Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers played out an entertaining 0-0 draw on Sunday lunchtime. Chances were at a premium for both sides, and whilst the goalmouth action didn’t take the headlines, the tasty challenges did.
Greenwood’s red
The game was on a knife edge in the first half. It felt as if one goal would win this game, and it could end up being a screamer or a deflected shot. Both teams were struggling to penetrate the defence, but they weren’t shy from getting stuck in.
Sam Greenwood had shown in the game against Middlesbrough that he isn’t afraid of a 50/50 and he had already had a little scuffle with Blackburn full-back Owen Beck in the first half hour of the game.
Shortly before half time he flew into a challenge on Lewis Baker and at first it looked like he won the ball fairly. The Rovers reaction suggested otherwise though and they quickly surrounded the referee.
A red was brandished and Preston faced a huge battle on their hands to get something out of the game now. Watching back the replays you can understand why it was a red rather than a yellow, with Greenwood’s trailing leg chopping Baker in a scissor action. Perhaps a few years ago that would have been a yellow, but it was a needless challenge nonetheless. He showed a bit too much fire in his belly, but he will learn.
The difference between Heckingbottom and Lowe
Now aside from the incredible comeback against Sheffield United early into Ryan Lowe’s tenure as Preston manager which actually came against Paul Heckingbottom, The Lilywhites rarely managed to stay in games when a man down or even a goal down. Lowe was very hesitant and too respectful of other teams at times. He would go ultra defensive on the occasions we went a man down.
The late defeat to Cardiff City last season sticks in the memory as one that should have been avoided after Robbie Brady was sent off.
Greenwood was playing number 10 and you could say that position is one of the more easier to play without. His dismissal didn’t leave any huge gaps anywhere, and didn’t require a reshuffle.
Preston could still have a settled back four and still had width to try and get the ball further up the pitch. You could not tell Rovers had a man advantage in the second half, and after such a promising start to the season they will be disappointed they couldn’t make the most of it.
North End looked comfortable with 10 men, and despite only being here just over a month, there looks to be a shift in the attitude from this squad. There seems to be more fight, and a also an ambition to break forward and attack whenever possible.
Frokjaer as a winger?
With Josh Bowler understandably handed his first start of the season on the left wing, it meant Hecky had to stick someone on the right-wing as we started with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Bowler would be the best option for that spot but with him on the left options were short. Jeppe Okkels could have been an option but he is still settling in, whereas Greenwood has played there before too.
Hecky is clearly still trying to find out a lot about his players. Where they can play, what they can offer him, what the best combinations are.
He played Greenwood very close to Emil Riis down the middle which meant Mads Frokjaer was on the right hand side.
In truth he didn’t look comfortable in that position. Frokajer is good down the middle, it allows him to thread perfectly weighted balls through to the strikers. The Dane and Potts didn’t link up too well down the right, but it’s still a learning curve for the new manager.
The versatility of KKH
Kaine Kesler-Hayden has already played in a variety of positions since joining on loan from Aston Villa. At first it looked like he would be competing with Potts for the right-wing back role.
But under Heckingbottom he has played as a left-wing back and on Sunday he was on the left-wing. He’s got pace and he’s looked pretty comfortable whenever he has played.
I think he’ll continue to improve as the season goes on and he’ll be a valuable asset this campaign.
Osmajic set for lengthy ban
It was a crazy end to the game as Blackburn saw Owen Beck sent off and North End gained the momentum and pushed for a winner in the last few minutes. Beck had already shown he wasn’t afraid to have a battle and was clearly up for his first Lancashire derby since joining on loan from Liverpool.
His sending off was silly. A foul had already been given for a push on Osmajic. Bizarrely play contined and Beck lashed out at Duane Holmes. He was duly shown a red card for that but not before he demonstrated to the officials.
At the time, in the ground it looked like he was pointing to the name on his shirt, but texts quickly flooded in from those watching on television, as replays showed Osmajic looked to have bitten him in the back.
It doesn’t look good for the Montenegrin, and the FA are now investigating this. Luis Suarez famously was banned on three separate occasions for biting a player. 7 games, 9 games and four months were the lengths he had to sit out.
Osmajic probably felt hard done by that he didn’t start the game on Sunday, and Riis was very poor in the first half. But he may have to sit out for some time now and it will leave Heckingbottom with very limited options up front.
With only three goals scored in the league this season, it’s a far from ideal situation.