PRESTON NORTH END 2 CITY 1
Editor’s Note: A welcome to the Trust reporting team for the 2009/10 season to Mike King who files his first report.
City travelled to PNE knowing that one of these two undefeated sides would end the evening with their first defeat of the season as both teams have made a good start to the campaign with both clubs on 8 points in the league, PNE two places above City on goal difference in 6th place in the Championship.
With the new stand at Deepdale nearly completed, a low crowd of 6,977 attended with the Town End stand behind one goal not used, with the vocal City supporters in the corner of the Bill Shankly stand at the opposite end of the ground.
Nigel Pearson made 5 changes to the starting line-up victory against Barnsley last Saturday, with Morrison, Tunchev, Adams, King and veteran Chris Powell coming into the side. The excellent Wellens was missing from the starting line-up. The striking partnership of Fryatt and new signing Gallagher continued, with the latest signing Yann Kermorgant on the bench, although the Sky text on the TV near the Bar stating he would be making his full debut…..
The pre-match coffee and tea drinks served up were very bad tasting, presumably made with water from the nearby River Ribble and had to be returned for a refund, what a way to treat visiting supporters trying to poison them before the game!
City kicked off attacking the empty Town End stand and were the better side early on, passing the ball around well, with Oakley prompting from the middle. In the 7th minute, City took a deserved lead after N’Guessan forced his way into the box beating Parry on the right, found Bolton-born Adams who coolly slotted the ball home across ‘keeper Lonergan from 10 yards.
3 minutes later, good work by the mid-field put Fryatt away on the left but his shot was cleared much to the relief of the home supporters, followed 2 minutes later when Gallagher put Fryatt away again on the left but his shot from the edge of the box was saved low down by the PNE ‘keeper.
On 15 minutes the home side equalised with a fortunate goal. After King missed a tackle in mid-field, PNE’s big “Howard look-a-like” No. 9, Chris Brown, shot from the edge of the box, the ball hit the boot of Chris Powell and the wicked deflection found it’s way passed Weal’s outstretched arm and into the corner of the net.
Gallagher had a 25 yard shot that went over the bar, then poor work by King and Tunchev, who was his usual calm self, let in PNE’s No.9 again but Weale saved well from 6 yards. Gallagher was good with the ball at his feet but is no Howard in the air when the long ball is played as was clearly seen last Saturday.
After 25 minutes, Weale saved well again from PNE’s Elliott as the game swung from end to end, and good work by Fryatt allowed Adams to shoot from 18 yards but Lonergan saved, a goal mouth scramble followed from the resulting corner.
On the half-hour, Morrison missed a tackle and Elliott’s goal bound powerful shot was well blocked by the boot of Powell, and a good interception by the same player in the City box kept the scores level.
Excellent work by Oakley and Fryatt put Gallagher away on the left but his low shot was fired into the side netting. The City faithfuls were now confident but were relieved when Brown’s 6 yard header went straight into the arms of Weale who was well placed, and the City ‘keeper again saved well from Nolan’s low shot. Weale looks a good signing.
Half-time arrived after one minute of added time, a good first half from both teams with half-chances a plenty and a 1-1 score line was about right.
No changes by Pearson at the interval, and attacking the City supporters in the Shankly Stand, the expectation was high, and N’Guessan did well on the right but his low cross went straight through the PNE box with no City striker near.
It was now all City and Adams was on fire on the left and King was starting to get into the game, however a PNE breakaway was well dealt with by Neilson, then Oakley shot and hit a City supporter as it was that wide!
After 60 minutes the City Fans were on their feet demanding a penalty as Fryatt was brought down in the box, the referee looked across to his assistant who kept his flag down. Then Weale saved well again and again held the ball comfortably from the resulting corner.
Then after 63 minutes PNE took the lead and the eventual winner. Nolan, in for ex-City player Callum Davidson, went down the left unchallenged, looked up and hit a perfect cross that Brown met at the far post on his own, heading across Weale into the far corner of the net.
City tried desparately to get back into the game and a shot from Adams and two efforts from Fryatt were easily dealt with by the home defence. Dyer replaced N’Guessan on 72 minutes but struggled to get the ball at his feet. PNE replaced Carter and Elliott and then Pearson took off Oakley and Gallagher, bringing on Dickov and Kermogant.
The equaliser should have come with 10 minutes to go as a cross from the left found Fryatt 6 yards out, but the ball skimmed off the top of his head and went out. Howard would have buried it for sure.
City tried hard and Kermogrant was heading the ball on well and looks okay from his brief spell and may well deputise for Howard during his absence. He made a good attempt from a Neilson cross.
As 4 minutes of added time arrived, Dyer did well on the right and then Dickov, as on Saturday, started berating the referee and was talked to as valuable time was ticking away. Why does he continue to do this, it gets him no where!!!
With 2 minutes to go, City gained a corner, with Weale coming up into the box, but Tunchev lost the ball to Carter and it was cleared into the City half. At the final whistle, the result was probably right, as the PNE ‘keeper really did not have to make a save in the second half, Weale being far busier.
So the Lillywhites progress in the Carling Cup to the third round, the first time in 5 years. Comments after the game and the expected “We can now concentrate on the League” and “It’s a lousy competition anyway” were heard, but extra games equals additional revenue and if City had progressed and a home tie against a top Premier League club had come out of the hat, the Walker’s would have seen a good crowd, unlike many other attendances on the night!
Teams:
Preston North End: Lonergan, Hart, Nolan, St. Ledger, Sedgewick, Shumulikoski, Chilvers, Elliott, Carter, Brown, Parry.
Leicester City: Weale, Neilson, Morrison, Tunchev, Powell, N’Guessan, Oakley, King, Adams, Fryatt, Gallagher.
Attendance: 6,977
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation