Life after David Nugent started as North End retained the Jack Kirkland Memorial Trophy with a comfortable 5-2 win over local non-league rivals Chorley at Victory Park on Friday night; Karl Hawley scoring on his debut for the Lilywhites, but only after the home side's spirited display that matched their Championship counterparts for a spell in the first half.

It looked like it was going to be plain sailing for Rob Kelly and Billy Barr's side after the opening exchanges with Hawley opening the scoring on six minutes. The goal was created by a deft dummy from Neil Mellor who made space for himself in the left hand corner of the six yard box and hit a low shot goalwards. The Chorley keeper fumbled the effort and Hawley smashed home from close range.

The Lilywhites almost doubled their lead less than a minute later as Adam Nowland powerfully met a Jason Jarrett right wing cross, but only found the inside of the right hand post, with the ball ending at the feet of a Magpie defender.

Hawley saw another header blocked on the line by Priestley, the home side's keeper, from a Danny Pugh corner as it all looked one-way traffic, however, after a good spell of possession from the Unibond League side they grabbed a shock equaliser.

Firstly they were awarded a free kick 20 yards out, with a low shot being blocked by yellow shirted Pugh at the end of the PNE wall. The ball eventually found its way out to Moore, the Chorley number nine, who spun and half volley an effort from 25 yards out that ballooned off Sean St. Ledger's leg and looped over a scrambling Lonergan and into the back of the net with 14 minutes on the clock.

The home side were only level for four minutes; Sean St. Ledger making up for the deflection by restoring the visitors' advantage, a towering header from Simon Whaley's deep left hand corner over the top of Priestley in the net. It could have been three on 24 minutes, with Danny Pugh's shot blocked from 12 yards out by Brown.

It was 3-1 with eight minutes left on the clock in the first period with Neil Mellor grabbing his first of pre-season. It was a counter-attack from a Chorley corner. With Danny Pugh picking up the ball in the 'd' before releasing Whaley on the right. He fed Mellor, who dinked ball past defender, ran into box and finished low past Priestley into bottom right hand corner.

Five minutes later a knee in the back put an early end to Mellor's first run out of season, but in reality just three minutes before he would have come off with his team-mates who were replaced by a primarily youth team based side under the watchful eye of Director of Youth Dean Ramsdale at half-time.

It was 4-1 within a minute of the restart with Michael Conchie scoring on his debut in a North End shirt at senior level. Sam Hart made a good run on the left before feeding Aaron McCarthy in an inside left channel. He pulled the ball back across the six yard box where the youngster buried the ball from close range.

In weather more suited to the Deepdale Duck, the young North End side were not a physical match to their non-league opponents, but their pace and energy proved to be worth its weight in goal and on 67 minutes it was 5-1.

A free kick on the left by Sam Hart found all its way through the box to the back post where Chris McGrail controlled the ball well and viciously volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from a couple of yards out.

With 12 minutes left Priestley pulled off a superb one-handed save to deny Chris McGrail a second and the Lilywhites a sixth after a strong run from the inside right channel. Mike Aspin, who had a good half at right back, also went close with a left footed effort after appearing from nowhere onto a ball bobbling around the penalty spot.

The home side grabbed a consolation goal with seven minutes to go when Brown powered home a headed from Traynor's left wing corner from ten yards out, giving Chris Neal no chance.

First half line-up: Lonergan, Jarrett, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson ©; Whaley, Nowland, Dalby, Pugh; Hawley, Mellor (McGrail, 42).
Second half line-up: Neal, Aspin, Collins, Oldfield, Rogers; McGrail, Fairhurst, McMahon, Hart; McCarthy, Conchie.

Chorley line-up: Priestley, Brown, Bronham, Clark, Holdern, Howson, Cooney, Goodeve, Moore, Burke, Traynor.

Blackburn used their heads to give Paul Simpson a real headache just a week before the new season.

The Deepdale boys were outclassed in virtually every department as three headed goals - all from set pieces - gave Rovers victory in the local derby. And there was further woe as Neil Mellor was forced off through injury - meaning that with Patrick Agyemang also out for three weeks due to a knee injury, North End could be left with just two fit strikers as they head into the first game of the new season in seven days time.

