Yesterday, 11:20
[align=center]![[Image: hornet-match.png]](https://i.ibb.co/VWbFN3Mn/hornet-match.png)
https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 14,611 (927 Watford fans)
Traditional game of two halves, both sides dominated one, although Watford will probably think their domination of the second half should have led to three points.
Cold frosty orning which would have done wonder to the patch of mud aka as the pitch, bizarrely they watered it before before both halves, in truth though it probably played better than last week.
Thought we were fairly comfortable in the first half, early devine effort blocked by Goglichdze, we got a lot of joy down the left were Vukcevic, Devine and Dobbin did their damage, the goal when it came was excellently finished by Dobbin with a flick with the outside of his right foot from a Whitema pass.
Only one clear chanc at the other end, Kjerrumgaard header well saved by Corner. Ahead at half time against a side who were probably slightly unsure of how to go about their task under a new manager.
One substituton for the Hornets and it made a difffeence Baah onto the right wing and it was a whole new ball game, lads pace combined with the other speed merchant Abankwah playing behind him blocked off the danger from our left hand side, Devine and Dobbin were not as effective.
Two goals in double quick time put the visitors ahead, first we lost the ball in midfield and after a series of passes the ball ended up with Maamma, he ran at Offiah cut to his right and put into far right corner. Minutes later Baah into the box, byline, Offiah diverted the ball past Cornell and the phrase oops came to mind.
Subs made and two of them combined to level the score, Lang fought off a couple of challenges ball to the man from Montenegro whose left footed shot beat the Hornets keeper, for his 5th goal in four games against these opponents.
Watford piled on the pressure narrowly wide on about three occasions especially Mendy's effort which hit the post and fired across te line before going out of play past the other post.
Could have sneaked it at the header, Storey's header from a corner narrowly over the top.
Good advert for the Champinship, thought Still's interview on ITV was virtually spot on.
HECK
Paul Heckingbottom accepted that Preston North End did well to get a point, having trailed Watford at one stage, in their 2-2 draw at Deepdale.
Lewis Dobbin provided PNE with the lead after 19 minutes, having latched on to a Ben Whiteman cross, but a quickfire double from Watford at the start of the second half saw the Lilywhites fall behind.
With 20 minutes to play, substitutes Milutin Osmajić and Callum Lang combined to level the match up, with the manager admitting that a draw was a fair result.
“A good point in the end, having gone behind,” said Hecky. “I thought we were in control of the game. I know how dangerous they are and the players they've got, the individuals they've got, but we gave them no encouragement until that first goal.
“It's a totally different game, it's spun on its head and then we make changes to try and get back in it, but it leaves a lot of space, and we've brought their good players to life. Credit to our players that we got back in it. It would have been great if we'd got the winner at the end.
“Jordan Storey had arguably the best chance after that, but they had some shots from distance as well.”
Lang and Osmajić appeared to connect immediately, finding each other in tight areas to provide PNE with opportunities to attack.
With this combination one the Lilywhites could look to utilise on a regular basis, Hecky affirmed that decisions surrounding his squad are made depending on the unique state of any given match, whilst also mentioning some of the players that didn’t get on the pitch against Watford.
“The game calls for what you want to do,” stated the boss. “We'd have probably made different subs if we'd still been in front, we'd have certainly used the bench.
“Jordan, Jamal, fantastic experienced, international players. Smudge has been valuable this season and also Andy, who got his debut last week. The bench was good.”
Andrew Hughes returned to the matchday squad, having last featured against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
The Welshman came on for the final 11 minutes of the contest, with the manager pleased to have him back amongst his defensive options.
“It's important because he gives us good balance,” said Hecky.
“If we want to play that way, if we play three centre-backs, him in that left one gives us really good balance. It's important. It also gives that competition and that ability to change a team around that you're lacking.”
New Watford Head Coach Ed Still hopes his side will kick-on from their second-half performance at Preston after his first game in charge ended in a 2-2 draw.
The hosts led 1-0 at half-time but the Hornets were much improved after the break and got in front through Othmane Maamma and an own goal.
Milutin Osmajić struck back for the Lilywhites and the Golden Boys were left disappointed not to win after spending significant amounts of time in the Preston box.
“I hope the team has taken a lot of confidence from the second half,” Still said.
“From the speed and tempo that we put into the game – and because we’ve put them under a lot of pressure.
“We’ve created enough chances to win that and although in the end it is a good point, I’m disappointed for the dressing room that they didn’t get more.”
Still introduced Kwadwo Baah at half-time and explained what his message was to the players at the interval.
“To try and stretch the opposition a little bit more which we didn’t manage to do in the first half,” he said.
“That’s why we wanted Baah on the pitch in the second half, so we could get behind them and stretch them.
“Once you can do that it opens up the space in midfield, to control the ball a little bit more.”
Still admitted he was disappointed with both goals which were conceded, after a game which took place on a tricky pitch at Deepdale.
“There are things we can improve on, and we need to improve on quickly, to capitalise on the good stuff we’ve done,” he said. “There’s stuff to build on.
“I think the fans realised from where they were sitting that it wasn’t easy. This wasn’t a home game at Vicarage Road!
“We felt their support from minute one which makes a difference to us.
