26-07-2025, 19:34
Sheet at the tough
Preston North End were beaten 2-0 by Bolton Wanderers as preparations for the new season continued.
As the 2025/26 third kit had its first outing, so did striker Michael Smith who had PNE’s best chance of the first half, while Milutin Osmajić came closest in the second.
Daniel Iversen was relatively unchallenged by the League One side for most of the day, but Amario Cozier-Duberry and Joel Randall’s goals within four minutes of each other in the second half earned victory for the hosts.
Almost 2,000 North End fans made the short journey to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for the pre-season friendly, which started brightly for Thierry Small. The summer recruit skipped past his man in the 17th minute and slipped the ball through for Osmajić, but his pass towards Smith was intercepted.
Four minutes later, Daniel Iversen became the first of the goalkeepers to be tested when he comfortably kept out Cozier-Duberry’s curling left-footed effort.
At the other end, Teddy Sharman-Lowe came up with an impressive stop to deny Smith from inside the area as he side-footed a volley goalwards in the 40th minute, after Osmajić had flicked on Robbie Brady’s cross.
A minute later, the ‘keeper was tested again by Ben Whiteman, although a deflection on his effort made things easier for Bolton’s number one.
Paul Heckingbottom introduced Daniel Jebbison at the break and he got straight into the action, laying off for captain Whiteman, whose left-footed looping effort landed just wide.
The Bournemouth loanee was proving a threat and in the 53rd minute had a decent chance to break the deadlock after being played through by strike partner, Osmajić. The Canadian opted to go for power, but his strike rose too high to trouble Sharman-Lowe.
Bolton had a good opportunity themselves ten minutes later to go ahead, as Josh Sheehan’s free-kick found the head of Josh Dacres-Cogley, however his flick went over the bar.
Jebbison continued to cause problems and in the 69th minute he slotted the ball through for Osmajić to run on to, and the Montenegrin was thwarted by the right leg of Sharman-Lowe.
Four minutes on and Steven Schumacher’s side took the lead through Cozier-Duberry, whose deflected shot wrongfooted Iversen on its way in.
Bolton had their second soon after as Randall side-footed a close-range effort on the end of Thierry Gale’s cross into the back of the net to all but seal the pre-season win.
PNE line-up: Iversen; Offiah (Storey, 66), Gibson, Hughes (Valentín, 82), Brady (Vukčević, 63); Small, Potts (McCann, 63), Whiteman, Frøkjær (Thórdarson, 63); Osmajić, Smith (Jebbison, 45). Subs not used: Walton, Cornell, Keane, Okkels, Mawene.
As the 2025/26 third kit had its first outing, so did striker Michael Smith who had PNE’s best chance of the first half, while Milutin Osmajić came closest in the second.
Daniel Iversen was relatively unchallenged by the League One side for most of the day, but Amario Cozier-Duberry and Joel Randall’s goals within four minutes of each other in the second half earned victory for the hosts.
Almost 2,000 North End fans made the short journey to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for the pre-season friendly, which started brightly for Thierry Small. The summer recruit skipped past his man in the 17th minute and slipped the ball through for Osmajić, but his pass towards Smith was intercepted.
Four minutes later, Daniel Iversen became the first of the goalkeepers to be tested when he comfortably kept out Cozier-Duberry’s curling left-footed effort.
At the other end, Teddy Sharman-Lowe came up with an impressive stop to deny Smith from inside the area as he side-footed a volley goalwards in the 40th minute, after Osmajić had flicked on Robbie Brady’s cross.
A minute later, the ‘keeper was tested again by Ben Whiteman, although a deflection on his effort made things easier for Bolton’s number one.
Paul Heckingbottom introduced Daniel Jebbison at the break and he got straight into the action, laying off for captain Whiteman, whose left-footed looping effort landed just wide.
The Bournemouth loanee was proving a threat and in the 53rd minute had a decent chance to break the deadlock after being played through by strike partner, Osmajić. The Canadian opted to go for power, but his strike rose too high to trouble Sharman-Lowe.
Bolton had a good opportunity themselves ten minutes later to go ahead, as Josh Sheehan’s free-kick found the head of Josh Dacres-Cogley, however his flick went over the bar.
Jebbison continued to cause problems and in the 69th minute he slotted the ball through for Osmajić to run on to, and the Montenegrin was thwarted by the right leg of Sharman-Lowe.
Four minutes on and Steven Schumacher’s side took the lead through Cozier-Duberry, whose deflected shot wrongfooted Iversen on its way in.
Bolton had their second soon after as Randall side-footed a close-range effort on the end of Thierry Gale’s cross into the back of the net to all but seal the pre-season win.
PNE line-up: Iversen; Offiah (Storey, 66), Gibson, Hughes (Valentín, 82), Brady (Vukčević, 63); Small, Potts (McCann, 63), Whiteman, Frøkjær (Thórdarson, 63); Osmajić, Smith (Jebbison, 45). Subs not used: Walton, Cornell, Keane, Okkels, Mawene.
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?