25-01-2025, 22:08
Preston North End 2 Thordarson, Riis Middlesbrough 1 Burgzorg
![[Image: Screenshot-2025-01-25-191718.png]](https://i.ibb.co/vBJY7dK/Screenshot-2025-01-25-191718.png)
Attendance: 18,474 (5,154 Middlesbrough fans).
Referee: Mr J Busby.
Personal view best win of the season, great performance against a very good Boro side who certainly made us work for the three points.
In the week the ground became 150 years old, this was a fitting tribute, end to end entertaiment with the home side coming out winners by the odd goal in three.
Backed by 5500 supporters Boro started well, caused us no end of problems, defensve blocks saves by Woodman, we just about survived think they also missed a couple of good chances as well, having weathered the storm we grew into the game and began to cause them problems although not giving their keeper a lot to do.
The battle between Meghoma and Doak was one to watch both small of staure but both have some skill, both players to watch out for in the future. Boro hindered by the loss of Latte Lath, his replacement Forss did all of sod after he came on.
Took the lead about 10 minutes before the break, Os, headed the ball onto Thor in acres of space down the left hand side, wandered towards the area, once there cut inside and curled one past Glover for his first goal for the club.
We were in control, Mads putting in a tremendous amount of work and just about deserved to lead at the break.
End to end start for the second half just as we look like we were going to add a second, Boro drew level, as has been the case this season they broke away when we lost possession at a corner, short at the back, Burgzorg sent about four defenders the wrong way before planting the ball in the net.
They then battered us for the next ten minutes, how we survived is anybody's guess, they looked like scoring everytime they attacked, but we hung in there.
Substitutions were made and one of ours Riis got the winner, his initial shot was blocked, but the shambolic Boro defending presented him with another chance which he duly took.
Time to hang on again, seven minutes of injury time and we were over the line, seven points gained in a week, seven points from Boro in 6th, funny how things change and a local derby in Plastic land next Friday night, could be fun.
HECKY
Paul Heckingbottom thought his Preston North End side showed everything in the 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.
Emil Riis was the match-winner at Deepdale in the 84th minute as he netted his seventh goal in eight games against Boro to earn his side all three points.
His strike came after Delano Burgzorg had cancelled out Stefán Thodarson’s well-taken opening goal.
Hecky said: “The three points are huge and it's what we play for. Too many times I've been here and not been as happy as this because we've only come away with a point and performed really, really well.
“Today, we were excellent against a really good side. The pleasing thing is we had to show everything today.
“We got to grips with the game after the first ten minutes. Boro looked dangerous at the start and then similarly in the second half they got a counter-attack goal and then our subs gave us a real good foothold in the game again to go on and get the win. Also then after that I thought we managed the game really well.”
It was a thoroughly entertaining watch as the game ebbed and flowed between both sides having good moments.
The best of them came late on when Riis netted the winner, while Freddie Woodman had to come up with some important saves.
“I’m really pleased because we showed everything,” added Hecky. “We were a threat going forward. We fully committed, there were moments where we got it wrong, but we fully committed to being aggressive with them, with the ball.
“I just feel that if you allow them, or don't get things right tactically, they can open you up too easily. You could see moments in there, that's why they do create a lot of good chances.
“But today we sort of limited those and then when they did have the moments, we either got good blocks off or Freddie made the saves.”
It was a brilliant strike from Thórdarson which broke the deadlock at Deepdale, with the Iceland international finding the bottom corner for his first goal in North End colours.
Hecky said: “He's got that and I'm glad people have seen what he can do. He's still adapting to what this league is because it's a unique challenge.
“People have not seen that goal threat from him, but we see it in training and now everyone's seen what he can do when he breaks into the box, which is great. It’ll do him the world of good to score a goal like that
CARRICK
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"Today I thought it was there for us. We started well, defended well and took control for large parts.
"There were a couple of moments where we shot ourselves in the foot. The boys are devastated, I'm disappointed. It is a horrible day to be sitting here with nothing.
"We were really good for a lot of the game; when Delano scored, the emotion was great to be part of. We thought it was coming again and it went to other way.
