Match Thread Preston North End FC - Coventry City Match Thread - Tuesday 9th Dec (22 Viewers)

[Diogenes]

The complacency that has developed in our fanbase is quite something.
Let's see what this team is made now theirs a bit of jepeordy on them, they'll either respond or buckle, I for one can see us blowing it from here.

We might fall away and I have a sneaking suspicion that will happen but its not a case of blowing it. If we do miss out it will be purely because our squad isnt strong enough to maintain the level of performance that our first 11 has demonstrated they are capable of.

Considering the level of investment in the summer Lampard has worked miracles to have us where we are right now. The thing i have noticed missing for quite a while now is the relentless energy that we had to blow teams away early on in the season. We seem to have lost that bite and have to bring in 2-3 bodies in January to bolster the squad.

If we are still well clear of 3rd when the window opens Doug has to get his checkbook out and gamble.

 

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[covcity4life]

You more concerned about 2nd over 3rd? If we get promoted and finish 2nd I look forward to you being devastated by it

Don't avoid it. Do you agree that the more teams gaining on us increases the chances of us falling out of the top TWO? Forget the title im talking about automatic spots.

Yes or no?

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Tonight showed us why our defence will cost us points over the course of the season. We've been converting with startling efficiency for most of this season so far but when we have an off day in front of goal, like we did today, we're not good enough defensively for one goal to be enough to win the game. They barely created anything all game and we still conspired to let them score with a man advantage. 1 clean in 10 games isn't good enough for a team who are supposed to be title favourites.

We looked solid first half, I know we needed to score a goal, but why didn't he leave it like it was for a while?

 

[SkyBlueDom26]

Don't avoid it. Do you agree that the more teams gaining on us increases the chances of us falling out of the top TWO? Forget the title im talking about automatic spots.

Yes or no?

If us and the team in 2nd win most weeks and teams below in 3rd/4th keep dropping points ill be more happy, pulling away from 3rd is more important than 2nd, why are you so obsessed with Middlesbrough. Obviously them losing and us winning is perfect but teams like Ipswich and Southampton dropping points is far more important

 

[covcity4life]

If us and the team in 2nd win most weeks and teams below in 3rd/4th keep dropping points ill be more happy, pulling away from 3rd is more important than 2nd, why are you so obsessed with Middlesbrough. Obviously them losing and us winning is perfect but teams like Ipswich and Southampton dropping points is far more important

They played derby though. There was zero benefit to Middlesbrough winning that match. Derby are not gonna be challenging for top 2

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Referees in this league are so consistently inconsistent and it gets worse each game. Wright desperately needs a goal but why is he always offside. We played well today on a very poor pitch but rubbish defending costs us again. We need a win Saturday to keep others at bay.

Thought overall tonight's ref was good

 

[SkyBlueDom26]

They played derby though. There was zero benefit to Middlesbrough winning that match. Derby are not gonna be challenging for top 2

Seeing a team in 3rd lose is much more important than second, let’s stay in the autos and pull away from the play off teams

 

[Ccfcisparks]

They played derby though. There was zero benefit to Middlesbrough winning that match. Derby are not gonna be challenging for top 2

Derby at that time were in 6th?

 

[covcity4life]

Seeing a team in 3rd lose is much more important than second, let’s stay in the autos and pull away from the play off teams

I don't dispute that. But you couldn't fathom why I was annoyed Boro got a winner Vs derby

Hopefully Derby do win tomorrow and stoke too. Would mean gap to 3rd actually widens from the weekend

And just to clarify if we finished second i would be over the moon but that doesn't mean I don't wanna win the league. In the rivals thread I record points gap to both first and second

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

What you think us leaking goals every week is good enough?

We looked solid today, first half, back 5

 

[SkyBlueDom26]

We looked solid today, first half, back 5

1 clean sheet in the last 10 is embarrassing for a team wanting the win the league, we have to tighten up

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

I thought Bobby Thomas had a good game tonight his passing has improved.

Haji Wright cost us the win, missed chances and poor defending, but you have to ask, why is he marking the striker.

Why wasn't he on the half way line? ( Frank?). They had 8 players up. We keep Haji on half way line, they keep 2 back

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

We might fall away and I have a sneaking suspicion that will happen but its not a case of blowing it. If we do miss out it will be purely because our squad isnt strong enough to maintain the level of performance that our first 11 has demonstrated they are capable of.

Considering the level of investment in the summer Lampard has worked miracles to have us where we are right now. The thing i have noticed missing for quite a while now is the relentless energy that we had to blow teams away early on in the season. We seem to have lost that bite and have to bring in 2-3 bodies in January to bolster the squad.

If we are still well clear of 3rd when the window opens Doug has to get his checkbook out and gamble.

If that happens, it will be a disaster..8/ 9 players gone, crowds fall off massively, Frank gone

 

[Warwickhunt]

Torp had two good chances and the GK pulled off excellent saves! Who do you think threaded the through balls for him to hit? Yes that right Bobby Thomas!

 

[quinn1971]

Don’t forget Sunderland were flying at the start of last season, stumbled into the play offs and still went up, said at the start of the season we need to be finishing at Least 3rd or 4th, We’re going up, autos or play offs

 

[CovValleyBoy]

We might fall away and I have a sneaking suspicion that will happen but its not a case of blowing it. If we do miss out it will be purely because our squad isnt strong enough to maintain the level of performance that our first 11 has demonstrated they are capable of.

Considering the level of investment in the summer Lampard has worked miracles to have us where we are right now. The thing i have noticed missing for quite a while now is the relentless energy that we had to blow teams away early on in the season. We seem to have lost that bite and have to bring in 2-3 bodies in January to bolster the squad.

