Despite a strong first half, a collapse after the break saw Preston North End on the end of another thrashing under Ryan Lowe, as Watford romped to a 5-1 win at Deepdale.
There was a hint that Preston might have turned a corner with a clean sheet at Norwich City and a win over Huddersfield Town but shipping five goals at home confirmed there are serious problems afoot.
A good first 45 but chances not taken
Preston managed eight shots on target in the first half which is unheard of. In recent games against Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers we managed zero and one shot on target respectively.
The first half on Saturday was very open with chances at both ends. Unfortunately for us Ben Hamer had a great game in goal for The Hornets. He saved efforts that were destined for the top corner from Jordan Storey and Liam Millar.
Millar was the architect for the majority of our chances and it was no surprise when his burst of pace and cross led to the opening goal. It was a wonderful finish by Will Keane as his back heel flick ended up in the back of the net.
Watford had threatened though and they would draw level just before the break with Vakoun Bayo nodding in from close range.
An embarassing kick off
In the second half Preston were behind within 17 seconds after a truly shocking kick off. They overloaded the right hand side of the pitch, the ball was played back to Freddie Woodman who lofted it down that side. Not one player challenged for the first ball or second ball, and suddenly and an easy pass was played through to Matheus Martins who slotted away. Liam Lindsay was out of position and Storey was nowhere to be seen.
It was an awful set up, asking for trouble and it effectively lost us the game because within a minute of the second half we were behind and never looked like getting back into the game. If that is the manager’s decision to set up that way and leave us completely vulnerable at the back then he has to take the blame.
13 points from 15, 3 home losses in a row
After a fantastic start to the season which saw us flirting with the upper echelons of the Championship, we have been on a terrible run of form. Since a 2-1 win over Birmingham City on the 19th September, Preston have won just three games. Four draws have come in that time, but we have lost eight, and there have been some heavy defeats in that time too. We’ve conceded four goals to West Bromwich Albion, Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, and now five to Watford.
Extrapolated over the course of the season, it would give us 40 points which is definitely relegation form.
On each occasion Lowe has said we need to ensure it doesn’t happen again, but it keeps on occurring. We have conceded three or more goals under Lowe in 17 games now, in just two years. When we lose we get battered, when we win it’s by the narrowest of margins. It’s a recipe for disaster and it shows very limited progress if any at all since he took over.
We are very weak at the back, we are very poor in the middle of the park. We’re far too easy to score against, and the floodgates always seem to open after the first one goes in. Is it a tactical, thing or a mentality concern? One thing is for sure, Lowe didn’t help himself with his decisions on Saturday.
Substitutions didn’t have any impact at all
Lowe made a quadruple change at 3-1. Something needed to be done, but switching our best player in Liam Millar over to the other wing just to accommodate Robbie Brady was never going to be the answer. Millar was having great joy all game down the left, causing all sorts of problems and was the player most likely to get us back in the game.
He didn’t have as much success on the right, and the other substitutes didn’t alter our shape so it was just a continuation of being pulled apart on the counter attack. Watford were gliding through our team, and pretty much scored with every attack in the second half. There is very little confidence in this once stoic defence, and Freddie Woodman seems a shadow of himself as well.
Is Woodman doing enough to keep his place?
It was chalk and cheese between the displays of both ‘keepers on Saturday. 36-year-old Ben Hamer made some terrific saves and commanded his area superbly. Woodman looked hesitant, didn’t get near any of the five goals, and his kicking was very poor.
He was easily rounded by Bayo in the first half, before Jack Whatmough cleared off the line. Woodman seemed in two minds whether to make a challenge or stay back and in the end he didn’t do anything.
Any cross that came into the box wasn’t dealt with by Woodman, and I feel as if he could have done better for the second goal. He just seemed to fall backwards rather than making a dive to the side to try and stop the shot from Martins.
His goal kicks quite often go straight out of play and his kick at the start of second half could have done with some more power, as we might not have found ourselves behind so quickly after it.
Woodman was the player of the year last season, but he’s not delivering the same performances recently, and perhaps giving Dai Cornell a go could give the defence the metaphorical kick up the….. that they need.