Preston made the worst possible start when Youl Mawene gave away a free kick in a dangerous position and David Bentley's right wing cross was glanced in with the head by an unmarked Andre Ooijer with less than 60 seconds on the clock.

Neil Mellor, fresh from netting against Forest Green in midweek, was presented with an ideal opportunity to level just five minutes later, but he couldn't keep his shot down after Kevin Nicholls floated a dead ball over the last line of defence.

Rovers' fluent passing game kept North End under continual pressure but a rare mistake saw Stephen Warnock give the ball away under little or no pressure, and Nicholls was inches away from making him pay after his shot on the run bounced off the top of the crossbar.

At the other end, Henderson was called into making a good save from Bentley, tipping the ball round the near post from a fierce drive, but there was a moment of greater concern with the season just seven days away when Mellor fell under a challenge from Ooijer and required several minutes of treatment to his lower back. Though he battled on manfully, he was forced from the field with seven minutes of the first half remaining - replaced by returning injury victim Karl Hawley.

With North End's striker quota quickly diminishing, the pressure fell on Brett Ormerod to lead the line, but he couldn't convert from a tight angle having done the hard work in getting round the Blackburn backline.

A moment of minor panic ensued, just a minute before half time. Jason Roberts' attempts to shoot were snuffed out, but the loose ball fell to Warnock who cut back to McCarthy, and his powerful drive looked set to hit the back of the net but Callum Davidson got down well to block the effort.

Five minutes into the second half, PNE were once again caught out by a deep set piece routine. Gamst Pedersen's delivery was inch perfect, and with the Lilywhites' backline having switched off again, Samba powered through unmarked to cannon a header in off the foot of the post.

The second goal appeared to give the Premiership side the cushion they needed to really carve their authority on the game, and McCarthy and Savage nearly combined to fashon a third after a superb exchange of passes left Youl Mawene and Liam Chilvers trailing - the looping effort from former Welsh international Savage not quite accurate enough to catch out Wayne Henderson.

The arial dominance of the visitors continued to wreak havoc amongst North End's defenders, and once again it was a dead ball situation that led to a third goal on 56 minutes - Samba again heading home from point blank range after Gamst Pedersen's perfectly placed corner swung towards the near post.

Bentley curled a 25 yard free kick over the bar after Davidson was harshly adjudged to have fouled the tricky England squad member, and the same man was soon causing trouble again with a long range shot which flashed just beyond Henderson's far post.

Chances for the home side were few and far between, with Hawley not making the best of connections under pressure as he attempted to head Nicholls' cross past Brad Friedel.

The visiting supporters came in great numbers to see the debut of new multi-million pound signing Roque Santa Cruz, and they nearly saw him head yet another effort past Henderson just ten minutes after coming on as he connected well with a cross from fellow sub Brett Emerton.

Yet another headed chance came to pass when Nicholls continued his fine run of deliveries into the box, but the flag went up as strayed with both position and accuracy as he nodded over the bar from an offside position.

Rovers sub Paul Gallagher nearly added a fourth in the dieing minutes after a fine turn and shot, but his left footed strike only found the side netting.

PNE: Henderson, Alexander (sub Jones 74), Chilvers (sub St Ledger 65), Mawene, Davidson (sub Lewis Neal 74), Whaley, Sedgwick, Nicholls, Ormerod, Mellor (sub Hawley 37). Subs not used: Lonergan, Anyinsah.

Blackburn: Friedel, Ooijer (sub Emerton 46), Samba, Nelson, Warnock (sub Olsson 63), Bentley (sub Gallagher 74), Mokoena (sub Savage 46), Dunn (sub Tugay 74), Gamst Pedersen (sub Rigters 75), McCarthy (sub Santa Cruz 63), Roberts (sub Derbyshire 63). Subs not used: Brown, Khizanishvilli.

Attendance: 8,565


report from pne.com

A game in which we bossed for most of the game but just couldnt break the Norwich defence which did really well.

We had something like 15 corners in the game but all to often we put it right in to the keeper.

