07-12-2024, 21:46
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Smith Preston North End 1 Riis
![[Image: Screenshot-2024-12-07-191500.png]](https://i.ibb.co/ZdBdxgB/Screenshot-2024-12-07-191500.png)
Attendance: 23,927 (1,041 PNE fans).
Referee: Mr R Madley.
Considering the conditions which got worse as the game went on, this was an entertaining affair, personal view we should have won but you have to take your chances and sadly we didn't.
At 1 up early in the second half leading one nil, we had ripped Wednesday apart down their right hand sideand not for the first time, Mads fed the ball to Greenwood, cross across the face of the goal Riis misses it and the ball arrives at Potts geet six yards out, considering some of the goals he has scored, this was as easy as it tes, so the surprise in the away end when he spaffs it passed the post and you knew probably knew what would come somewhere down the line in the remainder of the game, which it did 14 minutes from time when Smith converted from closs range after good work by Ingelsson who combined with Musaba? who played the ball across the area and in it went.
Wednesday had already missed a great chance to level following a drop ball incident given apparently for the ball hitting a piece of rubbish on the pitch. Windass took it and eventually worked his way into the box aand was brought down.
This actually woke the unusually quiet home support up. Windass to the left, Woodman to the right saves the kick and the rebound, from zero to hero in two games for the keeper. Had chance to win it the Burnley free kick was tried again and Riis fired narrowly wide.
Wednesday pressed but we held on at the end for a point.
The first period was mainly one way we dominated apart form a short spell of play when Windass fired one which Woodman made a TV save, we had loads of joy down our left, Mads played KKH in shot well saved by Beadle, Greenwood also had a shot saved, but actually no surprise when we scored, quick through in Mads ambles into the area, ball to Riis into the net goes the ball and the striker well deserved. Could have had other Beadle saved well from Riis and Potts fired wide from the rebound. Games like this you always happier with a second and when the chance came we muffed it.
Not to worry Cardiff on Wednesday night
MACCERS
Assistant manager Stuart McCall admitted he was “deeply frustrated” to be limited to a point against Sheffield Wednesday, in a match where he felt PNE put in a “really strong performance”.
North End’s day in South Yorkshire was all going to plan after Emil Riis gave them an early lead and the visitors had plenty of opportunities to extend that advantage.
Chances weren’t taken, though, and that was to cost Paul Heckingbottom’s side when Michael Smith levelled in the 76th minute.
Stuart said: “I think if we're honest, we’re deeply frustrated and disappointed that we haven't got all three points. It was a really strong performance by the lads.
“I think overall what we've got to take from it is if we keep performing in that manner and the way we're playing [we’ll win games]. We're creating opportunities, we're defending strong and solid.
“Sheffield Wednesday are in a decent run of form. It’s mixed emotions in the fact that we're really disappointed. It should have been three points.
“It'll be bittersweet to watch it back. We'll obviously analyse it because there were a lot of good performances, a lot of good things that we did, especially in difficult conditions. We took the ball, we played confidently, but it's only one point and it should have been three.”
It was mainly one-way traffic at Hillsborough, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Sam Greenwood and Riis all testing James Beadle in the Wednesday goal in the first half.
Brad Potts then missed a huge opportunity in the second period before Freddie Woodman came up with a brilliant double save to deny Josh Windass from the penalty spot and then a follow-up.
Smith beat PNE’s No.1 later, though, meaning the Lilywhites are now ten without a victory.
Stuart said: “There's a lot of opportunities now to turn these one points into three points.
“We're not a team that's lacking in confidence. Many teams that have gone however many games without a victory, people start [thinking the mood’s bad]. There's none of that here.
“The lads are in upbeat mood and in decent form. A lot of them are playing well individually and we've just got to keep playing.
“I think there was a lot of good stuff, and we go to Cardiff on Wednesday now. We've got to put in the same level of performance and when the opportunities arise we've got to take them.”
After the full-time whistle, Heckingbottom rallied his troops after they’d thanked the 1,041 PNE fans who’d braved the conditions and got them in a huddle on the pitch.
Stuart said: “I think we were all frustrated naturally, but we don't want the lads to come off the park and think, ‘Oh, we haven't won again.’
“It was a case of ‘Listen, let's be positive,’ and I think that was it. It was a positive message. ‘Keep doing what we're doing, the supporters are with you. Give them a clap because they've been with us the whole season, but today as well.’
“It was just that we stick together now. We're disappointed and every one of them will be disappointed that we've not won because it's a game we should have won, but we didn’t and it's always an old saying - if you can't win it, you make sure you don't get beat. That’s what we’ve done today.”
Dan the man
Danny Röhl was scathing of the Owls’ performance following the 1-1 draw with Preston.
Michael Smith’s second half goal cancelled out Emil Riis’ early opener but Röhl was far from satisfied with the bigger picture on a windswept afternoon at Hillsborough.
He said: “We deserved nothing today, for me this was a defeat. Preston were the better team for me from the start, they had more chances and should have won the game.
“The only positive for me was James Beadle, he made some great saves to keep us in the game and in particular one save when they could have been 2-0 ahead and then it would have been a long way back.
“I will take the point but I have said to my players that we have to better than that. It is hard for me to take because I know we have a lot more quality than we have shown today.
“It is easy to look at the table to say we are doing well, we have 26 points, but if we play like this we will not make a lot of progress.
“I am ambitious, I want only good things and to get better. I love my players, I love my team, but we have to be better.
