in system 4141, a couple of changes to the side, Browne coming back and playing in a midfield role.
The new system got off to a faltering start, as the defence went missing after 8 minutes, as Akpom scored easily at the back post from a corner, new manager early bounce for Carrick.
We were slow and ponderous in possession sideways and backwards, the home crowd started to get restless early on and the sinking feeling kicked in early. A break in play my have helped us, following it we upped the tempo, started to get into better position and started to get some tackles in. Both sides had loud calls for penalties, ours a handball, to be honest didn't see it just cursed Woodburn who should have buried it from ten yards instead of hitting the defender, almost immediately Jones went down in the box was eased off the ball but milked it.
Crowd was actually behind the side for the first time in weeks and then the Great Dane struck. Ball into the box, bounced nicely at Riis feet, he hammered it home, the goal galvanised Boro and they came storming back should really have gone ahead Akpom missed an easy chance from about 10 yards out.
The second period more subdued than the first both sides got men behind the ball and were proving hard to breakdown, we did have the ball in the net apparently offside and Alvaro had two shots in quick succession, but as tie ebbed away both sides seemed content with a point until a late free kick, Ledson's ball was headed back across goal by Lindsay his fellow centre back Storey nodded in the winner.
It gives Mr Fantastic some breathing space and hopefully will give the team confidence as they go into Tuesday's game against Swansea
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe told the club's social media team:
"I said to the group the performances have been good, we just haven't had the results. Overall I'm pleased with the group. We had a week to get some freshness into them, and the lads took everything on board today to beat a team with good players and a new manager.
"We've found a way and been resolute, we changed it at half-time in terms of changing those on the left and right around and it paid off.
"I think we've sent the fans home happy today. They were fantastic, I thought when we went a goal down they stuck with the group and we need that, that bit of patience is recognised by the group and they respond and it certainly helped us get the result."
Boro boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"I knew it wasn't going to be a fairy tale or all straightforward - I would have been very naïve if I'd thought that.
"It was a tough game, I thought Preston played some good stuff and caused us some problems. Going 1-0 up gave us something to hold on to in some ways rather than doing what we were trying to do with the ball. We looked a lot more comfortable in the second half at times.
"We'd have probably settled for a point given the way the game's gone and the week we've had but of course losing, it stings a lot.
"We've got a lot to build on, it's very early days. I'm getting to know the players and they're getting to know me and the staff and the direction we want to go in - you can't expect the first half to be too perfect. We just needed that extra little spark around the box to look ultra dangerous. Small steps, but we'll be looking to improve."
PNE line-up: Woodman; Potts, Storey, Lindsay, Fernández (Johnson, 86); Whiteman (Ledson, 56); Brady (Hughes, 76), Browne, McCann, Woodburn (Evans, 86); Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Maguire.
Middlesbrough line-up: Steffen; Smith, Dry, Lenihan, Giles; Jones, Howson, Hackney, McGree (Mowatt, 86); Muniz (Forss, 71), Akpom. Subs not used: Roberts, Hoppe, Dijksteel, McNair, Bola.
Attendance: 16,984 (2,839 away fans).
Referee: Mr G Ward.
The mood around Deepdale matched the weather grim, however following Storey's late winner maybe some of the despondency may have been lifted. Change in system 4141, a couple of changes to the side, Browne coming back and playing in a midfield role.
The new system got off to a faltering start, as the defence went missing after 8 minutes, as Akpom scored easily at the back post from a corner, new manager early bounce for Carrick.
We were slow and ponderous in possession sideways and backwards, the home crowd started to get restless early on and the sinking feeling kicked in early. A break in play my have helped us, following it we upped the tempo, started to get into better position and started to get some tackles in. Both sides had loud calls for penalties, ours a handball, to be honest didn't see it just cursed Woodburn who should have buried it from ten yards instead of hitting the defender, almost immediately Jones went down in the box was eased off the ball but milked it.
Crowd was actually behind the side for the first time in weeks and then the Great Dane struck. Ball into the box, bounced nicely at Riis feet, he hammered it home, the goal galvanised Boro and they came storming back should really have gone ahead Akpom missed an easy chance from about 10 yards out.
The second period more subdued than the first both sides got men behind the ball and were proving hard to breakdown, we did have the ball in the net apparently offside and Alvaro had two shots in quick succession, but as tie ebbed away both sides seemed content with a point until a late free kick, Ledson's ball was headed back across goal by Lindsay his fellow centre back Storey nodded in the winner.
It gives Mr Fantastic some breathing space and hopefully will give the team confidence as they go into Tuesday's game against Swansea
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe told the club's social media team:
"I said to the group the performances have been good, we just haven't had the results. Overall I'm pleased with the group. We had a week to get some freshness into them, and the lads took everything on board today to beat a team with good players and a new manager.
"We've found a way and been resolute, we changed it at half-time in terms of changing those on the left and right around and it paid off.
"I think we've sent the fans home happy today. They were fantastic, I thought when we went a goal down they stuck with the group and we need that, that bit of patience is recognised by the group and they respond and it certainly helped us get the result."
Boro boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"I knew it wasn't going to be a fairy tale or all straightforward - I would have been very naïve if I'd thought that.
"It was a tough game, I thought Preston played some good stuff and caused us some problems. Going 1-0 up gave us something to hold on to in some ways rather than doing what we were trying to do with the ball. We looked a lot more comfortable in the second half at times.
"We'd have probably settled for a point given the way the game's gone and the week we've had but of course losing, it stings a lot.
"We've got a lot to build on, it's very early days. I'm getting to know the players and they're getting to know me and the staff and the direction we want to go in - you can't expect the first half to be too perfect. We just needed that extra little spark around the box to look ultra dangerous. Small steps, but we'll be looking to improve."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?