[themaclad]

First the bad news County have won all three games at Deepdale since our return to this level, A big thanks also must go to Sky for finally showing our second home game on television the last of all 24 Championship clubs to be awarded that honour this season.
So a Friday night festival of quality football at what no doubt will be a bitterly cold Deepdale.
County's league form has been slightly patchy since Boxing Day but got back to winning ways in their last league by beating Reading 2-1, going forwards they have a non to shabby range of forwards also exceedingly dangerous on free kicks with Lawrence, Mount and Wilson especially the latter who seems to be able to fire them in from anywhere however at the back personally think you have a chance against them, they will be missing Bogle who lost the plot at Accie last week however the man who makes them tick in my view is Tom Huddlestone rarely wastes a ball a quality player.
Last season lost at home 1-0 after missing a penalty with Maxwell missing their free kick, lost 2-0 at their gaff this season.
Not mentioning the opposition's manager's name unlike Sky who tomorrow night will mention it as many times as they like probably will run into the thousands.

First Team News
Team News: Derby County
30 January 2019
Manager Alex Neil will be able to welcome back skipper Tom Clarke for Friday night’s televised clash with Derby County at Deepdale.
The North End No.5 has missed the two away wins at Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City with a calf problem picked up in the game at home to Swansea City, but has been back in training for a week and should be in contention for the game against the Rams.

One player ruled out is striker Louis Moult, who picked up a hamstring injury in the warm up at the bet365 Stadium last Saturday and is set for a few weeks on the sidelines as he recovers.

However, the only other injuries are to those long-term absentees, Callum Robinson (hamstring) and Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop (both ACL); with the former the closest to a return, scheduled for early March.

Meanwhile opposition boss Frank Lampard has a number of issues to deal with. For last weekend’s cup win at Accrington, the Rams were without the injured Tom Lawrence (hamstring), Andre Wisdom (groin), Scott Carson (knee) and Jack Marriott (illness)

Craig Bryson also had a slight ankle problem and was not risked, whilst Curtis Davies ruled out for the season.

Jayden Bogle will serve a one-match ban for his red card at the Wham Stadium, and Lampard must decide how to replace him. Speaking about this, the former Chelsea man said: “Andre Wisdom is hopefully training today, but I am not sure if he will be ready for Friday.
“If not, we’ll have to work around it and play someone out-of-position. I have a couple of options.”
On recent signing Ashley Cole he added: “He’s getting closer. I am not sure if will be fully involved - that extra 15 to 20 per cent match fitness is what we’re looking for. The last thing we want to do is throw him in too early. But if needs be, he might play some part.”

On the other injures, he continued: “Scott [Carson] is fit now, although is still having to be careful with his kicking. Kelle [Roos] has done very well and it’s a nice problem to have. We’ll see how it goes this weekend.

“[Mason Mount] has been having [his hamstring] assessed all week. There is a bit of swelling, so we haven’t been able to find out exactly what the injury is yet. He will be out of Friday’s game and I should know more by the weekend.

“[Jack Marriott] had some bad illness last week, which has caused him to lose a bit of weight and left him quite weak. We’ve eased him back into training, so we’ll have to see if he’s ready to be involved. Hopefully, he will be.

“Tom Lawrence trained for the last two days, as did Craig Bryson. Both are in contention.”

Whilst he also added that it is less likely that young players will be involved on Friday, because the Rams boss wants their U18s to have a full squad to choose from for Thursday’s FA Youth Cup tie with Manchester City.

Ref Watch: Derby County
Lancashire referee Darren Bond takes charge of his second North End game of the season when the Lilywhites entertain Frank Lampard’s Derby County on Friday night.
His first game was the home clash with Reading back in mid-September, whilst this will be his third Rams game of the campaign, having officiated their 2-0 win in the first round of the Carabao Cup at Oldham Athletic and their 1-1 draw at Bristol City in December.

Last season Darren took charge of three PNE games. He was the match official in the club’s home draw against Millwall in September, our 2-1 win at Bristol City back in November 2017 and the 2-0 victory over Sunderland up at the Stadium of Light in March.
This will be his 24th game of this season, having issued 71 yellow cards and four reds in the 23 games so far refereed, his last being Aston Villa’s 2-2 home draw with Hull City on 19th January.

Although he had done numerous friendlies and other games involving Preston North End, the 2016/17 season was the first time the experienced official took charge of competitive fixtures involving the club, as he refereed the two home 1-1 draws with Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest.

The referee will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Ian Cooper, with experienced select group two referee Jeremy Simpson as the fourth official.

[themaclad]

Preston North End 0 Derby County 0
PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Hughes, Pearson, Storey, Davies, Potts, Gallagher © (Barkhuizen, 79), Stockley (Nmecha, 65), Browne, Maguire. Subs not used: Ripley, Earl, Clarke, Johnson, Ledson.

Derby County line-up: Roos, Bryson, Tomori, Keogh ©, Wilson, Waghorn (Bennett, 65), Lawrence, Evans, Holmes, Nugent (Wisdom, 69), Malone. Subs not used: Carson, Jozefzoon, Johnson, MacDonald, Huddlestone.

Attendance: 12,124 (963 Derby County fans)

Referee: Mr D Bond

Only surprise about this one it was goalless especially in the second half when we did everything bar score but credit Derby put bodies on the line when it mattered .
A chilly old night at the ground but didn't stop North End making a fast start, could have been one up early doors Stockley couldn't direct Brown's shot which came at speed into the net. Stockley had another chance his shot on the turn went narrowly over the bar. Storey also headed over from a corner. In the first half we didn't create anything from open play dead balls looked our most dangerous weapon. It was apparent that when the Rams didn't have the ball they defend as a team all eleven behind the ball. The early play did give a warning of Derby's danger in the form of Wilson who pinged one against the bar from 25 yards, it did take a slight deflection of Davies which may have done us a favour.
Derby started to press Lawrence played through in the inside right channel fired high and wide should have scored and Wilson again hit the woodwork again unlucky not to score.
We probably were lucky to have eleven on the pitch Pearson quite easily could have got a red for his lunge on Lawrence but Mr Bond happily only gave a yellow, stay on your feet Ben.
Positional change at half time Potts into centre midfield Gallagher to the right and hey presto absolutely battered them, Roos saved well from Browne with his feet which sparked a spell of shots raining in on the Derby goal Potts and Fisher were also denied during this frenetic period. Maguire headed over pity really Stockley was probably in a better position. Following the positional change Potts and Maguire had more influence on the game, the Irishman now getting back to full fitness is becoming an integral member of the team.
A quality team move almost got Potts in just couldn't control the ball
Little was seen of Derby as an attacking force only a long clearence from the keeper caused us problems. Played really well second half without reward. This side is coming together especially at centre back were Storey and Davies look an excellent combination.
Finally fair play to Frank decent after match interview.

Preston North End boss Alex Neil said: "Things are positive right now and going in the right direction.

"With what we have got now in terms of the squad I would fully expect us to finish the season strongly.

"I have said to the players that I'm certainly not writing off the play-offs."

Derby County manager Frank Lampard: "It was a hard-earned point. We had the better chances in the first half, Harry Wilson especially.

"The second half was tough and we were up against it in the first 25 minutes. We brought on fresh legs, but it was a difficult game and we have to be happy with the point.

"Preston have a good team, they have a good mix and play good football. They are difficult opposition. This is a tough place to come.

"We defended well and put our bodies on the line, which we need if we are to be successful."