Preston North End continued their incredible record over Coventry City as a 1-0 win made it 22 league games without tasting defeat against the Sky Blues.
Emil Riis grabbed the winner after missing a hatful of chances in the first half, and Freddie Woodman made a world-class save in the dying embers to ensure North End secured the three points.
We need to see the best of Riis
With Milutin Osmajic only two games through an eight match ban, and Will Keane on the sidelines for a few more weeks, Emil Riis will be the leading the line on his own for the foreseeable. It has been a tough start to the season for the Dane. but we know what he is capable of after his 20 goal season in 2021/22.
Injuries have disrupted his Preston career after that, but under Paul Heckingbottom he may be able to improve his game. He has spoken about the need to stay in the box and that’s where all his chances came from on Saturday.
He could have had a hat-trick in the first half, but luckily the missed chances didn’t have an effect on the game. Oliver Dovin made a fantastic save with his foot from a powerful Riis drive before he messed up a header after a glorious first time cross from Ryan Ledson.
Dovin kept out another Riis shot after some superb play from the team and the Dane was also booked for diving in the first half. It’s a positive to see so many chances created for him, and if it wasn’t for some good keeping he could have added to his tally.
Riis also spoke more positively about signing a new contract, and alluded to the fact that it is more likely now we have a new manager, casting further doubts on whether the players were happy under Ryan Lowe.
Does Whiteman get back in the side?
For me no. Ben Whiteman missed Saturday’s encounter after picking up five bookings already this season. Ryan Ledson came in for him, and also took the armband. The former Oxford United midfielder sat in the holding role with Ali McCann whilst Stefan Thordarson and Mads Frokjaer looked to support Riis.
Ledson was unlucky to receive a yellow card in the fourth minute after it looked as if he won the ball. He was always going to be walking on a tight rope after that, but it didn’t affect his game.
It was actually in the final third where Ledson was most impressive. His first time cross was placed on Riis’ head, and should have given us the lead. It made it look effortless but the ball was bobbling towards him, and the control and measurement of the cross was top quality.
Later on in the first half the 27-year-old played a lovely lofted ball with the outside of the boot through to Thordarsdon. The Icelandic international nodded it back to Riis who unleased a shot on goal. There was plenty of positive play from Ledson, and the midfield linked up well. He made seven passes into the final third during his 60 minutes on the pitch.
We attacked and defended as a team. Whiteman has struggled for form this season, and after Saturday’s display as well as the fine game in the cup against Fulham, Ledson deserves a run in the team.
Frokjaer key, Okkels and Bowler on the fringes
Mads looked like an instrumental part of the team on Saturday, and with the current formation he will be a key asset for Heckingbottom. The manager has realised this, and his range of passing, energy, and ability to find gaps both on and off the ball make this team tick.
He can be tough when you play with one striker not to leave them isolated. But Frokjaer and Thordarson pushed up very high on Saturday and Duane Holmes and Sam Greenwood can do the same job too.
Hecky has plenty of options through the middle and with Robbie Brady and Kaine Kesler-Hayden impressing of late down the flanks you have to wonder where summer signings Jeppe Okkels and Josh Bowler fit in. It gives us flexibility to change the shape but right now the out and out wingers aren’t getting a look in.
What a save
Freddie Woodman has endured a difficult start to the season. He is another player whose contract is up at the end of the season, and clangers against Sheffield United and Millwall have not helped his cause. It’s unclear whether Woodman would want to stay, but I don’t think his value is as high as when he arrived here in 2022.
There is clearly a good goalkeeper there, but his distribution and positioning does let him down sometimes.
Coventry only had one shot on target in the whole game, and it came in the last minute. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s cross found Bobby Thomas in the box and his thumping header looked destined for the back of the net.
Woodman dived to his left and managed to punch the ball out for a corner. He did superbly to even get to the ball, but such was the ferocity of the header, it seemed unlikely he would keep it out. But he managed that and diverted it away from any further danger.
It was one of the best saves I’ve seen at Deepdale for some time. The Town End practically celebrated it as a goal, and it should give Woodman a huge confidence boost.
We haven’t conceded a goal at home since the opening game of the season, so Heckingbottom has seen four straight clean sheets at Deepdale. Whilst we’re not perfect at the back, we’re managing to grind out these results, and the fans are well behind this team who are putting in 100% for this new management team.