The two new boys in center midfield were top class Darren Carter getting my man of the match.

I reckon you had your best chance to go up last season...I can't see you dong a lot this year, but im generally wrong lol just my opinion.

I can see you point Hoopy mate i think our starting 11 is a decent one for this division but it's the strengh in depth that gets me worried but Simmo is working on that.

The new lad Darren Carter is a class act along with Kevin Nicholls our midfield is very sound

I want another striker and i will be happy

Why don't you buy David Nugent?

I wish we could mate but we dont have that kind of cash to spend but Nuge knows were his home is

Deepdale - the home of football

Paul Simpson has warned his misfiring forwards he could be forced to make another dip into the transfer market to find Preston a cutting edge.

The Preston North End boss has admitted he is concerned by the bluntness of his team in the final third of the field after only two games of the new season.

And despite believing his recruitment drive was over for the summer after welcoming five new arrivals, Simpson is now wondering if he needs to make it six before the window shuts in two weeks time.

"I was hoping that I would be very close to my ideal squad," he said, as the pain of Tuesday's Carling Cup embarrassment by Morecambe continued to bite at Deepdale.

"But I will always have to keep looking. If anything else becomes available that we can afford to bring in, we will try and do it.

"We will assess the situation over the next few days to see if we desperately need to do something."

Simpson was 'absolutely raging' after the powder-puff performance his team put on against the Football League's newcomers.

He threatened to swing the axe if things do not improve at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

But in his current mood he might chop some even before they have a chance to redeem themselves at The Hawthorns.

Latest signing Andy Carroll could now be pushing for a start, with fellow cup substitute Karl Hawley also laying a claim to a first 11 slot after livening things up when he got on against the Shrimps.

That leaves first choice strike pair Neil Mellor and Brett Ormerod looking anxiously over their shoulders ahead of the game in the Midlands.

And wide-man Simon Whaley could also feel his place is under threat after two tame performances in the past five days.

Simpson insists the malaise has not spread through the whole team. But a couple of changes now might ensure it is nipped in the bud.

"The (right) attitude is there," he said after Tuesday's defeat. "But it's not the whole group.

"We are talking about a few players who haven't performed right, who haven't gone about it properly

Preston North End can confirm that Graham Alexander is in talks over a move to Burnley.

Alexander is in the final year of his contract at Deepdale and is thought to have been offered the security of a two-year deal at Turf Moor.

The two clubs have agreed a £200,000 fee for the 35-year-old defender and the deal is expected to go through once the paperwork has gone through on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking about the proposed transfer North End Chairman Derek Shaw said: "I received a call from the Burnley Chairman on Tuesday, it came as a little bit of a shock that he was interested in Graham. We don't particularly want to sell Graham Alexander but he has the comfort of a two-year contract at Burnley whereas he only has one year here at Deepdale.

"We quite possibly would have renewed Graham's contract, he's a fit man. But we have got Billy Jones waiting in the wings, he's 15 years younger and hopefully he is one of the best prospects at right-back. We feel that it is too good a deal to turn down."

"It's a very sad day," Shaw told pne.com.

"Graham made his 400th appearance on Saturday and I'm really pleased that he achieved that landmark so that he will go in the record books.

"It's not just about the fee that comes in, it's a wage off the books and it is in the best interests of Preston North End to let Graham go. Graham also feels that it is in the best interests of Graham Alexander to get a two-year contract at his age so we wish him well.

"I'm a great fan of Graham's, we know what a great professional he is and we wish him well for the future.

"It's important for players at that stage of their career that they get the right deal for them. He may even get another year after the two-year-deal runs out, nobody knows but we have recognised that Graham wasn't getting any younger."

"We signed Billy Jones in the summer and had the tribunal last week, Billy is here champing at the bit to play and we feel that the timing is right to accept that deal.

"We aren't kicking Graham out of the door, I was on the phone to Graham beyond midnight on Wednesday night, we don't want him to go. But he's got the opportunity of a two-year deal and we weren't prepared to match that at this stage. We may have been begging Graham to sign a new deal at the end of the season but you have to make decisions in football and we have made this decision to allow this deal to go through."