“We have another big game on Tuesday against a good team in Blackburn and I want to see a big improvement, it is as simple as that.”
Attendance: 23,927 (1,041 PNE fans).
Referee: Mr R Madley.
Considering the conditions which got worse as the game went on, this was an entertaining affair, personal view we should have won but you have to take your chances and sadly we didn't.
At 1 up early in the second half leading one nil, we had ripped Wednesday apart down their right hand sideand not for the first time, Mads fed the ball to Greenwood, cross across the face of the goal Riis misses it and the ball arrives at Potts geet six yards out, considering some of the goals he has scored, this was as easy as it tes, so the surprise in the away end when he spaffs it passed the post and you knew probably knew what would come somewhere down the line in the remainder of the game, which it did 14 minutes from time when Smith converted from closs range after good work by Ingelsson who combined with Musaba? who played the ball across the area and in it went.
Wednesday had already missed a great chance to level following a drop ball incident given apparently for the ball hitting a piece of rubbish on the pitch. Windass took it and eventually worked his way into the box aand was brought down.
This actually woke the unusually quiet home support up. Windass to the left, Woodman to the right saves the kick and the rebound, from zero to hero in two games for the keeper. Had chance to win it the Burnley free kick was tried again and Riis fired narrowly wide.
Wednesday pressed but we held on at the end for a point.
The first period was mainly one way we dominated apart form a short spell of play when Windass fired one which Woodman made a TV save, we had loads of joy down our left, Mads played KKH in shot well saved by Beadle, Greenwood also had a shot saved, but actually no surprise when we scored, quick through in Mads ambles into the area, ball to Riis into the net goes the ball and the striker well deserved. Could have had other Beadle saved well from Riis and Potts fired wide from the rebound. Games like this you always happier with a second and when the chance came we muffed it.
Not to worry Cardiff on Wednesday night
MACCERS
Assistant manager Stuart McCall admitted he was “deeply frustrated” to be limited to a point against Sheffield Wednesday, in a match where he felt PNE put in a “really strong performance”.
North End’s day in South Yorkshire was all going to plan after Emil Riis gave them an early lead and the visitors had plenty of opportunities to extend that advantage.
Chances weren’t taken, though, and that was to cost Paul Heckingbottom’s side when Michael Smith levelled in the 76th minute.
Stuart said: “I think if we're honest, we’re deeply frustrated and disappointed that we haven't got all three points. It was a really strong performance by the lads.
“I think overall what we've got to take from it is if we keep performing in that manner and the way we're playing [we’ll win games]. We're creating opportunities, we're defending strong and solid.
“Sheffield Wednesday are in a decent run of form. It’s mixed emotions in the fact that we're really disappointed. It should have been three points.
“It'll be bittersweet to watch it back. We'll obviously analyse it because there were a lot of good performances, a lot of good things that we did, especially in difficult conditions. We took the ball, we played confidently, but it's only one point and it should have been three.”
It was mainly one-way traffic at Hillsborough, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Sam Greenwood and Riis all testing James Beadle in the Wednesday goal in the first half.
Brad Potts then missed a huge opportunity in the second period before Freddie Woodman came up with a brilliant double save to deny Josh Windass from the penalty spot and then a follow-up.
Smith beat PNE’s No.1 later, though, meaning the Lilywhites are now ten without a victory.
Stuart said: “There's a lot of opportunities now to turn these one points into three points.
“We're not a team that's lacking in confidence. Many teams that have gone however many games without a victory, people start [thinking the mood’s bad]. There's none of that here.
“The lads are in upbeat mood and in decent form. A lot of them are playing well individually and we've just got to keep playing.
“I think there was a lot of good stuff, and we go to Cardiff on Wednesday now. We've got to put in the same level of performance and when the opportunities arise we've got to take them.”
After the full-time whistle, Heckingbottom rallied his troops after they’d thanked the 1,041 PNE fans who’d braved the conditions and got them in a huddle on the pitch.
Stuart said: “I think we were all frustrated naturally, but we don't want the lads to come off the park and think, ‘Oh, we haven't won again.’
“It was a case of ‘Listen, let's be positive,’ and I think that was it. It was a positive message. ‘Keep doing what we're doing, the supporters are with you. Give them a clap because they've been with us the whole season, but today as well.’
“It was just that we stick together now. We're disappointed and every one of them will be disappointed that we've not won because it's a game we should have won, but we didn’t and it's always an old saying - if you can't win it, you make sure you don't get beat. That’s what we’ve done today.”
Dan the man
Danny Röhl was scathing of the Owls’ performance following the 1-1 draw with Preston.
Michael Smith’s second half goal cancelled out Emil Riis’ early opener but Röhl was far from satisfied with the bigger picture on a windswept afternoon at Hillsborough.
He said: “We deserved nothing today, for me this was a defeat. Preston were the better team for me from the start, they had more chances and should have won the game.
“The only positive for me was James Beadle, he made some great saves to keep us in the game and in particular one save when they could have been 2-0 ahead and then it would have been a long way back.
“I will take the point but I have said to my players that we have to better than that. It is hard for me to take because I know we have a lot more quality than we have shown today.
“It is easy to look at the table to say we are doing well, we have 26 points, but if we play like this we will not make a lot of progress.
“I am ambitious, I want only good things and to get better. I love my players, I love my team, but we have to be better.
“We have another big game on Tuesday against a good team in Blackburn and I want to see a big improvement, it is as simple as that.”
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?