[themaclad]

Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers

Deepdale 5.30pm 22 April 2023 Sky TV

FORM GUIDE

PNE 11 PLASTICS 4

LAST TIME OUT



It is always good for keepers to score late goals especially this lot

MANAGER

Jon Dahl Tomasson (Danish pronunciation: [ˈtsʰomæsʌn]; born 29 August 1976) is a Danish football manager and former player who is the current head coach of EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers.

A forward, his most notable run of football came in his first stint at Feyenoord, with whom he won the 2002 UEFA Cup, and Italian club AC Milan, with whom he won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and reached the final in 2005. He also played top-flight football in England, Germany and Spain. He is the joint all-time top goalscorer for the Denmark national team with 52 goals in 112 games and was also honoured with the Danish Player of the Year award in both 2002 and 2004. He played at the UEFA European Championship in 2000 and 2004 and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2010.

After his playing career, Tomasson went into coaching, being both assistant and manager in the Netherlands, before becoming assistant manager in the Denmark national team under Åge Hareide. In 2020, Tomasson became the manager of Malmö FF and left two years later after winning the Swedish championship for two consecutive seasons. In June 2022, he signed a three-year deal at Blackburn Rovers.



Going back to the early 1990's this used to be one of my watering holes, basically it was on the border between us and them support was split but you accepted the fact their supporters needed special needs help.
Anyway along comes Uncle Jack with his money and the fairweather North End supoorters suddenly became glory hunters and switched sides. Deserving of life behind bars .
This means more than the Blackpool game cannot stand them



In The Dressing Room

An update on team news will be provided in the pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s game.

A Look At Our Visitors

Heading into the weekend’s round of fixtures, Blackburn Rovers are occupying the final Play-Off position, but come Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off the table may look differently.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side have been in the top six pretty much all season long, but one win in their last seven games has seen other clubs close the gap on the Play-Off spots.

Rovers have some tough games coming up between now and the end of the season too, with their final three matches after Saturday being against sides in the top five of the division – including fierce rivals and league leaders Burnley.

Going Head To Head


Games played: 110
PNE wins: 46
Draws: 30
Blackburn Rovers wins: 34
Last meeting: Blackburn Rovers 1-4 PNE, 10th December 2022

One To Watch

Academy graduate Hayden Carter is enjoying his best year with Rovers yet, having featured over 30 times in all competitions this term.

The central defender spent last season on loan with League One side Portsmouth and he returned to Ewood Park a better player for it.

Having become a regular in the heart of defence, Carter was rewarded with a long-term deal at the end of March 2023, keeping him with Rovers until June 2027.

Match Officials

Premier League official Rob Jones will be the man in the middle this weekend.

It will be the first time Jones has taken charge of North End since February 2022 – a goalless draw at Deepdale against Huddersfield Town.

Jones has officiated 25 games so far this campaign, showing 97 yellow cards in that period, and he will this weekend be assisted by Constantine Hatzidakis and Wade Smith, while Jeremy Simpson will be on fourth official duties.

MACS VIEW

The strange land that is the Champonship provides another 6 pointer on Saturday given our last two results it is just mad that if we win this one we go above them in the table, personal view this is the last chance saloon for us also would be nice to take 6 points from them this season. My last Saturday game  as cricket starts next week.