Four goals equally shared in the first half between Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers ensured for a lively Lancashire derby. The 2-2 result was probably fair for both teams, but Preston left themselves plenty of work to do after a slow start.
Very soft goals conceded
Sammie Szmodics and Sam Gallagher were both presented with great opportunities in the first half, and they made the most of them.
Szmodics is the top goalscorer in the Championship this season, and he enjoyed scoring his 18th of the season in front of the Town End. It was a flick backwards from Will Keane that backfired, as Gallagher could then release Szmodics to finish first time despite Freddie Woodman getting a hand to it.
In the 23rd minute Callum Brittain played a brilliant pass taking out all of the Preston defence, and finding Gallagher to nudge the ball past Woodman. Gallagher only ever seems to turn up when he plays against Preston, in 2019 he was key to Blackburn going into an early 2-0 lead at Deepdale as well. This was just his second goal of the season.
Just like on that day though, Preston were able to hit back.
Brady scores his first goal for the club
On his 58th appearance for Preston, Robbie Brady finally managed to find the back of the net. It’s been a very frustrating 18 months for the 32-year-old. The Irishman doesn’t have the legs for a wing-back role, and it’s obvious his career has been winding down for some time now.
With Brad Potts out injured, Ryan Lowe’s hand is forced, and Brady has got the nod for the last two games. It does mean Liam Millar is nullified on the right hand side, but at least Brady was able to make an impact for once.
After one free-kick that Brady sent straight out of play, he had an opportunity from a corner on the right. His delivery didn’t beat the first man, and then as the ball returned to him he ballooned it out of play. It was typical of the Brady we have become accustomed to seeing in a Preston North End shirt.
For some reason he was allowed to take the next corner. Again his delivery was atrocious, but Andrew Hughes did well to poke to the ball back out to Brady. The former Burnley player managed to curl it into the top corner giving Aynsley Pears no chance.
It may have been a cross; only Brady will know, but it came at a time when Preston desperately needed something. As a former Claret Brady enjoyed celebrating that one in front of the Rovers fans. It was his first goal in club football since scoring for Burnley in a 1-1 draw with Everton in December 2020.
Riis gets his third in three games, or did he?
Preston could smell blood, and were determined to draw level before half time. They forced another corner, and from the left Liam Millar showed Brady how it’s done. The Canadian got the ball off the ground, and put it in a dangerous position. Rovers couldn’t clear their lines, Liam Lindsay hooked it towards goal and a scramble ensued.
It eventually sneaked over the line and Emil Riis was credited with the goal, but replays show it may have been Pears who knocked it over with his own legs. Either way it’s great to see Riis having such a big impact in games now after his lengthy lay-off, a key player for us.
Stewart brought on ahead of Osmajic
On Wednesday night against Middlesbrough, Layton Stewart was given 14 minutes from the bench, his longest time on the pitch so far this season. He looked promising, but it was still a surprise on Saturday to see Lowe bring him on ahead of Milutin Osmajic.
Keane was brought off in the 69th minute, and it seemed like the perfect game for Osmajic. The Montenegrin is always up for a battle, and a derby game suits him. Unfortunately he did not come on until the 82nd minute.
Chances were at a premium in the last third of the game, with Millar being the most dangerous player after being moved to his more favourable left side.
Lowe does now have a few options up front, and whilst Keane and Riis are the clear front two now, he trusts Stewart and Osmajic to come on and make an impact.
Season defining games coming up
After a miserable end to 2023, and a tough start to 2024, Preston have managed to put a positive spin on this season. Four wins and just one defeat in the last seven, have seen North End yield 14 points from those games. In contrast to the 14 games prior to that which saw them gain the same amount.
A new formation, and an in-form Mads Frokjaer have seen Preston be more creative. We’re still very susceptible at the back but you’d always back us to find a goal from somewhere.
It seems surprising that we are only two points outside the top six, when the season seemed to be fizzling out just a month ago. The next batch of fixtures come against teams looking to finish in the top six themselves.
Coventry City away on Friday night, is followed by Hull City at home and then a tough trip to Southampton. All those teams sit above Preston currently, and we will have a better indication of where this season is heading after those.