[jjamez]

It is a change of pace this weekend as after multiple league games over the festive period, the world famous FA Cup rolls into Town. With numerous lower league sides still in the competition the hopes of facing someone new and different were very much high, so we were drawn against fellow Championship side Preston, a side we faced only a couple of games ago during the festive season, to make matters worse (or better) we are once again away at Deepdale, to make things even worse (or better) it is a lunch time kickoff so that the millions of Town and Preston fans from around the globe are able to witness their sides battle for a place in the next round.

This game will mark the 4th time the two sides will have met this season, heaven forbid a draw to make it 5 times in one season, whats the record for most encounters between two sides in a single season? anyone? I don't know, if I had to guess it would be Manchester United v Arsenal back when they were the only two teams in the Premier League or so it seemed. Anyway, back to Saturday, I don't think there's much to say really so I'll keep the thread relatively brief, although any future ramblings may extend that...

So the first time the two sides met this season was back in August in the Carabao Cup when Danny Schofield was 'in charge' of Town as Preston hammered 4 past us in a 4-1 victory. It was hardly a makeshift side with the likes of Nicholls, Lees, Nakayama, Holmes and Rhodes all starting, alongside Broadie Spencer and a then untried Etienne Camara. It was a performance that was symptomatic of the problems at the club and was an indication of what was to come. Preston went into half time 3-0 up thanks to goals from Troy Parrott and an Ali McCann brace, before Brad Potts made it 4 in the second half, Jordan Rhodes pulled a consolation goal back for Town. It was a game that we was completely dominated in. The sides would meet again in October at the John Smiths Stadium, this time with Mark Fotheringham in charge and yet again it would be the visitors who would win. Granted it wasn't as big a defeat as before, but it was a game that saw us register 0 shots on target at home as Greg Cunningham scored the only goal of the game. A couple of months later and the sides met at Deepdale on Boxing Day, Cunningham once again scored against Town as Preston took a 1-0 lead into half time. Surprisingly, Town managed to produce a turnaround in the second half when Rhodes, who was back in the side after being thrown under the bus by Fotheringham and thanks to an injury to Danny Ward, scored the equaliser after good work down the right by Brahima Diarra. Rhodes would hit the post minutes later as he found confidence in front of goal, before Jack Rudoni put a dangerous cross that found its way to loanee Kaine Kessler-Hayden at the back post who bundled it into an empty goal. It would be Towns first win at Deepdale since 1969. Since then we have beaten Rotherham and lost to Luton both at home, Preston meanwhile have lost away to West Brom 2-0 and won at Stoke 1-0 through a Ched Evans header deep into injury time.



So what happened in the previous FA Cup campaign, well Preston entered and left the competition in the third round, travelling to Wales to face Cardiff. Still under COVID rules, the game was played behind closed doors and saw the two sides drawing 1-1 after 90 minutes. Isaak Davies opened the scoring for the Bluebirds before Daniel Johnson equalised from the spot. To avoid fixture congestion, FA Cup ties were to be settled on the day, so the tie went into extra time where Mark Harris scored in the 116th minute to send the Welsh side through. Town meanwhile travelled over the Pennines to face Burnley at Turf Moor, Jay Rodriguez opened the scoring for the Clarets in the 28th minute, heading past Ryan Schofield who later went off injured, however, going into the latter stages of the second half, Josh Koroma equalised for Town before boyhood Blackburn Rovers fan Matty Pearson headed in from the corner. In the 4th round, Huddersfield would host local rivals Barnsley, on a very rainy afternoon, Town took the lead through a Duane Holmes goal and saw Ollie Turton have a goal ruled out for offside, current Town player Michal Helik also saw a goal ruled out as Town progressed through to the next round. The 5th round saw us travel to Nottingham Forest on a Monday evening. Town started the game without a recognised striker although you could say we've been doing it most of this season anyway when we pick Ward. Forest had a goal disallowed for offside before prolific scorer Tom Lees headed Town ahead from a corner. Sam Surridge would equalise for Forest before Ryan Yates completed the turnaround shortly before the half time interval. Town were unable to grab an equaliser and Forest progressed to face Liverpool in the next round. Liverpool would go on to win the cup so it will come as no surprise that Forest lost.



I would ask what has changed since we last met and the answer is obviously not a lot, Town have signed Matt Lowton on loan from Burnley until the end of the season and Florian Kamberi who signed as I was writing a paragraph on why I wouldn't sign him, only to be announced once I had finished it. Any road, it seems like a weird signing as he doesn't appear to offer anything that we have been missing in the front line, he's not massively tall, he's not overly quick, hasn't really scored a load of goals in his career and probably offers nothing more than what Ward does, unless Danny is leaving. Apparently he is decent technically so he may be someone who offers something different a touch deeper, but at the moment for me in league football Jordan Rhodes is the starting striker. Kamberi did have a good spell at Hibs so maybe just may be there is something there.



