Preston North End v. QPR (19 Oct: Championship - Match 14) [R]

[Atouk]

Preston North End -- 17th, 13 GP, 4-3-6, -1 GD, 15 points
v.
QPR -- 3rd, 13 GP, 8-2-3, +5 GD, 26 points
------
19 October 17:45
Deepdale
------

Rangers News:

Jamie Cureton is out with a hamstring injury -- projected out for two weeks. Dan Shittu is out with a knee injury -- not on his previously injured knee -- status for Saturday unknown, but out tomorrow. Marc Bircham is listed as 50/50 with an ankle injury. Ainsworth, Gnohere, Culkin are still out. Tony Thorpe is not likely to play, as they mentioned the Wolves game on Saturday as a possible target -- don't know if Cureton's injury means Thorpe at least is on the bench. Rose and Santos continue to nurse injuries, but seem likely to play.

The Opponent:

While Preston's overall start hasn't been impressive (17th in the table), their home form has been: 4 wins (Watford, Rotherham, Stoke, Crewe), 1 draw (Plymouth), 1 loss (Sheffield United). This will be a tough place to get points.

Their last six matches (most recent first):
A Leeds L, 0-1
A Leicester W, 3-2 aet (League Cup)
A Leicester D, 1-1
H Plymouth D, 1-1
H Crewe W, 1-0
A Mansfield Town W, 4-0 (League Cup)

The Series:

Rangers trail the series, 6-8-7.

I was there to witness the unfortunate scene the last time these two teams met in the R's relegation season from Division One -- the R's lost 0-5 at Deepdale after keeping it even at 0-0 through halftime. On-loan Brian McBride scored his only goal for Preston as PNE scored five times after the 50th minute. The teams drew 0-0 at Loftus Road earlier that season.

I have plans to be at the return match at Loftus Road in February, so hopefully we'll be able to exact a little revenge.

Before spending one season together (00/01) in the First Division, the teams hadn't been in the same division since 80/81. Their first meeting was in 1949.

The Referee:

Andy Hall gets the assignment. He's worked 11 games this year (only two in the Championship), issuing 33 yellows and 2 reds. He didn't work any QPR matches last year, but the season before he worked our 2-0 away win at Peterborough, our 0-0 away game at Oldham, and our 0-0 home game against Crewe (in which the R's had two men -- Kelly and Carlisle -- sent off).

[Atouk]

Soccer365 match preview (http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Match_Previews/page_127_82918.shtml)

BBC match preview (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3748870.stm)

BBC: Preston reject fresh Healy offer (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/3752822.stm)

[Atouk]

Arsenal's American-born defender Frankie Simek is set to sign a one-month loan (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~578072,00.html) with QPR and will travel with the club to Preston -- he could start, depending on the health of Santos and Rose. For more details, see the link or the Transfer News thread.

[Maczebus]

Going to this one this evening.
Am sitting with the Preston lot - but nevertheless I'm going.

[Atouk]

Going to this one this evening.
Am sitting with the Preston lot - but nevertheless I'm going.
Glad you'll be able to make it to another one! Hope it turns out like the last one!

Some more match previews/stories:

Holloway swoops to boost bid for history (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/football/articles/14130086?source=Evening%20Standard) - The Evening Standard

Rangers push for record (http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Premiership/page_99_82993.shtml) - Soccer365.com

Preston duo doubtful (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/04/10/18/manual_112940.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1) - sportinglife.com

Preston v QPR preview (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=232340&cpid=10) - Sky Sports

Loan move for young Gunner (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=232475&cpid=10&CLID=52&lid=&title=Loan+move+for+young+Gunner) - Sky Sports

[Atouk]

Preview on the PNE site (http://www.pnefc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchPreview/0,,10362~578321,00.html)

Lineups, according to PNE site (http://www.pnefc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10362~578486,00.html):
Day, Bignot, Simek, Santos, Padula, Rowlands, Bircham, Gallen, Cook, McLeod, Furlong.

Subs: Edghill, Rose, Bean, Branco, Donnelly.

If true, are we starting McLeod up front with Furlong? Or will Gallen move up front, leaving us with a Rowlands/Bircham/Cook/McLeod midfield? I'd guess the former.

And it seems that our heavy injury situation not only has new-signing Simek in the first XI, but Reserve Team/U18 player Scott Donnelly on the bench.

[Greddy]

I must say, this is the finest match thread that I've seen on BigSoccer. Good job.


I look forward to seeing how Simek performs. Hope he doesn't let you down.

[NY Stan]

I must say, this is the finest match thread that I've seen on BigSoccer. Good job.


I look forward to seeing how Simek performs. Hope he doesn't let you down.

It`s going to be tough with no Shittu, but the 1 think you can guarantee is that we`ll fight till the very end.....1-1 is my prediction.

[Atouk]

I must say, this is the finest match thread that I've seen on BigSoccer. Good job.


I look forward to seeing how Simek performs. Hope he doesn't let you down.Thanks. I do a similar thread for just about every match.

Hopefully Rose (on the bench today) and Shittu (not on the bench) won't be out long, but I also hope Simek shows well, too.

He can't have had too much training with the team, so I hope there aren't communication issues today. The guy he'll be playing with in central defense, Georges Santos, has been on excellent form of late (most seem to consider him the man of the match in last week's win over West Ham) and is considered pretty vocal, so Simek should be in fairly good hands out there.

[Atouk]

Match commentator confirms that McLeod, making his second start of the year, is starting as a forward.

[Atouk]

Goal Santos!!!!!!

Preston 0-1 QPR

Santos scores off of a corner from Lee Cook!

UUURRRRRR's!

[Atouk]

Damn, just like that -- a slip at the back for Santos and it's 1-1.

[Atouk]

Preston's keeper is substituted, seemingly because of some injury picked up after a collision with McLeod, although the commentators couldn't tell what it was and were surprised since the contact was a couple of minutes before.

[Atouk]

Santos got booked in the final 30 seconds of injury time. He was called for handball, but was booked for dissent after he rolled the ball away.

PNE 1-1 QPR
HALF TIME

[NY Stan]

It`s pretty nerve wracking...Mcleoud hit the bar, but Preston just shaded the half....as the scores stand we are 2nd....onwards & upwards.

[Atouk]

We're underway in the second half with no changes.

[Atouk]

PNE's Mawene is booked for a foul on Cook in the 63rd.

[Northside Rovers]

Come on you RRRRRR's.

[Atouk]

For Preston, Omar Daley came on for Graham Alexander in the 72nd.

[Atouk]

A would-be Preston goal has been waived off, but the referee has given a penalty. Simek gave the challenge, they say. Lewis took the ball and scored, but a penalty was given first, I guess.