If we are still well clear of 3rd when the window opens Doug has to get his checkbook out and gamble.

You are talking out of your arse mate.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt if you were at the match tonight ?

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

We might fall away and I have a sneaking suspicion that will happen but its not a case of blowing it. If we do miss out it will be purely because our squad isnt strong enough to maintain the level of performance that our first 11 has demonstrated they are capable of.

Considering the level of investment in the summer Lampard has worked miracles to have us where we are right now. The thing i have noticed missing for quite a while now is the relentless energy that we had to blow teams away early on in the season. We seem to have lost that bite and have to bring in 2-3 bodies in January to bolster the squad.

If we are still well clear of 3rd when the window opens Doug has to get his checkbook out and gamble.

Of course we’ll have blown if it we don’t go up automatically. We had 43 points and were 12 points clear of 3rd after 18 games ffs. It would be the greatest collapse in Championship history and would be an utter failure if it happened.

 

[Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue]

Not long back from the cursed Horcrux that is Deepdale. Yet another frustrating trip. If we can’t win there when top of the league and with them down to 10, when can we?!

No need for an explosive over reaction, win on Saturday and it’s a good point. Most of us would have written off Preston Away when the fixtures came out in June anyway! If we stay clear by 4-5 points after Christmas and add a couple of bodies in January, we should be able to do it. Other squads are starting to catch us up now.

Only had the benefit of seeing the offside goal once in real time and it looked like EMC was in line behind the goal, what did the replays and Sky say? TIA

 

[CovValleyBoy]

Of course we’ll have blown if it we don’t go up automatically. We had 43 points and were 12 points clear of 3rd after 18 games ffs. It would be the greatest collapse in Championship history and would be an utter failure if it happened.

Honestly are you 3yrs old ??

 

[shepardo01]

Not long back from the cursed Horcrux that is Deepdale. Yet another frustrating trip. If we can’t win there when top of the league and with them down to 10, when can we?!

No need for an explosive over reaction, win on Saturday and it’s a good point. Most of us would have written off Preston Away when the fixtures came out in June anyway! If we stay clear by 4-5 points after Christmas and add a couple of bodies in January, we should be able to do it. Other squads are starting to catch us up now.

Only had the benefit of seeing the offside goal once in real time and it looked like EMC was in line behind the goal, what did the replays and Sky say? TIA

Off
Very tight - but correct decision.

 

[Legia Sky Blue]

Mate hughes is a much better defender than Thomas, wins everything in the air and can actually pass the ball to someone in his shirt, Bobby is great when it comes to goals for us but he’s shakey, hughes will be playing for England at some point, can’t see Bobby though. Just pay what they want for him, or a prem club will and we’ll be massively regretting it

Thomas is much better than Hughes in the air! You are slating our defence for leaking goals but ignore the many more goals the Hull defence have been conceding which he has been party to. I appreciate highlights are not necessarily definitive and can be a bit misleading, but in the highlights showing the goals Hull have conceded this season he has looked poorer than our defenders you have been slagging off.

Having said all that he did play well in the season opener and he is clearly highly thought of. It looks like he is a very good passer too, but at the moment we would be buying potential rather than the finished article, and potential doesn't always work out. If FL thinks he can make the difference though then he has deserved to have his judgement backed. Will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

 

[fernandopartridge]

The equaliser is just such a terrible goal to concede, why does Da Silva not engage the crosser earlier? He's got to do more to stop that cross coming in.

 

[Adge]

Just on the way back-a frustrating evening really. Needed to put it to bed but a combination of a crap pitch, wastefulness in front of goal, an inability to pull the trigger when in and around the box and an excellent goalkeeper kept us at bay. Can’t believe some of the stick Wright is getting-he missed a couple of chances but on the whole played well. Looked like Rudoni and JDS were slow to close down from where we were and then didn’t really see who/what happened in the box apart from the net bulging for the equalizer.
Only one thing now to put that to bed is take the point and get the 3 on Saturday.

 

[sc1940]

Yeah but if he could only head a ball.

Haji was pushed in the back by their no.14 for the headed chance he missed.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Haji was pushed in the back by their no.14 for the headed chance he missed.

View attachment 47645

I'd be stunned if a penalty was awarded for that

 

[sc1940]

I'd be stunned if a penalty was awarded for that

I deliberately didn't say it should have been as penalty, although I've seen them given for a push in the box. But my post was responding to a poster saying if only he could head a ball, not as easy as it looked when being flattened from behind.
Edit: the Sky highlights give a better view of it, but I couldn't freeze the frame.

 

[Skybluekyle]

Just got home. My word there is far too much negativity here. Coventry or not, Preston is a difficult place to go for anyone in this league, they're no mugs. A tad one dimensional in attack, and bore the living pants off of you with their, let's say, "game management", but effective, especially at home.

We've just played two really tough games in a row, with a bit of patchwork required due to the thinness of the squad, and I think we played fairly well in both. Nothing to suggest the wheels have fallen off. We win on Saturday, we start looking up again.

Gives yourselves a break people!

 

[SkyblueTexan]

Watched the replay and was disappointed for letting in such a poor goal. Thought Wright was wasteful with the few chances he got and should’ve done better. He’s still not up to speed and thought he got outmuscled for the equalizer. Boro are gaining ground on us which is a worrying sign. BTA is such a huge miss.

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

Off
Very tight - but correct decision.

He was offside , people are constantly having a go against officials on here but the linesman got that spot on.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Plainly we haven't blown it, but I don't want to see complacency like that again.

Complacency from who?