Often Partisan

GAMEDAY – Preston at Home

Blues face Simon Grayson’s Preston North End side at St Andrew’s tonight as the Championship games come thick and fast before the next international break. Can Gary Rowett’s men continue their unbeaten streak?

Preston North End

Preston picked up a valuable win at the weekend, beating local rivals Wigan Athletic 1-0 to pull themselves up to 19th in the table.

Jermaine Beckford and Marnick Vermijl are both out with hamstring injuries but giant Danish forward Simon Makienok could start his third game in a week.

Championship Stats from Kick Off

Blues

Robert Tesche and Tomasz Kuszczak continue to miss out having missed the last two games but Clayton Donaldson may return after an injury niggle kept him out of Saturday’s game against QPR. Greg Stewart is pushing for a first start in the team which may come at the expense of Stephen Gleeson with David Davis moving inside.

Ref

Andy Woolmer is in the middle for this game, which will be his 11th of the season. So far, he’s shown 21 yellow cards but no reds. His last Blues game was the 2-0 defeat to Rotherham last September in which no players were booked.

Suspension Watch

One Red Card: Jack Storer (three match ban served)

Four bookings: David Davis
Three bookings: Jonathan Grounds
Two bookings: Clayton Donaldson, Maikel Kieftenbeld and Stephen Gleeson
One booking: Michael Morrison, Jonathan Spector and Jack Storer

The cutoff date for a player receiving a ban for five bookings is November 30, 2016
The cutoff date for a player receiving a ban for ten bookings is March 11, 2017

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52 Responses to “GAMEDAY – Preston at Home”

  • edd77 says:

    These 2 games coming up are games we would have probably lost last season ,lower half teams at home ,so I’m very interested to see how different we are this season ,a good test and hopefully minimum 4 points .

  • Dave Mann says:

    Absolutely edd, four points minimum from these two games and were in the frame , six points and we mean buisiness so as you say these games were bannana skins last season and ones we through points away … Hope we get a ok crowd tonight as the price is only £15 adults and a fiver for kids but as usual ime not to optemistic , maybe get 17,000 plus but if we win and score two or three goals then Saturday against Blackburn may get close to 20,000.. WOW! KRO

  • paule says:

    All the armchair supporters must be saving their pennies for a day at Wembley!! If we get to the playoffs we’ll have 40.000 plus who will suddenly find the money for the day out, 17,000 tonight I think.

  • Lich Blues says:

    If we can get a minimum of four points from these two matches I’d be delighted. As Edd rightly pointed out the teams in the lower part of the league managed to stifle us last year so it will be a good test of our progress and if we are serious about making the play offs. When I left Deepdale last season I was shaking my head as to how we did not get 3 points. But having said that we have not beaten Preston for years so why was i surprised? Finger crossed that changes tonight.

    As for the crowds it is just so frustrating for me. There are no excuses any more. Our attendances are just woeful. Great away from home but St Andrews would be so much more intimidating with the stands full.

    KRO.

  • mark says:

    possibly getting turned over by the villians twice and still going up i take that……

  • Dave Mann says:

    That will do nicely Doctor , thanks for that ! KRO

  • WayCoolBlue says:

    Preston ant all that and I will not be happy with anything les than a win at home. If we are to make the playoffs we must win these games. So we should be going for 6 points from the next 2 games.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    I will be disappointed if Gary starts with the QPR team i.e. 3 defensive midfielders.
    We need more creativity at home which means Brown, Cotterill or Fabbrini starting and Stewart replacing young Adams who needs a breather.

    • AdamTrueBlue says:

      Have to agree, we can’t sit back and wait so that we can counter attack these weaker teams, this season we have got to show them that we have more to us than a one trick pony, and this season we have looked good when we have pushed forward, ok to get clean sheets but goals win games. I think it was Benitez that said I don’t care how many they score as long as we score more. kro

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Both Davis and Jutkiewicz looked shattered by the time they went off on Saturday. I have a feeling both may be given a rest tonight and Gleeson might be given the nod to start alongside Kieftenbeld. I think Stewart should come in on the right and maybe Donaldson back.

    I wouldn’t expect to see too much difference from this side… maybe Cotterill instead of Stewart.

    Legzdins – Spector Morrison Shotton Grounds – Stewart Gleeson Kieftenbeld Maghoma – Adams Donaldson

    If we have any pretensions of staying in the top 6, we need to be disposing of teams like this. Easier said than done I know, but we should be all the same. If we can keep the shackles on Makienok, I’ll go for a 2-0 win. I would expect a crowd of around 15/16,000 on a cold, wet, Tuesday September night.

    • jonno11blue says:

      No way should Gleeson be in the team. I wouldn’t have in my 18. All he does is go sidewards or backwards. Very rarely does he make a decent forward pass. As Tesche is still injuried should be Davies and Klef. Although Stewa5rd did well when came on against Sheff Wed wasn’t impressed with him on Saturday. I don’t know what Viv’s done wrong but it’s time he was back on the bench.

  • mark says:

    funny when we last played this team we were on a three match losing run, winning 2-0 donaldson at the double…..well it eneded 2-2 you guessed it they scored in 89th minute. 2 points divided us in the championship table at that time
    Well the table looks different now 9 games gone blues are five games unbeaten have played p9 16pts
    preston p9 9pts well on that note blues should on paper destroy this team.

    blues without a clean sheet in 10 games at home
    liLywhite have won 7 of their 10 games in all competitions

    but football is a funny old game is’t ……..

