Preston North End banished the demons of Cardiff City with a comfortable 2-0 win on Saturday afternoon.
North End had been set to beat The Bluebirds in the reverse fixture in November before goals in the 96th and 99th minutes gave Cardiff a 2-1 win.
On this occasion though Cardiff could not muster any sort of comeback after classy goals in the first half from Emil Riis and Ben Whiteman. The evening would only get worse for any Cardiff, Rugby Union fans, as England would later beat Wales at Twickenham.
Riis definitely on the scoresheet this time
In the win against Ipswich Town last week it looked as if Emil Riis had scored his first goal since his long injury lay-off. It was actually however George Edmundson who had poked home an own goal, but this time there was doubting who got the finish.
Riis picked up the ball from his Danish counterpart Mads Frokjaer wide on the left, before cutting in and running past two defenders and hitting it home at the near post.
A change of sides before kick-off ensured Riis could celebrate this one in front of his own fans. A first goal since October 2022. It’s been a long road to recovery for him, but it’s great to see him in the side again. The partnership with Will Keane already looks strong, and Frokjaer will happily ping through those through balls for him to run on.
One of Frokjaer’s best games
Frokajer was a high-profile signing in the summer. When this club spends seven figures on a player they are expected to have a big impact. When they are brought in from outside of the UK and Ireland there is even more intrigue.
The Dane hasn’t had an easy first season with Preston, with Ryan Lowe not always happy with the defensive side of his game, and therefore not giving him a consistent run in the side. He admitted there’s been some tough love with the 24-year-old, but he is shining now.
Frokjaer has started the last four games; his longest run in the team since the start of the season when he was picked in the opening five matches.
Having him behind Keane and Riis is easy on the eye as it always looks like there may be chances. Keane is always in the right place at the right time, and Riis can stretch the defence. Although we didn’t create much against Cardiff, we were clinical with the chances created.
The second goal was a joy to watch. Whilst there may have been a foul on Kion Etete in the build up, the referee played on. Frokjaer, Brad Potts and Keane fluidly exchanged passes, before Frokjaer calmly picked out Whiteman to sweep home.
Frokjaer looked to be enjoying himself and this is the best tactic and formation for him to play in. He had three assists in his first 23 games. He now has four in the last three. He’s earned his place in the team now, and can really kick on.
0 corner, 3 shots, but 3 points
The first half an hour or so at Cardiff City Stadium looked like it would be another dour affair on the road. Very rarely do we take the game to the opposition away from home, but rather just try and stay in it for as long as possible.
However with our attacking players in a decent run of form, we are capable of counter attacking and punishing opponents. That’s exactly what we did on two occasions, and that put the game to bed.
The only other shot came in the second half when Frokjaer released Riis again with a perfect first time ball, and his scuffed shot almost found it’s way past Jak Alnwick.
Preston didn’t have to press for any more, with Cardiff struggling to muster up their own chances even after the introduction of Aaron Ramsey.
An enjoyable clean sheet for Woodman
Freddie Woodman picked up just his fifth clean sheet of the season, and he will have been happy to do it at Cardiff. The 26-year-old previously spent two seasons at Swansea City, and was getting some stick from the Cardiff fans early in the game.
Woodman could enjoy watching his side go 2-0 up though, and the former Newcastle United ‘keeper had a relatively straight forward afternoon. Cardiff’s efforts were all from long range and never troubled Woodman.
We haven’t seen our goalkeeper quite replicate the form that got him Player of the Year last time round, but each win and each clean sheet will breed more confidence. 10 points from the last five games is progress for this side, and we may be about to see a similar run to last season that gave us hope for a top six finish.
Everyone but Lowe saw this happening
Brad Potts has started 30 of the 31 league games so far this season. The only one he missed at home to Queens Park Rangers was because of suspension.
Of those 30 games he played the full 90 minutes in all but three of them. One of those was on Saturday, as he picked up a knock and had to be replace by Ali McCann.
Potts is in need of a rest, as despite the fantastic engine he has on him, that wing-back role is an unforgiving one. He will cover the most distance on that pitch I imagine, and he needs someone to come in and give him a rest even if it’s just off the bench,
Calvin Ramsay was meant to be that option, but injury and illness saw his loan move cut short, and he has now joined Bolton Wanderers on loan. No replacement was brought in.
Lowe has said Alan Browne and McCann can fit in there, but they would not do the same job as Potts. You need your wing-back to have pace, to make bursting runs forward, and make an impact in the final third. Browne perhaps can do that, but I don’t see that in McCann.
Browne also went off on Saturday, so he may not be able to fill in. The other option is giving young Josh Seary a chance. I have previously advocated this and after signing a contract extension last week, it could be the perfect chance for him.
After the game Lowe said Potts had a tight thigh or hamstring so I don’t think it would be a surprise to see him sit out the Middlesbrough game on Wednesday, and have him fully fit for the derby match with Blackburn Rovers.