How he was ever at Man United I don't know.

Wasn't that as a junior?? Seems half the Championship were former Manchester United juniors...

Yeah he was in the youth/reserve team, I suppose there's a large amount of young players outside the premiership that were at big clubs and just didn't make the grade when they hit a certain age. I know there's a few who used to play for Liverpool like Zak Whitbread, Jon Otsemobor, Neil Mellor and John Welsh.

also Richie Partridge...pretty sure he came thorugh LFC youth system

Chairman Derek Shaw has told PNE.com that full-back Michael Hart, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Lilywhites, will spend three days in the City to get an assessment on his hip flexor injury.

Speaking on Sunday, the PNE Chief revealed that Hart's club Aberdeen have agreed for him come south of the border so that Steve Kemp can get a scan on the injury and a full understanding of the tear.

"Michael will come down tomorrow," said Shaw. "We are very pleased that Aberdeen have consented for him to come down so that our medical team can have a look at the injury and work with Michael for a few days."

Hart signed an agreement with the Club seven days ago, but is not scheduled to join until July 1st, with the SPL side having failed to accept PNE's offer for him, but with his injury ruling him out for the Dons Jimmy Calderwood and Willie Miller have agreed he can spend time with Kemp and his staff to try and get his recovery on track.

Preston North End are believed to be giving a trial to American goalkeeper Matt Picken who is plying his trade for MLS side Chicago fire

Picken who has rejected a new contract is wanting to move over to europe in the hope of breaking in to the USA national side. Picken also spent a short time training with Norwich and if Preston do try to sign him could face competion from the caneries for his signiture.

Preston North End are believed to be giving a trial to American goalkeeper Matt Picken who is plying his trade for MLS side Chicago fire

Picken who has rejected a new contract is wanting to move over to europe in the hope of breaking in to the USA national side. Picken also spent a short time training with Norwich and if Preston do try to sign him could face competion from the caneries for his signiture.

Preston North End in the last 24hrs brought in two new players first was young defender Neal Trotmen who signed a 3 and half year deal for a fee of £500.000 from Oldham.

2nd through the door was the signing of Scottish full back Micheal Hart from Aberdeen Hart who signed a pre contract agreement a few weeks ago has now signed in this transfer window after weeks of wrangling over the transfer fee.

Norwich Preview

Today Preston North End tackle a resurgent Norwich city at Carrow Road as they continue their bid to climb out of the championship relegation zone.

The Whites head in to the game on the back of two fantastic wins against Derby County and table toppers West Bromwich Albion and will fancy picking up the points against a Norwich team in good form themselfs.
Preston however will take the field with 3 players suspended defender Youl Mawene was sent off in midweek after a 2nd yellow but is injured anyway January recruit and former Norwich striker Chris Brown was also sent off in the same game for 2 bookable offences and winger Chris Sedgwick is forced to sit out after accumalating 5 yellow cards.

Preston will look to field new £500k signing Neal Trotmen who should slot in to the side for the suspended Mawene also back should be midfielder Richard Chaplow and hernia op victim Billy Jones who played 70 minutes for the reserves in midweek.
Former Liverpool striker Neal Mellor will be given a chance up front with Chris Brown suspended and he will partner inform stiker Karl Hawley who has scored 3 in his last 2 games .

Steve020's team vs Norwich

GK - Andrew Lonergan
DR - Sean ST Ledger
DC - Liam Chilvers
DC - Neal Trotmen
DL - Callum Davidson

MR - Simon Whaley
MC - Paul McKenna
MC - Richard Chaplow
ML - Darren Carter

ST - Neal Mellor
ST - Karl Hawley

SUBS:
Chris Neal
Matt Hill
Brett Ormerod
Billy Jones
Joe Anyinsah

steve020's prediction

Norwich 2 vs 3 Preston

Written by steve020

Last minute winner for Norwich i think it was?!

Tough Break Steve.

Preston North End vs Coventry preview


This coming saturday Preston will tackle Coventry at Deepdale in a game Preston fans see as a must win. Preston go into the game of the back of a harsh defeat to Norwich in the last minute and will be looking to put that behind them infront of their own fans with a convincing win.