On Emmanuel Latte Lath: "He felt his groin, how badly and to what extent I don't know as yet, we'll have to wait and see. It was a blow but I felt we dealt with it well and should have won the game."
Attendance: 18,474 (5,154 Middlesbrough fans).
Referee: Mr J Busby.
Personal view best win of the season, great performance against a very good Boro side who certainly made us work for the three points.
In the week the ground became 150 years old, this was a fitting tribute, end to end entertaiment with the home side coming out winners by the odd goal in three.
Backed by 5500 supporters Boro started well, caused us no end of problems, defensve blocks saves by Woodman, we just about survived think they also missed a couple of good chances as well, having weathered the storm we grew into the game and began to cause them problems although not giving their keeper a lot to do.
The battle between Meghoma and Doak was one to watch both small of staure but both have some skill, both players to watch out for in the future. Boro hindered by the loss of Latte Lath, his replacement Forss did all of sod after he came on.
Took the lead about 10 minutes before the break, Os, headed the ball onto Thor in acres of space down the left hand side, wandered towards the area, once there cut inside and curled one past Glover for his first goal for the club.
We were in control, Mads putting in a tremendous amount of work and just about deserved to lead at the break.
End to end start for the second half just as we look like we were going to add a second, Boro drew level, as has been the case this season they broke away when we lost possession at a corner, short at the back, Burgzorg sent about four defenders the wrong way before planting the ball in the net.
They then battered us for the next ten minutes, how we survived is anybody's guess, they looked like scoring everytime they attacked, but we hung in there.
Substitutions were made and one of ours Riis got the winner, his initial shot was blocked, but the shambolic Boro defending presented him with another chance which he duly took.
Time to hang on again, seven minutes of injury time and we were over the line, seven points gained in a week, seven points from Boro in 6th, funny how things change and a local derby in Plastic land next Friday night, could be fun.
HECKY
Paul Heckingbottom thought his Preston North End side showed everything in the 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.
Emil Riis was the match-winner at Deepdale in the 84th minute as he netted his seventh goal in eight games against Boro to earn his side all three points.
His strike came after Delano Burgzorg had cancelled out Stefán Thodarson’s well-taken opening goal.
Hecky said: “The three points are huge and it's what we play for. Too many times I've been here and not been as happy as this because we've only come away with a point and performed really, really well.
“Today, we were excellent against a really good side. The pleasing thing is we had to show everything today.
“We got to grips with the game after the first ten minutes. Boro looked dangerous at the start and then similarly in the second half they got a counter-attack goal and then our subs gave us a real good foothold in the game again to go on and get the win. Also then after that I thought we managed the game really well.”
It was a thoroughly entertaining watch as the game ebbed and flowed between both sides having good moments.
The best of them came late on when Riis netted the winner, while Freddie Woodman had to come up with some important saves.
“I’m really pleased because we showed everything,” added Hecky. “We were a threat going forward. We fully committed, there were moments where we got it wrong, but we fully committed to being aggressive with them, with the ball.
“I just feel that if you allow them, or don't get things right tactically, they can open you up too easily. You could see moments in there, that's why they do create a lot of good chances.
“But today we sort of limited those and then when they did have the moments, we either got good blocks off or Freddie made the saves.”
It was a brilliant strike from Thórdarson which broke the deadlock at Deepdale, with the Iceland international finding the bottom corner for his first goal in North End colours.
Hecky said: “He's got that and I'm glad people have seen what he can do. He's still adapting to what this league is because it's a unique challenge.
“People have not seen that goal threat from him, but we see it in training and now everyone's seen what he can do when he breaks into the box, which is great. It’ll do him the world of good to score a goal like that
CARRICK
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"Today I thought it was there for us. We started well, defended well and took control for large parts.
"There were a couple of moments where we shot ourselves in the foot. The boys are devastated, I'm disappointed. It is a horrible day to be sitting here with nothing.
"We were really good for a lot of the game; when Delano scored, the emotion was great to be part of. We thought it was coming again and it went to other way.
On Emmanuel Latte Lath: "He felt his groin, how badly and to what extent I don't know as yet, we'll have to wait and see. It was a blow but I felt we dealt with it well and should have won the game."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?