  • Gerrard hehir says:

    Love the stats guys. I personally dont over read into them. It all comes down to form for me. We just have to keep the same mentality. Pressure and quality in the final third. Shotton and morrison looks like a partnership from heaven. Keep it going lads kro

  • Come on blues .. it’s that time again , you no what to do ………..LIGHT UP…LIGHT UP … .

  • Andrew says:

    If we start with davis gleeson and kieft in the middle with Donaldson up front we won’t win or very lucky to. we need to attack these and play people like fabbrini in the middle. People talking about crowds and stuff well how do you expect to draw them playing no action square ball players.

    • Gerrard hehir says:

      Another anti gleeson then hey????? Most consistent performer last year. The don is in great form. I admit there not going to get into barcas team but there more than capable of doing a decent job for us.

  • Dave Mann says:

    By winning games and scoring goals which we’ve done in the last two home games .. Keep watching Andrew because Fabbrini is not to be seen for a while on current form , what do you expect ? KRO

    • Andrew says:

      No I don’t think you understand my point. I was just saying playing fabbrini is imo a key to making exciting football, winning or losing isn’t really a big entity as to why I pick and choose my games now and don’t have a ticket. We haven’t shown apart from a few more times this season we are growing as a team with identity. Blues have lost something, recently in some games they just seem like formalities and that’s not what I saw at blues when I first started coming, never knew what we would get but we always had some excitement even if we losing by 2 or 3. I’m just saying fabbrini is an unknown player like this I would like us to get back to, form wasn’t what I was considering, just from what I’ve seen he seems to be alright but then I haven’t seen him in every game. Blues are doing well your right but I’m just suggesting as to why there are still stay aways, as that’s my reasoning

  • Bluey says:

    Anything less than 4 points from the next 2 will be disappointing. They are crucial games. 4 or 6 points and i`ll believe we can stay in the mix for the play-offs. Let`s hope we don`t do our usual trick of being beaten by lesser teams.

  • swissjonny says:

    If we are going to be serious about the play offs its 6 points from the next 2 games. Lets see if GR can rotate his team in a positive manner.Come on you Blue boys!!!

  • Dave Mann says:

    Bluey , what you like ? Stop repeating what I’ve already said ,! Unless your agreeing with me god for bid . KRO

  • I may be wrong but i would have thought that playing two attacking midfielders in the first half to try and get 2 goals in front and then bring 2 defensive midfield players on when we reach that stage is worth trying .

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Quite a surprising selection tonight. Brown, Stewart and Cotterill in. Davis, Gleeson and Adams on the bench. Makes for a very interesting match I think.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Congratulations to GR on tonight’s line up. The most attacking team ever with Brown, Cotterill and Stewart all starting with Gleeson and Davis on the bench.

  • Mitchell says:

    GR tried to be bold but almost backfired. Cannot really get too down on this result as he did what most of us wanted-bit of variation and more attacking thinking. Blackburn will no doubt see a return of the old guard to add some steel with the Adams threat alongside Donaldson and the return of possibly Tesche.

  • KC says:

    Fantastic position in the league and great results based on performances which are very open to opinion…….

  • StaffsBlue says:

    We got a more adventurous team, a good attacking game, 4 goals overall and another point. I’m fairly happy with that. Preston were never going to roll over and have their tummies tickled.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    I do not think that playing Maghoma in a central position worked and he was much more effective out wide when Davis came on.
    Brown played well but was expected to play as an second striker, which is not his best position.
    Lukas was isolated up front until Adams came on and was excellent.
    Gary has some pondering to do regarding Saturday’s line up.

  • Bromsgrove Blue says:

    I thought we got rolled over in the first half by a Preston side who were combative and our midfield lacked bite. It was crying out for Davies to come on to protect our back four who were all over the place in the first half. Their opening goal was a comedy of errors which seem to happen in most games. It was obvious that the manager has to change the team which I thought he would have done at halftime but when it did happen Blues took control and fashioned enough chances to win the game. Overall a disappointing result in a game we need to be winning Hopefully we will come out all guns blazing against Blackburn on Saturday. kro

  • Mitchell says:

    One concern I always have is the situation regarding Davis. He is not a star nor an exciting player but imo I would have him in my team every time. Without him we look fragile like when Carsley was at times dropped out of the starting eleven. He and MK must be our backbone with Adams and Maghoma wide against Blackburn. If GR really wants to set about Blackburn(and why not), consider Jukey and Donaldson up top with the wingers being targeted to get dozens of balls into the box.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    I had my heart in my mouth every time Shotton was in possession. Tonight,, and with his mistake at QPR, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him rested for Saturday with Wiggins coming in at left back and Grounds moving inside to partner Morrison.

    • Mitchell says:

      Cannot really see Shotton being dropped Richard. He has been a success in the main so far,but if his form drops then it’s possible Robinson may enter the fray. What imo continues to dog us is that we really haven’t learn how to win ugly. That’s why against Blackburn,I would go Jukey and Donaldson up top. Give our opposition the thankless task of dealing with them with the darting Adams and Maghoma capitalising on wing space. Davis,MK ,Morrison,Shotton etc well capable of blocking the defence. Just get the ball in their box.Cotterill and Stewart from what I’ve seen look ok but not at the moment first choices to where we want to be.


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