On the playing front for Preston things look a little rosier with the return of suspended trio Chris Brown,Chris Sedgwick,Youl Mawene. Also Preston can call up on new polish keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski who signed on a free transfer from Dundee Utd.

The only injuries are from long term patients Wayne Henderson and Micheal Hart.

steve020's Preston team to face Coventry


GK - Grzegorz Szamotulski
DR - Billy Jones
DL - Callum Davidson
DC - Liam Chilvers
DC - Sean ST Ledger

MR - Simon Whaley
ML - Lewis Neal
MC - Paul Mckenna
MC - Darren Carter

ST - Chris Brown
ST - Karl Hawley

Subs :

Andy Lonergan
Matt Hill
Richard Chaplow
Neil Mellor
Neal Trotmen

steve020's prediction

Preston 3 vs 1 Coventry

Colchester vs Preston preview

Preston North End travel to Colchester tomorrow looking to continue their recent good form which has seen them climb out of the relegation places.

The hard fought 1-0 over Coventry on saturday has given the players and the fans a massive lift and with manger Alan Irvine setting the team a target of 7 more wins to be certain of safety the players know that a win over fellow strugglers Colchester on their own patch will be a masive stride towards that target.

earlier on in the season Colchester handed the Whites a thumping ending in a 3-0 away for the U's and North End will be looking for revenge for which was one of the worst performances by Preston at home in a long time.

On the Team front for Preston things are looking rosey wit nearly a fully fit squad for Irvine to choose from and after the result at the weekend Alan may stick with the 16 that did the business and hope for more of the same.

Steve020's Preston team vs Colchester

GK - Andrew Lonergan

DR - Billy Jones
DL - Matt Hill
DC- Liam Chilvers
DC- Sean ST Ledger

MR - Simon Whaley
ML - Lewis Neal
MC - Darren Carter
MC - Paul McKenna

ST - Chris Brown
ST - Karl Hawley

Subs :
Grzegorz Szamotulski
Youl Mawene
Chris Sedgwick
Richard Chaplow
Neil Mellor

Steve020's prediction

Colchester 1 vs 3 Preston = Simon Whaley

wrtten by steve020

Preston's hopes of avoiding relegation were dealt a massive body blow on tuesday night after a narrow defeat to bottom club Colchester at Layer Road.

Preston for long periods of the game were the better side but the turning point in the game was the sending off of in form defender Sean St Ledger for Preston and giving away a penalty for a professional foul.

Colchester sub Scott Vernon dispatched the penalty to put the U's 1-0 and in the decendancy but Preston even with ten men managed to pull a goal back with Neil Mellor himself fresh from the bench blasting past the Colchester keeper moments after North End had a Richard Chaplow goal ruled out.
But as the game drew to a close and a draw looked the most likely result Colchester sprung a surprise on Preston and nicked a winning goal after poor marking allowed a Colchester player the room to smash a shot in pass the helpless Andy Lonergan with just 2 minutes of normal time left.

Preston tried in vain to get back on level terms but it wasnt to be and the chanc eto open a gap on the teams below them has gone and it will be a defeat that will hurt Preston.

Written by steve020
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Preston 0 vs 1 Portsmouth

Preston North End fans left the game bitterly disappointed with the result but so proud of the performance by their team and will be left full of optimisem for th end of the season.

The game on paper looked an away banker with Preston hovering above the championship relagation zone and Pompey flying high and fighting for a european place in the Premiership but for 90+ minutes Portsmouth held on for a point and if it wasnt for some world class goalkeepeing by David James and a some major luck and bad decision making at the other end Portsmouth would have left Deepdale with nothing.

The 1st half was mainly Portsmouth but without ever really threatning Andy Lonergan's goal but in the 2nd Preston had Porstmouth on the back foot with David James saving a poor Simon Whaley Penalty and another world class save from a Neil Mellor Special.

But in the dying moments Pompey won a corner and the inswinger was flicked on by a Pompey had missed by the on rushing Lonergan and Darren Carter smashed the ball into his own net to compound the heartbreak for Preston and send Portsmouth into the quater finals.