Town 1 Preston 3
Picture from Mark’s Mobile Phone
Mark Harrison, Writer.
Twitter: @MarkHarrison15
I stayed at home like thousands of others who are voting loudly with their feet. So, the red button it was for me, and it was the team in red with whom we could not apparently compete. PNE took the points back over the hills to Lancashire and worthy winners they were.
Pre match, the expectation was reasonably high that we could get something, with Town unbeaten in 4 and Preston in a real slump, although just outside the playoffs. The team news revealed a full league debut for Josh Austerfield who has waited patiently for his chance. Once again, two up front and Thomas, restored to the team after suspension at right wing back and Koroma as left wing back.
My thoughts were that if we were to start with energy and aggression and at very least limit them and keep them in their shell, the game was there for us to go on and win. But, not for the first time this season, an opposition has started quicker, and taken us by surprise for some reason as we were miles off the pace. In home games Norwich, Cardiff and Bristol City are examples of teams stepping on the gas early, whilst we were still in the changing room.
Preston played good crisp, pass and move football and men were left untracked by making simple runs from deep eg their second goal and Alan Browne (always good for a goal against Town) must have been wearing a magical number 8 shirt that rendered him invisible? He’d already volleyed wide in space within the penalty area and had a penalty shout, before heading in very well, but unchallenged and that was in the first three minutes. The tone had been set.
It looked like the team was under prepared, runners were passed on and there was a lack of cohesion and responsibility. Players arguing was a symptom of this and it happened all the first half. What were the pre-game instructions? Some players looked confused, and others started to hide.
The only genuine opening in the half was squandered by Koroma because Burgzorg must have been wearing Browne’s magical invisible shirt. The Dutchman was in yards of space and a simple pass would have given him the same one on one chance that he took on Saturday. To be fair to Koroma, he latched on to Thomas’ through ball well, smashing through a tackle with Holmes, but then only had eyes for the goal and was dispossessed.
The second Preston goal stemmed from a good run from deep by Keane, whom Hogg was tracking but then passed on and by the time a centre back reacted, it was in the net. Nothing less than the men from Deepdale deserved.
After the match Moore said he could have made changes within twenty minutes. Probably not unreasonable to ask why he didn’t? Three changes were made in the interval with round pegs for round holes replacements stepping in and helping to improve the flow of the team with the ball. Nakayama brought the ball out from the back and passed it well, Headley is learning his trade, but is best as a wing back and Wiles, whilst yet to hit form and fitness, helped to improve our forward play to a degree.
An outstanding header from the previously anonymous Ward, was a reward for some forward thinking and Town were gaining momentum against a team which had sat back. Unfortunately, this was a short-lived change. Ward left the field with tight calf muscles and our progress had faded and was popped like a balloon when Holmes fed Whiteman and the ball found it’s way under Maxwell and into the corner and the lights were out. I think Nicholls will be back for Millwall.
Holmes soon left the field to deserved applause from both away and home fans. He showed us the best version of his game and reminded us of what he can bring. A point of differentiation that is missing from our squad. That’s three goals and four assists this season for Duane.
The only spark in the remainder of the game from our perspective was from Diarra. It looks like he may be on his way, but hopefully whomever he plays for, will build on his undoubted ability and that we may benefit in the long run from a sell on clause. Will any incoming money in the event of his transfer be spent on a Championship ready number ten? Dare I say it, someone like Duane Holmes!
Moore Questions than answers
Where now for Town? The small increase in goodwill towards Darren Moore got extinguished by the Preston game. But is the answer to look again at the manager’s job? Hand on heart, I have not seen enough in his tenure to give me the confidence that he is the right man to take us forward. But I’m not in favour of constantly changing manager in a boom or bust manner. In any event, I would also be surprised if a change is made this side of January.
I would be an advocate if I had any idea of what Dazball aspires to be. What is his philosophy? I have no idea, I’m in the dark? It has been fire fighting since day one for him, so I have sympathy with him for that, but to allow him a transfer window and the chance to bring in his players, does require a leap of faith.
In his previous managerial positions, his challenges were different to the one he faces now. WBA were on their way down from the Premier League when he took charge but were a big hitter in the Championship. Doncaster had a decent squad for League one and although Sheffield Wednesday were in a similar predicament to us when he arrived, illness meant he could not put his full weight into that relegation battle, and they ultimately had a strong squad for League One when relegation took place. His job at Town is his toughest task yet.
On to Millwall and an opportunity to right the wrongs of Tuesday night. Will there be flashing lights at the end of a long, dark tunnel?
Matt’s ratings
In this section Matt will rate the players on a scale of 1-10 with 6 being used as an average to passable performance. TRIGGER WARNING! half marks will also be used if a player is between scores.
Chris Maxwell -4- Ropy to say the least.
Matty Pearson -6- Dragged into areas he probably didn’t want to be in but we’ll miss him if he has a spell out injured now.
Michal Helik -6.5- Steady away. Standard Helik.
Tom Lees -6- Overworked and another who’ll be missed if now injured.
Sorba Thomas -6.5- Worked hard but little came off going forward.
David Kasumu -6- Seems to play well on a Saturday and not quite have a lot left in the tank by Tuesday at the moment. Problems of a smaller squad and players coming back from injury I guess.
Jonathan Hogg -5- Off the pace this time.
Josh Austerfield -4- Had a big opportinity to impress but wasn’t used correctly nor did he take the chance presented.
Josh Koroma -4- Failing to pass to The Dr when he was clean through was unforgivable.
Danny Ward -5- Took his goal well but failed to really get involved enough prior.
Dr Burgzorg -5- One of those days. Some good, some bad, lot frustrating.
Yuta Nakayama -6- Added a ball playing element from the back which helped Town get back into the game.
Jaheim Headley -5- I can’t really recall him doing a lot in all honesty.
Ben Wiles -5- Started off really sharply but then evaporated quick smart as the game ran away from Town.
Brahima Diarra -5- Ran up plenty of dead ends.
Rarmani Edmonds-Green -3- Didn’t want to be on the field and shirked as much responsibility as he could.
