Championship - Preston North End vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Shed on tour]

I always feel there is a match that is very important on how your season pans out. Last year the wins at Derby, Peterborough and Barnsley were huge but for me one of the most important results was the away win at MK Dons. We had been going through a bit of a dodgy spell including that game at Bristol Rovers and we really needed that win at MK. Tbh, we didn’t play brilliant that day but the 1-0 win just seemed to restore the confidence around the club and the fans as well and as they say the rest was history.
Only my opinion of course, but I just see today as a similar type of game. Win it and I can see us keeping up the chase for auto’s but if we lose,then I’m not saying it will be over, but will become very difficult.
Anyhow, the good news is I won’t be at the game today as tbh I think it would have been a bit too far for me to travel at this moment in time, so that has already increased our chances of a win!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Yeah - looking at the current form table (last 5 games) all of our rivals are well above us, and some that are nowhere near us too.

That's kind of worrying - we might not be losing many but we sure ain't winning many either. Compare our recent form against Leeds and Southampton and it's easy to see why they've made up on us what was a sizeable points gap.

Like AP, I will not tolerate anything less than a win today - whether or not we get one will be, I suspect, largely down to team and tactics selection.

[Ricco]

I agree, the performances against Norwich, OPR and Stoke were winning performances all day long, sometimes the footballing gods conspire to work against you, had we played poorly I would feel a whole lot worse tbh.

But what is making winning performances become draws or losses. Personally I think it's pressure/confidence. We had a swagger at the start of the season, now there's a bit of tension. That's why I thought the Maidstone game was a missed opportunity to get some swagger back. It doesn't take long for confidence to return, but it's made today super important. The teams around us have trashed us for even longer than that Rossi, last 10 games or so I bet they're miles ahead.

[Ricco]

Well last 7 matches anyway...

Southampton 19pts
Leeds 15 pts
Town 8pts

[marko69]

Keep banging on about post Brrrrovers game......., but try and get some of that faith back from last February. One win today and it is all back on track.

COYB's

[Andym]

I agree, the performances against Norwich, OPR and Stoke were winning performances all day long, sometimes the footballing gods conspire to work against you, had we played poorly I would feel a whole lot worse tbh.

I agree. By and large we have been playing better than the results indicate. I’m not convinced we will stay top 2 but we have played some good football and competed in a tough league. Still confident we will win today.

[Bluemike]

The simple answer as to why we "appear" to have dropped off a bit ........ "over achieving"

[Bluemike]

f**king Jackson

[mendipblue]

Disappointed neither Moore or Ali dont start 🫣

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

just seen the team, and I'm speechless - it beggars belief

[Cabanas Blue]

Surely 60 minutes for Moore and 30 for Ali its not rocket science, that's annoyed me, maybe one will get 10 minutes of we are losing, rant over

[Bluemike]

Jesus, the amount of Iraqi fans wishing us good luck on forums etc is ridiculous lol

[JohnnyB]

I don't mind that line up. Jackson is quick and the PNE defenders are slow. He'll run them ragged and then Moore will come on later. No Broadhead might raise eyebrows but he's not been on it recently and JS has.

I've got Moore down as first scorer late in game but as a glance at the prediction league shows - what do I know?

[Mariner67]

We have an amazing looking bench

[shabba]

Anyone struggling to tune in from abroad? Which counties are you viewing from if so?

[ashfordblue]

f**king Jackson

You just can't believe it we have two new fit strikers and we field Jackson

[Cabanas Blue]

Sarmiento just said be good to see them in the second half he was talking about the two new strikers

[marko69]

I don't mind that line up. Jackson is quick and the PNE defenders are slow. He'll run them ragged and then Moore will come on later. No Broadhead might raise eyebrows but he's not been on it recently and JS has.

I've got Moore down as first scorer late in game but as a glance at the prediction league shows - what do I know?

Yep, if Jackson is on it, having Burns, Chappers and Sarmiento feeding, should be ok.

[hallamblue]

I’d have had Axel in instead of Woolfie … we need to win these high balls into the box !

[Charnwood]

The team selection looks good to me. In form Sarmiento gets picked, and ghe two new boys who won’t as yet have trained with the squad are on the bench and will almost certainly get some game time.

Maybe we should worry more about the defence than our front line.

[hallamblue]

Cue obligatory soft goal - useless bloody defence! Same old sh*t every game

[arana peligrosa]

Doesn't McKenna know any other way than 4-2-3-1. Haven't won too many league games out the last 8 or 9, the spectacular start to the season just isn't like it used to be. I'd feature Broadhead or Moore to partner Jackson, never been in favor of a loan attacker, even if it has served as well as previous stages of a season.

The game could well be won for us in midfield as the key to victory probably lies in players like Burns, Chaplin and Morsy and the area they command. Would imagine names omitted from the starting formation, new kids and all, will get their opportunity at a later stage of the game. McKenna seems to have a plan or an idea what to do. Southampton have scored and now gone above us with Leeds or something. Hell.

[marko69]

Preston and St Mirren score in the 5th minute? One of those feckin days.

[Ricco]

Another Ipswich Town reject that goes elsewhere and scores for fun.

[hallamblue]

2-0 …. We’re a bloody joke at the back ! That’s game OVER!

[marko69]

2-0 …. We’re a bloody joke at the back ! That’s game OVER!

Still over 80 mins, Hallam. Don't leave yet.

[Ohiotractorboy]

What the world is going on?

[Bluemike]

Game over

[mendipblue]

Player of the month has scored 2....unfortunately both for Preston, with a deflection and a shot. Unbelievable 🫣

[Ricco]

I'd get Moore on now. You ain't scoring 3 with Jackson up there.