Preston v Saints - Saturday 3pm

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Feels like an age since we last played a team in the bottom half. Have to be ruthless in this one from the off. Cannot afford to be dropping points against teams in the bottom three. Expect a tough physical battle against a team full of cloggers. One last effort before the international break.

[SouthWalesSaints]

Next two games are against the bottom 2, 6 points and we’re likely to be in or a point of the automatics.  Something that we’d have snapped peoples hand off for. 
 

Decent following heading north. Already sold 2600. Was there tonight, thought second half we looked a proper team.  
 

Scienza for Edozie, Dobbin for DM and I’d leave the rest as is, personally. 

[AlexLaw76]

Wellington, Leo (if fit), Dobbin to come in.

 

[Harry_SFC]

Peretz, Bree, Stephens, Schlotterbeck, Welington, Downes, JWP, Azaz, Scienza, Matsuki, Dobbin 

[Football Special]

6 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Next two games are against the bottom 2, 6 points and we’re likely to be in or a point of the automatics.  Something that we’d have snapped peoples hand off for. 
 

Decent following heading north. Already sold 2600. Was there tonight, thought second half we looked a proper team.  
 

Scienza for Edozie, Dobbin for DM and I’d leave the rest as is, personally. 

Agree 2nd half we were impressive, need to carry that on

Talking to other fans there seems quite a bit of complacency,  "at least we're playing Preston Saturday"

Yet our two defeats this season have come away at teams who are 19th and 20th in the league currently 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

Agree 2nd half we were impressive, need to carry that on

Talking to other fans there seems quite a bit of complacency,  "at least we're playing Preston Saturday"

Yet our two defeats this season have come away at teams who are 19th and 20th in the league currently 

Yep need to go all in on this. Already dropped points to Lincoln, Watford and Wrexham.

Edited yesterday at 10:15 by JohnnyShearer2.0

[Football Special]

Is Downes now one booking away from a suspension?

I expect he'll pick one up vs Preston, miss the Derby game then be back for the more physical contests against Sheff Utd and Middlesbrough 

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

Agree 2nd half we were impressive, need to carry that on

Talking to other fans there seems quite a bit of complacency,  "at least we're playing Preston Saturday"

Yet our two defeats this season have come away at teams who are 19th and 20th in the league currently 

2nd half was a cracking game, i like how we're not being bullied these days, we've been very soft in previous years but we've got players who like a physical battle and also bollock each other when things are going wrong. 

Agree about the complacency, 8 of our 14 games have seen 5 wins and 3 draws, the other 6 against the bottom 12 have been 2 wins, 2 draw and 2 losses. 

[Harry_SFC]

4 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Is Downes now one booking away from a suspension?

I expect he'll pick one up vs Preston, miss the Derby game then be back for the more physical contests against Sheff Utd and Middlesbrough 

Yes Downes is on 4 as is Manning. Manning obviously not such a worry when we've got Welington who's a better defender anyway.

You're right, would make sense to commit a nice innocent 89th minute shirt pull. 

[saintant]

58 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Is Downes now one booking away from a suspension?

I expect he'll pick one up vs Preston, miss the Derby game then be back for the more physical contests against Sheff Utd and Middlesbrough 

I was half expecting Tonda to replace him with Bragg when he got booked. He'd been raging all match due to his clear frustration at our very poor first half performance and looked to be a red card waiting to happen.

[Jack]

13 minutes ago, saintant said:

I was half expecting Tonda to replace him with Bragg when he got booked. He'd been raging all match due to his clear frustration at our very poor first half performance and looked to be a red card waiting to happen.

I noticed that too. I like it though, he went absolutely mental at Manning for terrible positioning and putting us in the shit. Great to see they’re holding each other to account 

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

Yes Downes is on 4 as is Manning. Manning obviously not such a worry when we've got Welington who's a better defender anyway.

You're right, would make sense to commit a nice innocent 89th minute shirt pull. 

Or just tell the ref that he's a twat towards the end of the game... A much more satisfying way of doing it

[Miltonaggro]

Great timing for this one I feel. Need to replicate last year's convincing 1-3 win, and I think we will do this but with Dobbin scoring for the winning side this time.  PNE 0 SFC 3, into the international break in a cracking position. 

[SNSUN]

The only game Preston won this season was their 2-1 win vs Blackburn with ex-Skate Lang scoring twice from headers, but even in that game they had very little possession and were fighting to hold on to their win. A quick read of their forum shows how bad things are up there. We absolutely need to take advantage of this and pick up a win. We're good enough now to beat teams that fight for their lives. A win going into the International break would be huge for preparations within the two week break, getting players back fit and so on. 

Strongest team available please Tonda - and for Gods sake attack. Part of the reason WBA were so dominant in the first half yesterday IMO was because we offered almost nothing in attack. Attack is the best form of defence and it showed in the second half when we really started to threaten. 

