A thoroughly entertaining local derby ended with North End getting home by the odd goal in five, possibly on another day Rovers may possibly have snaffled a point after being the better side in the second half but life is tough and they got nothing.
Not overly keen on 5.30 kick offs messes my food routine up but as Sky are paying us a bit of cash will put up with. A damp night at Deepdale as the teams kicked off, North End started the better with Robinson giving the Rovers back line a nightmare especially full back Ben Marshall. Although on top Rovers showed flashes of danger with their pace on the break, there hadn't been any really clear cut chances until North End took the lead on 18 minutes, Robinson's cross deflected to Vermijl who with his back to go slid the ball to Johnson who curled in a stunner from 20 yards, not a bad way to scoe your first goal of the season. Within minutes he had gone from hero to zero as his clums tackle in the area brought down a Rovers player think it was Graham, clear penalty. Graham's spot kick was easily saved by Maxwell who could only parry the ball back to Graham who had his next effort saved, North End couldn't clear teh ball and at about the 400th attempt Graham bundled the ball home to level the score.
Parity only lasted 10 minutes before North End were awarded their first penalty since the Battle of Hastings, until I saw it on the box at half time had no idea as to why it had been given. North End had passed the ball about nicely across for the right and big Makienok was pooised to score until his header seem to hit the bar and was cleared. In the confusion Mr Friend had given a penalty, it bemused the away players and sent Owen Coyle closer to insanity, but Lenihan had handled the ball before Makienok could head it in. Yellow card for Lenihan but should it have been a red? Steele dived way to early Johnson sent the ball the other way 2-1 up. Good value as well however on the stroke of half time Maxwell tipped Graham's header round the post and from the corner Rovers really should have scored but Mulgrew headed wide.
North End had early pressure but it was the visitors who were better in the second half, looked to have good call for a penalty when Evans went down in the box, they pinned North End back, Wright did a brilliant block on Graham twice, but with 20 minutes to go they were level and it had been coming Graham scored from close range with a bit of a defelection. From that point you could have thought that Rovers would go on and clinch the points but they had a slight bit of misfortune, they lost defender Mulgrew to injury andn had to replace him and within a minute North End were in front, Pringle and Makienok combined to set Cunningham up, he beat a man in the area squared the ball to Robinson and in it went.
There was only one scare for North End a free kick on the edge of the box went narrowly over the top, North End hung on to take the points.
Only one concern with Gallagher and Welsh injured plus the fighting duo suspended the squad does look a little thread bare but they dug in and did the job tonight.
Preston North End 3 Blakburn Rovers 2 Att 18000 est.
First home win against them since 1978
Not overly keen on 5.30 kick offs messes my food routine up but as Sky are paying us a bit of cash will put up with. A damp night at Deepdale as the teams kicked off, North End started the better with Robinson giving the Rovers back line a nightmare especially full back Ben Marshall. Although on top Rovers showed flashes of danger with their pace on the break, there hadn't been any really clear cut chances until North End took the lead on 18 minutes, Robinson's cross deflected to Vermijl who with his back to go slid the ball to Johnson who curled in a stunner from 20 yards, not a bad way to scoe your first goal of the season. Within minutes he had gone from hero to zero as his clums tackle in the area brought down a Rovers player think it was Graham, clear penalty. Graham's spot kick was easily saved by Maxwell who could only parry the ball back to Graham who had his next effort saved, North End couldn't clear teh ball and at about the 400th attempt Graham bundled the ball home to level the score.
Parity only lasted 10 minutes before North End were awarded their first penalty since the Battle of Hastings, until I saw it on the box at half time had no idea as to why it had been given. North End had passed the ball about nicely across for the right and big Makienok was pooised to score until his header seem to hit the bar and was cleared. In the confusion Mr Friend had given a penalty, it bemused the away players and sent Owen Coyle closer to insanity, but Lenihan had handled the ball before Makienok could head it in. Yellow card for Lenihan but should it have been a red? Steele dived way to early Johnson sent the ball the other way 2-1 up. Good value as well however on the stroke of half time Maxwell tipped Graham's header round the post and from the corner Rovers really should have scored but Mulgrew headed wide.
North End had early pressure but it was the visitors who were better in the second half, looked to have good call for a penalty when Evans went down in the box, they pinned North End back, Wright did a brilliant block on Graham twice, but with 20 minutes to go they were level and it had been coming Graham scored from close range with a bit of a defelection. From that point you could have thought that Rovers would go on and clinch the points but they had a slight bit of misfortune, they lost defender Mulgrew to injury andn had to replace him and within a minute North End were in front, Pringle and Makienok combined to set Cunningham up, he beat a man in the area squared the ball to Robinson and in it went.
There was only one scare for North End a free kick on the edge of the box went narrowly over the top, North End hung on to take the points.
Only one concern with Gallagher and Welsh injured plus the fighting duo suspended the squad does look a little thread bare but they dug in and did the job tonight.
Preston North End 3 Blakburn Rovers 2 Att 18000 est.
First home win against them since 1978
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People got to shout to stay alive
People got to shout to stay alive