Will Keane proved to be the super sub for Preston North End as his two goals gave them a 2-0 victory over Bristol City.
A dour first half saw Ryan Lowe booed off yet again at Deepdale. But three substitutions at half time helped give Preston the edge in the second half.
Reminiscent of the Wigan game
Ryan Lowe has found himself under pressure at Preston before. Last season, after five successive losses and then a draw at Deepdale, Preston were losing at half-time to relegation bound Wigan Athletic. Just like on Saturday, on that day in February 2023, Lowe was booed off as he headed down the tunnel after the first 45 minutes.
You couldn’t see a way back from him at that point, but goals from Daniel Johnson and Tom Cannon gave The Lilywhites the three points.
There were many similarities with the win over Bristol City. We offered nothing in the opening half. The players looked uninterested, and the fans were bored. It seemed as if Lowe had 45 minutes to save his job.
He made three changes at half-time which paid off and Lowe lives to fight another day. After the Wigan game last season, we lost only one of the next eight games. Another run would do nicely.
For now the win papers over the cracks, but alarm bells must have been ringing for the likes of Peter Ridsdale and Craig Hemmings at half time.
First half tactics have to be knocked on the head
Leaving Milutin Osmajic isolated up front on his own does not work. Especially with no number 10 to support him. He barely had a touch of the ball. The 4-3-3 formation doesn’t work when the midfielders are so deep, and we are so void of creativity.
Liam Millar can only do so much on wing, and unfortunately for Duane Holmes he wasn’t having any luck on the right-hand side.
In the first half it was as if we were the away side. We were under the cosh, and Bristol City had some good chances. Freddie Woodman had his best game for a while making some decent saves.
We cannot set up like that at home. We yet again gave too much respect to the opposition, and a better side would have taken advantage of it.
Quite simply it was boring, and the fans are sick and tired of seeing performances like that. It’s been an arduous task watching Preston at times this season.
Keane and Riis a lively partnership
Lowe had to do something at the break. He took off Osmajic which seemed a bit harsh, and also withdrew Holmes and Alan Browne. A surprise to see Browne taken off instead of Ben Whiteman or Ali McCann but he obviously wanted them to sit deep and let Mads Frokjaer push up.
Emil Riis and Will Keane linked up superbly and were instantly causing problems for The Robins defenders. Oh how we’ve missed Riis’ direct running and his pace. He was stretching the defenders and finding Keane in the right places in the box.
Keane who scored in the opening day draw against Bristol City, had two great chances before he did find the net. One after a nice turn that was clawed out of the top corner by Max O’Leary, and another from a corner which he just hooked over the bar.
The opening goal was fortuitous for Preston. A long ball from Liam Lindsay was headed into no mans land by George Tanner and for some reason O’Leary came rushing out. Keane calmly took it past him before slotting in.
The second goal was via a great cross from Riis. Hit with so much power, a tap from Keane’s left-foot was enough to guide it home. After an impressive display from those two strikers, it would be hard to leave them out of the starting line-up against Leeds United next Sunday.
Keane is onto eight goals for the season now, which is impressive considering he’s had a few injuries himself. He’s averaging a goal every 140 minutes he’s played, and Riis maybe the striker he’s keen to play with the most now.
A needed boost for Frokjaer
The Danish midfielder has found it tough of late, being in and out of the team, mainly out. After a fine start to his career in the opening games of the season, it was as if he had lost his way. In truth he hasn’t been used effectively or in the right moments.
Playing behind two strikers is where he can be of the most use for the team. He can find the gaps, make the through passes and he’ll always back himself to have a shot on goal as well. After a disappointing last few appearances from Mads, it’s great to see him come on and have a positive effect on the game.
A first clean sheet at Deepdale this season
Remarkable it’s taken till January for this to happen. Woodman hasn’t replicated his form from last season, but as a team we’ve always looked vulnerable. We’ve too often conceded first at home, or let teams back into games when we’ve gone ahead.
Quite often it’s led to nervy finishes to games and late goals given to Southampton and Cardiff City are painful memories.
It’s also the first time we have won at home by more than a one goal margin. Fans could just about enjoy the last few minutes, safe in the knowledge that even we couldn’t throw this one away.
The defence will be glad for a rare clean sheet, but in truth Bristol City didn’t offer much of a threat at all in the second half. We’ll have to be at our best against a Leeds side intent on revenge next week.