So team news for Saturday. Well Fotheringham is yet to talk to the media ahead of the game, but I'd imagine there may be a slight shuffle of the pack to allow some players a rest and others a bit of game time. I'm inclined to say that if it was me, then Hogg would be sitting out this weekend after going off injured against Luton, we need him for the dogfight, Rhodes has been working hard alone up top so I'd be giving him a breather this time out and letting one of Ward, Simpson or Kamberi take his place, he's the only natural finisher we have and looking at how the likes of Hull and Wigan who we have coming up have defended recently, I'd be saying Rhodes will be causing them a few problems. Elsewhere, Nicholls is approaching his 5th yellow in league football so it may be worth letting Bilokapic have a go between the sticks in case he is needed in the league, which is quite possible, Ben Jackson could/should be taking the left back/ wing back spot with Lowton going on the right, Pearson has been returning to training although it may be a big ask to get him into the team for this weekend, he may appear on the bench. Young players like Spencer, Diarra and Ayina may also see a bit more game time on Saturday, with Ayina being a candidate to play alongside Lees. We may also see little Duane get a breather after producing better performances in the last few games. The B team play on Friday afternoon so that could offer an indication of which young players may be with the team on Saturday with other candidates for the first team squad including Kian Harratt, Scott High, Kyle Hudlin, Charles Ondo and Myles Bright.



If it was me in charge I reckon I'd shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation and get a few minutes into the legs of our other attacking players.

Bilokapic

Lowton Lees Ayina Jackson

High Camara

Thomas Kamberi Mahoney

Ward

As for the bench, take your pick really, but I would say Simpson and Diarra both have to be there.

As for Preston team news, again, I'm not sure how seriously they will be taking the cup, obviously we have bigger fish to fry with the relegation battle, but with Preston sitting 10th and only 2 points outside of the top 6, a good run of form could have them as dark horses, Forest were 9th when we faced them in the Cup last season and look what happened there. It is quite possible that Preston use this as a chance to get some minutes in the legs that need them the most.

I was going to have a little rant about what was going on at Town in regards to the ownership, but maybe another day, safe to say we are a circus being run by clowns, the only thing I've heard out of the usual is that administration is a very large possibility as our majority owner cannot afford to pay any sort of upkeep, maybe some of you have heard other stuff.



Now for a couple of FA Cup themed anagrams to end this off

1) Rim My Joss

2) A Newer Genres

3) Footballs Nuclear Lab

4) A Fiercest Puma

5) Rigid Roadbed

[jjamez]

Danny ward conveniently injured for a lengthy period.

Hoggy fine but sitting tomorrow out

Nicholls has a shoulder injury so missing tomorrow but will be fine for the league game

Pearson back with the b team, turton back training

Players not involved in the b team today, harratt, ondo, diarra, ayina, belligambi and probably some others, so they are more than likely travelling with the squad tomorrow. Not sure but think the fa cup allows 9 subs on the bench

[Lord Snooty]

1. Jimmy Ross

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Nice one, jjamez by the way.

[Lord Snooty]

The most we have played one team in a season was six, back in 62/63. That was against Plymouth Argyle. We had the two league games, a League Cup match that went to two replays and then we drew them in the FA Cup.

So if we do get a replay against Preston, it won't be a record. The only way to beat it would be to get two legs in the Play Offs semis. And that's unlikely. Can't really see Preston getting in the top six.

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Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday once had five matches in one round of the Cup. That was in 78/79. No penalty shoot outs back then. After draws at Hillsborough and Highbury, they had three replays at Leicester's Filbert Street ground, which Arsenal eventually won. They went on to win the Cup, beating Manchester United in the Final.

They didn't play each other in the league though as the Wendies were in the 3rd division at the time.

So our six games with Plymouth could be an actual record, but I'm not sure.

[theo_luddite]

Cheers Snoots, I was trying to recall who Wendies played in all those replays. It is of course the answer to 3. Arsenal Football Club (sneaky one that jjamez).

Good thread jjamez, as usual.

[Lord Snooty]

Town’s team vs Preston North End
41. Nicholas Bilokapic
7. Sorba Thomas
16. Kaine Kesler-Hayden
18. David Kasumu
22. Jack Rudoni
24. Etienne Camara
27. Tyreece Simpson
32. Tom Lees ©
38. Matthew Lowton
39. Michał Helik
47. Loick Ayina

Substitutes
Jacob Chapman; Jordan Rhodes, Will Boyle, Josh Ruffels, Duane Holmes, Ben Jackson, Brahima Diarra, Kian Harratt, Florian Kamberi

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1Woodman
23Diaby
6Lindsay
16Hughes
8Browne
10Johnson
18Ledson
13McCann
2Fernández
20Woodburn
39O'Neill
Substitutes
3Cunningham
5Bauer
11Brady
25Cornell
29Cross-Adair
31Slater
35Mawene
37Kamara
44Potts

[jjamez]

Think ayina showed in that fleeting performance that despite the high praise from fotheringham, he's not ready for championship level football. They say it was ayina who injured wards back and with some of those challenges, you can see why

[theo_luddite]

I think that kid we had playing at fullback, the Glorious Ayina, was playing in the French time zone rather than ours judging by his timing of tackles. Good job we took the hint and subbed him, but if he's like this in training, why is he even with us? Just for a laugh?

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That lead didn't last long enough to comment on.

[Lord Snooty]

Oh dear. 2-1 Preston.

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And the Cup won't be going back to Huddersfield this year.

[themaclad]

Ayina got lucky should have got a second yellow but the unwritten rule of Town players not being sent off at Deepdale kicked in, great entertainment second half, the thought of playing each other for a fifth time obviously was not an option.
We are ball number 1 in the draw