If this was at home, I'd almost guarantee 3 points, the fact it's at Deepdale means there is a mild element of worry but even so, we need to do the business if we want to finish top 2. We can't keep slipping up against teams who are in Preston's position. 

Peretz, Bree, Jack, Schlott, Manning, JWP, Downes, Matsuki, Azaz, Leo, Dobbin although I have an inkling Tonda might tinker slightly. 

[markr27]

Suspect he might take Mubama, Matsuki and Manning out for Dobbin, Wellington and Fellows (Leo if fit).

[John B]

9 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Peretz, Bree, Stephens, Schlotterbeck, Welington, Downes, JWP, Azaz, Scienza, Matsuki, Dobbin 

Wood needs a game

[Barton Saint]

I am really looking forward to this one with hopefully a good away support urging the team on; be good to have an update on tickets sold on Friday let’s treat it like a cup game!

[Pamplemousse]

We need to start like we did at West Ham. All out attack, all guns blazing, two early goals and the fans will start turning on their team.

[OneMrsWallace]

Should be a comfortable win, whatever the starting line up. Trust the process (And buy a striker in January FFS 🤣)

[petermcpete]

Have 1 spare ticket for Preston - for sale, £25 (face value £32).

Gis a shout if interested.

Cheers

[Wade Garrett]

Play our best team.  Everyone is getting a break afterwards.

 If Larin is still out, Dobbin has to start.  Mubama did nothing last night to enhance his reputation.  Maybe Tonda sees something in him, I don’t know.

The game won’t be a pushover though.  I’m sure the team will go in with the right attitude.

There is fuck all remotely interesting about Preston.  The Mormons first overseas mission was there apparently.  I think they chose the town because of the low IQ of the residents and thought they might be able to make them believe their total shite.  Good choice to be fair.

[Whitey Grandad]

23 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Play our best team.  Everyone is getting a break afterwards.

 If Larin is still out, Dobbin has to start.  Mubama did nothing last night to enhance his reputation.  Maybe Tonda sees something in him, I don’t know.

The game won’t be a pushover though.  I’m sure the team will go in with the right attitude.

There is fuck all remotely interesting about Preston.  The Mormons first overseas mission was there apparently.  I think they chose the town because of the low IQ of the residents and thought they might be able to make them believe their total shite.  Good choice to be fair.

Their bypass was Britain's first motorway. 

Apart from that I've got nothing. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

38 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Their bypass was Britain's first motorway. 

Apart from that I've got nothing. 

That's a good one, I think they may also have the biggest bus station in the country, handy if you're trying to get out of the place...and onto that bypass.

Tbf, they've got a decent statue of 'Sir' Tom Finney, took a snap when up there end of last season.

Edited yesterday at 20:39 by TheAlehouseBrawlers
added 'Sir', respect

[Mboto Gorge]

Get an early goal and we will be fine. Our issues in these sort of games arise when we don’t score early against a team intent on stifling us and sitting back. Wrexham away springs to mind this season. 

[Jack]

19 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Get an early goal and we will be fine. Our issues in these sort of games arise when we don’t score early against a team intent on stifling us and sitting back. Wrexham away springs to mind this season. 

You say that, in a lot of the games that they’ve actually scored in, they’ve been ahead and then fucked it up. We should fancy it and go for the throat even if we go behind, they’re dreadful 

[JSpeake]

Surely the Mubama experiment is over now. He’s been given minutes and it’s clear he isn’t the finished article, but we can’t afford to lose points turning him into the real thing, just for City to take him back (no option to buy). We spent £9m on Dobbin, who looks about to break into a good run of form - give him the minutes not Mubama.

[Jaime]

11 hours ago, Football Special said:

Is Downes now one booking away from a suspension?

I expect he'll pick one up vs Preston, miss the Derby game then be back for the more physical contests against Sheff Utd and Middlesbrough 

I have been looking for a post that mentions this prospect as it sprung to mind ladt night. Downes certainly needs to pick up a booking in the next 2 games to be available for Boro and Wolves. He doesn't seem capable of going the next 4 games without picking up a yellow 

[Mboto Gorge]

1 hour ago, Jack said:

You say that, in a lot of the games that they’ve actually scored in, they’ve been ahead and then fucked it up. We should fancy it and go for the throat even if we go behind, they’re dreadful 

Yep, they’re terrible, currently about as bad as Sheff Wed were last season. It’s just me I can’t shake this Saintsy feeling sometimes even though this is the most together, mentally and physically strong squad we’ve had in years. So maybe I need to have more faith that this will, and should, be a comfortable win. Here’s hoping 

[Andy Hill]

A potential banana skin for sure. It would be typical Saints to make a mess of this .