“The players responded with the fight and the attitude that they showed.”/align]
https://www.fotmob.com/matches/preston-v...tab=lineup
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 14,611 (927 Watford fans)
Traditional game of two halves, both sides dominated one, although Watford will probably think their domination of the second half should have led to three points.
Cold frosty orning which would have done wonder to the patch of mud aka as the pitch, bizarrely they watered it before before both halves, in truth though it probably played better than last week.
Thought we were fairly comfortable in the first half, early devine effort blocked by Goglichdze, we got a lot of joy down the left were Vukcevic, Devine and Dobbin did their damage, the goal when it came was excellently finished by Dobbin with a flick with the outside of his right foot from a Whitema pass.
Only one clear chanc at the other end, Kjerrumgaard header well saved by Corner. Ahead at half time against a side who were probably slightly unsure of how to go about their task under a new manager.
One substituton for the Hornets and it made a difffeence Baah onto the right wing and it was a whole new ball game, lads pace combined with the other speed merchant Abankwah playing behind him blocked off the danger from our left hand side, Devine and Dobbin were not as effective.
Two goals in double quick time put the visitors ahead, first we lost the ball in midfield and after a series of passes the ball ended up with Maamma, he ran at Offiah cut to his right and put into far right corner. Minutes later Baah into the box, byline, Offiah diverted the ball past Cornell and the phrase oops came to mind.
Subs made and two of them combined to level the score, Lang fought off a couple of challenges ball to the man from Montenegro whose left footed shot beat the Hornets keeper, for his 5th goal in four games against these opponents.
Watford piled on the pressure narrowly wide on about three occasions especially Mendy's effort which hit the post and fired across te line before going out of play past the other post.
Could have sneaked it at the header, Storey's header from a corner narrowly over the top.
Good advert for the Champinship, thought Still's interview on ITV was virtually spot on.
HECK
Paul Heckingbottom accepted that Preston North End did well to get a point, having trailed Watford at one stage, in their 2-2 draw at Deepdale.
Lewis Dobbin provided PNE with the lead after 19 minutes, having latched on to a Ben Whiteman cross, but a quickfire double from Watford at the start of the second half saw the Lilywhites fall behind.
With 20 minutes to play, substitutes Milutin Osmajić and Callum Lang combined to level the match up, with the manager admitting that a draw was a fair result.
“A good point in the end, having gone behind,” said Hecky. “I thought we were in control of the game. I know how dangerous they are and the players they've got, the individuals they've got, but we gave them no encouragement until that first goal.
“It's a totally different game, it's spun on its head and then we make changes to try and get back in it, but it leaves a lot of space, and we've brought their good players to life. Credit to our players that we got back in it. It would have been great if we'd got the winner at the end.
“Jordan Storey had arguably the best chance after that, but they had some shots from distance as well.”
Lang and Osmajić appeared to connect immediately, finding each other in tight areas to provide PNE with opportunities to attack.
With this combination one the Lilywhites could look to utilise on a regular basis, Hecky affirmed that decisions surrounding his squad are made depending on the unique state of any given match, whilst also mentioning some of the players that didn’t get on the pitch against Watford.
“The game calls for what you want to do,” stated the boss. “We'd have probably made different subs if we'd still been in front, we'd have certainly used the bench.
“Jordan, Jamal, fantastic experienced, international players. Smudge has been valuable this season and also Andy, who got his debut last week. The bench was good.”
Andrew Hughes returned to the matchday squad, having last featured against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.
The Welshman came on for the final 11 minutes of the contest, with the manager pleased to have him back amongst his defensive options.
“It's important because he gives us good balance,” said Hecky.
“If we want to play that way, if we play three centre-backs, him in that left one gives us really good balance. It's important. It also gives that competition and that ability to change a team around that you're lacking.”
New Watford Head Coach Ed Still hopes his side will kick-on from their second-half performance at Preston after his first game in charge ended in a 2-2 draw.
The hosts led 1-0 at half-time but the Hornets were much improved after the break and got in front through Othmane Maamma and an own goal.
Milutin Osmajić struck back for the Lilywhites and the Golden Boys were left disappointed not to win after spending significant amounts of time in the Preston box.
“I hope the team has taken a lot of confidence from the second half,” Still said.
“From the speed and tempo that we put into the game – and because we’ve put them under a lot of pressure.
“We’ve created enough chances to win that and although in the end it is a good point, I’m disappointed for the dressing room that they didn’t get more.”
Still introduced Kwadwo Baah at half-time and explained what his message was to the players at the interval.
“To try and stretch the opposition a little bit more which we didn’t manage to do in the first half,” he said.
“That’s why we wanted Baah on the pitch in the second half, so we could get behind them and stretch them.
“Once you can do that it opens up the space in midfield, to control the ball a little bit more.”
Still admitted he was disappointed with both goals which were conceded, after a game which took place on a tricky pitch at Deepdale.
“There are things we can improve on, and we need to improve on quickly, to capitalise on the good stuff we’ve done,” he said. “There’s stuff to build on.
“I think the fans realised from where they were sitting that it wasn’t easy. This wasn’t a home game at Vicarage Road!
“We felt their support from minute one which makes a difference to us.
“The players responded with the fight and the attitude that they showed.”/align]
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?