Preston v Scunthorpe United

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Football League Championship

Preston :
Lonergan, Jones (Carter 21), Ledger, Chilvers, Hill (Lewis Neal 88), Sedgwick (Agyemang 63), McKenna, Davidson, Whaley, Mellor, Gallagher
Subs not used:
Chris Neal, Hawley

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne (sent off 90), Crosby, Baraclough, Williams, Cork, Goodwin, Hayes (Sparrow 57), Morris (Ameobi 69), Hurst, Paterson (Forte 78)
Subs not used:
Lillis, Taylor

SULSESC REPORT

by Matt Gray at Deepdale

Just how important these three points will be, come the end of the season is anybody’s guess, but how good that final whistle on Boxing Day 2007 felt. In recent weeks the fantastic October night at Hillsborough has seemed a distant memory as matches since have been characterised by endeavour, inept refereeing, nerve-shredding bad luck and most importantly, no wins.

The performance at Deepdale was very much of a team struggling in the bottom three of the division. Jim Goodwin had one of his stinkers, Marcus Williams ran around as aimlessly as a Christmas turkey and after Paul Hayes missed the easiest chance of his career in the fifth minute, the confusingly coiffeured front man went M.I.A. for the rest of his ‘appearance’.

Still, mustn’t grumble – three very welcome points!

Scunny lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, which flexibly reverted to 4-3-3 when on the attack and 4-5-1 when under pressure. Ian Morris played just behind Paterson linking midfield with attack effectively, supported also by Hurst and Hayes on the wings. These was also a welcome return for Cliff Byrne at right back helping to marshall the Chuckle Brothers in the centre of defence and enable Jack Cork to revert to his most suited role alongside Goodwin in centre-midfield.

The changes and formation seemed to be working as the Iron dominated the first fifteen minutes, creating three very good chances and limiting Preston to only some ambitious and wasteful punts into the channels.

Thereafter, and in a fashion that has become annoyingly familiar recently, Preston were allowed into the game. Too often in midfield the ball was given away cheaply and the defence retreated, inviting the hosts to press dangerously. Just after the half-hour Preston’s Whaley hit the upright and soon after, Murphy made two very good saves – the only action he’d seen all half.

However, Preston also looked vulnerable and on forty-three minutes, Paterson capitalised on defensive hesitancy by Preston’s Matthew Hill and Sean St-Ledger. Cutting in from the right, he advanced on goal and curled a shot past Lonergan into the far corner. It was the striker’s eleventh of the season and presently accounts for nearly 50% of United’s total scored in the league – a familiar sounding reliance on one frontman’s endeavours.

If reports in some national dailies are to be believed, January will see Scunny cash-in on Paterson’s good form, by selling the ex-Stoke man, thereby relieving the club of the tribunal fee.

Hopefully, this is a story without substance; otherwise Mr Wharton might as well climb onto the Grove Wharf roof himself and replace the League one champion’s flag with a white flag of surrender. Goals would be a scarce commodity without Paterson as Hayes certainly doesn’t look capable and certainly must be dropped in favour of Jonathan Forte. Hurst rarely leaves the touchline; Ameobi is best not mentioned altogether, though Morris does work hard to support the frontman. McBreen anyone?

An excellent three points nevertheless and a clean sheet from Scunthorpe’s oldest ever central defensive partnership. However, with Byrne receiving two yellow cards (harshly in my opinion) we are really going to struggle for cover.

Hopefully, it’s obvious to club management what is required in the January sales. Forget Santa - a pacey central defender and a strong, clinical frontman please Mr Wharton.