[Roo1976]

21 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

A potential banana skin for sure. It would be typical Saints to make a mess of this .

just like Lincoln and Bolton..............

[musesaint]

7 minutes ago, Roo1976 said:

just like Lincoln and Bolton..............

And Watford? 

[suewhistle]

2 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Their bypass was Britain's first motorway. 

Apart from that I've got nothing. 

Fulwood Barracks.. my gran worked there during WW1 sending out telegrams, and briefly playing football, but gave up because of the early morning training. She mentioned the local team Dick, Kerr Ladies and said they were very well dressed (good factory wages) "but then they opened their mouths", and she gave a little shudder.. 🙂

[hypochondriac]

17 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Wellington, Leo (if fit), Dobbin to come in.

 

Personally I'd play Manning and encourage him to get his yellow to get his ban out the way before Boro.

[hypochondriac]

Longest unbeaten streak in the league now along with the skates. Need to win this one to cap a decent period.

[Willo of Whiteley]

We must go full strength for this, none of this rotation bollocks. 

Kill the game off in the first half for once.

[Pilchards]

Go at it from the off.

Got an amazing chance to win the next two games and then play the cry babies on the 27th for the leadership.

Already the atmosphere for that game is going to be crazy with the late kick off.

[SouthWalesSaints]

Peretz 

Bree Stephens Slotterbeck Manning

JWP Downes 

Matsuki Azaz Scienza 

Dobbin 

Play the strongest available team, win the game set us up for the next run of games right in the mix. 

[Sheaf Saint]

31 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Peretz 

Bree Stephens Slotterbeck Manning

JWP Downes 

Matsuki Azaz Scienza 

Dobbin 

Play the strongest available team, win the game set us up for the next run of games right in the mix. 

Absolutely this. 

We don't have a game for another two weeks after this one, so there's no need to rotate or keep anyone fresh. 

The more this 11 plays together, the better it will get. And then, once fit, it's down to Jander and Larin to force their way back in. 

[Toadhall Saint]

No complacency. Play the way we did 2nd half against WBA and we will win.

[Badger]

4 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

No complacency. Play the way we did 2nd half against WBA and we will win.

Definitely. Need to come out of the traps straight away, no sitting back and letting them settle to build confidence.

Plus factor, is at least Dobbin knows where the goals are at Deepdale. 
 

 

[explorer saint]

10 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Longest unbeaten streak in the league now along with the skates. Need to win this one to cap a decent period.

We beat them so surely ours is better ? 

[Football Special]

28 minutes ago, explorer saint said:

We beat them so surely ours is better ? 

Skates had extra rearranged fixture away to Wolves so both sides are currently 6 unbeaten 

[AlexLaw76]

Got to be winning this.

2-0 away win.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

We need to start this in the same manner as West Ham away. If they concede early they’re very unlikely to have quite the same response as the cockneys, could be dead and buried by halftime.

No need to then ease up second half with the International break to follow, pick up a couple of strategic yellow cards and then give plenty of fresh legs a run out.

0-0 it is then…………

[Cabrone]

IMO it may not be as one sided as many think. They will park the bus and then some. If they can hold us long enough frustration will grow and they will look for a lucky break. 

If we can puncture them early on a big score could be on but we might need to be patient, an 11 man defence is never easy to get around whoever it is.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

20 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

IMO it may not be as one sided as many think. They will park the bus and then some. If they can hold us long enough frustration will grow and they will look for a lucky break. 

If we can puncture them early on a big score could be on but we might need to be patient, an 11 man defence is never easy to get around whoever it is.

Plus they are quite a physical side. Bound to try and rough up a few. 

[Toadhall Saint]

36 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

IMO it may not be as one sided as many think. They will park the bus and then some. If they can hold us long enough frustration will grow and they will look for a lucky break. 

If we can puncture them early on a big score could be on but we might need to be patient, an 11 man defence is never easy to get around whoever it is.

The parking of the bus is the bit that concerns me most. We all know a well drilled defensive team can cause any opposition a problem. Our wide players need to have their heels on the touch line to create the gaps in field.

[skintsaint]

17 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Their bypass was Britain's first motorway. 

Apart from that I've got nothing. 

First ever KFC in Europe opened in Preston.

[Badger]

8 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

First ever KFC in Europe opened in Preston.

And Jacket Potato place as well I think 

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, Cabrone said:

IMO it may not be as one sided as many think. They will park the bus and then some. If they can hold us long enough frustration will grow and they will look for a lucky break. 

If we can puncture them early on a big score could be on but we might need to be patient, an 11 man defence is never easy to get around whoever it is.

100% this. If you look at their home results most of their losses have been by one or two goals. Certainly not a spanking and historically we are poorer against worst teams that want to defend and not get beaten. This could very easily be a loss or draw.