Preston North End succumbed to their ninth defeat in 15 games on Friday night, as a late goal from Jamie Paterson gave Swansea City a 2-1 win.
It was a predictable outcome after a turbulent week at the club which started with a 5-1 thrashing at home to Watford, and was followed by a controversial interview by Ryan Lowe which didn’t go down well with the fans.
The run of games over Christmas and New Year always looked a tough one that could determine Lowe’s future, and you felt Preston had to get something against Swansea to instil a bit of confidence ahead of Leeds United on Boxing Day.
A baffling team selection
Dai Cornell came in for his first league start for the club, with Freddie Woodman dropping to the bench after 68 consecutive league starts. Woodman has looked a shadow of himself in recent games, and Cornell made a great save in the first half. He couldn’t do much for either of the goals, but was nearly caught in possession when dallying on the ball when the scores were tied.
Ched Evans was selected to start up front on his own. The Welshman is our least mobile striker and is yet to score this season. Robbie Brady came in for Liam Millar for some reason, and after two goals in two games Will Keane had to settle for a place on the bench.
The lineup looked devoid of goals, and our best attacking options were all on the bench. All the positives from the opening 45 minutes of the Watford game were missing. and so the game went as expected.
Swansea were there for the taking
Swansea City aren’t in a good place themselves at the moment. After the sacking of Mike Duff this was just caretaker Alan Sheehan’s fourth ever game as a manager. Lowe sometimes gives the opposition too much respect, but that shouldn’t have been the case for a Swansea side who had experienced just two home wins all season.
With former Seasiders Charlie Patino, and Jerry Yates left on the bench, The Swans were hardly looking like posing much of an attacking threat either.
Yet it was The Welsh side who took the lead through Jamie Paterson after Brad Potts lost his man, Preston responded and finally started to attack. It shouldn’t have to take going a goal down, before trying to venture up the pitch.
It was no surprise who got us the equaliser, and from then on we should have kicked on and made some more attacking substitutions to put the pressure on Swansea. But we didn’t and instead conceded yet another late goal to go alongside similar setbacks against Cardiff City and Southampton this season.
How can Lowe not start Millar?
Unless it’s a fitness situation, Liam Millar simply has to start every game for us. It doesn’t matter who we are playing, he is our most talented player, and most likely to create a goal. The ever frustrating and disappointing Robbie Brady took his place on Friday. His injury late in the first half turned out to be a blessing in diguise.
Within minutes of replacing him, Millar was surging down the left beating his man and whipping in a cross for Duane Holmes.
Straight after Swansea scored, Millar was determined to get The Lilywhites back in the game. He took his goal superbly, cutting in on his right and curling it past Carl Rushworth. He very nearly replicated it shortly after.
If it wasn’t for Brady’s injury Millar would probably not have even been on the pitch at the time of his goal. All last season Lowe was crying out for a ‘maverick’, a player who could produce something out of nothing. Millar is that player and Mads Frokjaer could be too, but he’d rather play safe and defensive instead.
Players have to take responsibility too
It’s always the manager who gets the blame and ultimately loses their job, and whilst there is little left to back Lowe on, the players also need to be doing better. It was a silly no-look pass from Ali McCann that gave away possession in a vulnerable position for their winner. It was his mistake that cost us the game. The players should have better concentration at key times.
The goals we concede are all too predictable now. Only bottom placed Rotherham United have conceded more than us. We’ve let 40 goals in in just 23 games. Whatever brand Lowe thinks he plays, or if the identity is now ‘trying to win games of football’, the facts are that since 30th September when we lost 4-0 to West Bromwich Albion, we have the third worst form in the league.
Three wins, three draws and eight losses in that time. A minus 17 goal difference as well. That’s relegation form and it shows no signs of improving.
It’s hard to see how Lowe can possibly turn this around. He doesn’t know his best team, he’s far too defensive, and the relationship with the fans is toxic. Do Mr Hemmings and Mr Ridsdale see this though?