Preston North End and Hull City played out an entertaining 0-0 draw on Saturday. With both teams in the hunt for a play-off spot, there was a lot riding on this fixture, and The Lilywhites and The Tigers showed there isn’t much between the teams, with the play-off race set to go the wire.
Neither side could manage to break the deadlock, but it was an end-to-end game, with some great individual performances in each team.
Familiar territory
After an impressive run since losing to Leeds United on the 20th January, Preston have managed to catapult themselves back into the play-off picture. We’ve been here before though. We had a good run under Ryan Lowe last season, before collapsing in April. Alex Neil also gave us hope during his tenure.
A defeat to Millwall last season at The Den felt like a turning point. The Derby County fixture under Neil where Alan Browne missed a penalty before Tom Lawrence scored a free-kick for The Rams is still haunting. This fixture felt like it could have been pivotal.
We approached the game as a team full of confidence though, and rightly so after a fantastic display against Coventry City the week before. Hull were a tough opposition but we didn’t sit back, neither team did.
It was a fascinating watch but ultimately on the day the defenders were the winners, with a strong rear-guard performance from both sides.
Liam Lindsay – immense
Hull City came into the game missing former North Ender Liam Delap, whilst Aaron Connolly was also unavailable. It meant on loan attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho played in a false-nine position. With no natural striker to mark in the box, it meant Liam Lindsay had to aware of late runs into the box, and plenty of crosses and attempted through balls from the wingers and midfielders.
Lindsay was on the end of everything though, limiting The Tigers to mainly attempts from long range. The Scottish defender made three block, seven clearances, four interceptions, and two recoveries. Whilst the whole defence played their part, Lindsay in particular was key to the clean sheet.
McCann’s best game for Preston?
Ali McCann is in his third season at the club now. The centre of midfield has always been a competitive position in that time. Ben Whiteman and Alan Browne have been two of the first names on the teamsheet when fit. Ryan Ledson has played his part in the last few seasons, whilst Mads Frokjaer is undroppable at the moment.
McCann is probably the closest player we have to filling the Ben Pearson void, but he has never managed to put together a sustained run of form across a season. He can go missing in games, but he does have the energy to break up play and pressurise the opposition.
That’s exactly what he did on Saturday. McCann was everywhere on the pitch, disrupting play, and recovering the ball for Preston 11 times. He also made seven passes into the final third, and the Northern Ireland international can be very happy with his performance.
Woodman back to his best
Freddie Woodman has now picked up back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season. After shutting out Coventry last week, he was on hand to deny Carvalho, and Jaden Phiologene-Badace ensuring Hull would also be denied a goal.
After a rocky patch over winter which saw Woodman not looking himself and being dropped for the away game at Swansea City, he has now rediscovered the form which won him the Player of the Year award last season.
After just three clean sheets between August and December, Woodman now has four in his last eight games. His confidence is back, and he is making some great saves. That gives his defenders more belief as well, and it is no coincidence that Lindsay, Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes have looked solid of late too.
Another decision goes against us?
With Preston pushing for a goal in the second half, some good work from Liam Millar and Frokjaer saw Emil Riis with space in the box. He saw an effort saved by Ryan Allsopp but the ball ran loose. Will Keane strived to get there, but replays show his shirt was pulled and he was hindered from getting there.
The referee played on, but you have certainly seen moments like that been given as penalties in the past. It would have been a huge decision to give with the game on a knife edge, and Lowe has come out and said it’s another key decision that has gone against us, believing it to be the 11th of the season.
It could prove vital, with the table looking so close at the moment. Regardless of the referee’s performance,. Preston should take courage from a good display against another good team, and they should have no fear heading into an away game with Southampton on Wednesday.