Preston North End 0-2 Doncaster Rovers:
AdvertisementPreston North End suffered an opening day 2-0 defeat at the hands of South Yorkshire outfit, Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
The npower Championship is one of the tightest leagues in football, therefore, it is always important to get off to a good start to get ahead of the pack.
However two goals in just six minutes in the first half for Doncaster from James O’Connor and James Hayter rattled Preston’s confidence, and for the rest of the match, could not find a way back much to the frustration groaning from the Deepdale stands.
Chances did come for the Lillywhites, though there were not clear cut. Tracey and Davidson both had chances, but no doubt the best one fell to substitute Joshua King who in a one on one opportunity essentially passed to the opposition keeper right through on goal.
It is clear that the Preston side of 2010-2011 require more time to gel on the park. Indeed it clear that the team is not quite a settled side as it shows on paper.
It is the same for all teams who make new signings but in Preston’s case, there was many reasons.
Teenager Danny Mayor was thrust into the starting line up having only been a squad regular last season. New signings, Morgan, Gray and Hayes all started on Saturday and there were late ones too. It was only in the past week that Darren Ferguson swooped for Darrell Russell, from Norwich and the loan signing of Joshua King, straight from Manchester United. It is too early to judge whenever the pair will be effective acquisitions in the team that Ferguson is trying to mould as his own.
However with games coming thick and fast, Ferguson needs to make his judgement, and a good one. The decision to drop tenacious Scottish midfielder, Paul Coutts, was a controversial one, seeing as he was one of the club’s most consistent performers last season after signing in January. His replacement, Russell, had only signed on the Wednesday just three days before the game, and had not had a fully fit pre season. A 30 year old with a fairly average career and not yet fully fit replacing a young and upcoming midfielder in the game? Questions to debate.
Here is hoping that the club can snatch something on Tuesday night away at Stockport in the Carling Cup. A win against a lower league team can lead to positive aspects in football. It could be a draw in the next round with a match against a Premier league team at home, always a motivating boost but more importantly, a win on Tuesday would hopefully boost the players back for the league again. Here’s hoping.