[themaclad]

It's always been an ambition of mine to spend a Friday night in Burslem, as you travel up from the ring road up the hill which is steeper than Everest you see the scenic delights of the Potteries town which was written about by Arnold Bennett in his book about the five towns which make up the area of the Potteries although there are officially six towns Bennett failed to mention one of them in his books.
The books were written at the beginning of the 20th century and those travelling tomorrow will find that little has changed over the intervening century although the town is now the home of the National Pole dancing school, why Eastern European's would want to Burslem to dance is beyond me!.
Anyway I digress onto the game, the despondency that seems to afflict most North Enders after Gillingham's late equaliser is starting to disappear as the push for promotion continues, it is still in our own hands, although defeat tomorrow night will almost certainly lead to a semi final play off defeat against the Blades.(gotta look on the positive side)
Nerves already starting and still a day to go before the game, interesting to see if Laird and Beckford are fit, also expect a reaction from the team.
Vale are nearly safe so they have something to play for so they cannot sit back, Pope didn't play in the last game not sure whether he is injured or not, three ex Whites in the Vale ranks, Neal, Robertson and Collins who is on loan from Sheff United.
Collins was possible the worst waste of £750,000 we ever splashed out his only highlight ducking out of a Forest shot which ended up in the net.
Should be a sparky atmosphere as Vale fans are paranoid about goal machine Joe Garner(although he has not scored for 5 games) they still blame him for scoring two last season after the wrong player was sent off, he went on to score both goals in a 2-0 win.
Be lots of banter and won't they let us know if we cock it up, well lads over to you 10 points needed.

[St Charles Owl]

Must win game, no other way to look at it!!!

[themaclad]

Too right SCO

[St Charles Owl]

Ouch!!! 4 points dropped in the last 2 games!!! Still in your hands but you have to get back to winning ways with both MK and Swindon seemingly back on form recently!!

[themaclad]

Not making it easy to say the second half was tense was an understatement, need some beer, match report tomorrow

[themaclad]

Well, it's going to the wire as another two points slip away after a 2-2 draw at Vale Park, should have ben wrapped up by half time as North End dominated a thoroughly one sided first half.
We took the lead in the 11th minute when Johnson scored after being given acres of space and time to pick his spot following a corner, coukd have been two before then Beckford and Garner being denied, the latter by a great save by Chris Neal. Vale were basic hammer it forward and hope for the best, North End's keeper had literally nothing to do in the first half, he could have sat with the 2500 away following who were stood behind him.
A fractious first half led to Vale trying various ways to get North End players sent off, half time and North End were cruising.
The arrival of Pope for Vale changed the second half slightly he gave them a bit more physical presence and within five minutes Vale had their first shot on target, it was a penalty, there appeared to be a push on a forward at the back push, he seemed to go down in extravagant manner but as I was down the other end, could not really tell what had happened. O'Connor sends Johnstone the wrong way, parity.
Within minutes it's a penalty down the other end, Huntington did well to keep a free kick in play, lobbing the ball back into play where Clarke's goal bound shot was touched by hand onto the ball and cleared. Penalty, apparently Sentinal Radio thought it was a fantastic save by Neal, the ref thought it was hand ball by Hughes and out came the red card. Garner obliged from the spot, happiness in the away end.
Panic now starts to set in, North End started to play football like the home side, nobody put heir foot on the ball to slow the game down, lost cont of how many crossed were sliced into the crowd, tension levels were creeping up to overload when spot kick number three arrived. Wright fouled a forward O'Connor again did the business.
Apparently on another forum some fans want Grayson sacked 16 games unbeaten four points clear, there is just no pleasing folks.
Meadow Lane next Tuesday, good job I'm on Beta Blockers.
Still in our own hands win the last three and we are up.

Port Vale 2 Preston North End 2 Att 7000