Preston North End played out their second bore draw of the week, as their encounter with Stoke City on Tuesday ended 0-0.
Chances were at a premium for both sides, with a lack of creativity on show, and defences coming out on top. It’s another point for Preston but the wins really need to start coming, with just three all season, and no away wins in the league since March.
What was Woodman doing?
With the game entering it’s dying embers, a hopeful ball was sent forward by Stoke, looking for the run of Tom Cannon. The former North End loan star was some way behind the ball though as Freddie Woodman shouted for his defenders to leave it.
Woodman had come out of his area though, and with Cannon approaching instead of choosing to put his foot through it, he fell to the ground and held the ball with his hands. A straight red card that could not be disputed. He either thought the ball was moving much faster or thought he was still inside his box.
Either way they are rookie errors that a goalkeeper at this level should not be making. It is the latest in a long list of mistakes that Woodman has made this season. His confidence is shot at. With his contract up at the end of the season maybe he already has his eyes on his next move. But at this rate there won’t be many interested parties.
Defence were untroubled
If there is one positive to take from the midweek draw, it’s that our defence kept the very talented Cannon quiet. We know more than most how lethal he can be if given enough room. But he barely had any chances on Tuesday. Stoke have some tricky wingers as well, but they found it hard to penetrate the defence.
It was very similar to the game against Derby as two poor teams in the league faced each other, both devoid of ideas on how to create chances. Preston will face much harder tasks in this league, starting on Saturday against West Bromwich Albion.
Wing-backs
You felt as if the game was there for the taking, and one goal would have been enough for the three points. Preston weren’t good enough out wide. The best chance of the game did come when Sam Greenwood was released down the right and his first time cross looped over Viktor Johansson but Milutin Osmajic couldn’t divert the ball into the net.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Brad Potts were very quiet on the night. KKH is not as effective on the left, and Potts is struggling this season. This question is being asked each and every match, but why on earth are Jeppe Okkels and Josh Bowler not being used?
We do not have to stick to this formation. Paul Heckingbottom needs to try another option. If at 0-0 when we are trying to win a game, he doesn’t feel the need to try either player then when will he? How bad can they be? It must be infuriating for them to sit on the bench every game, knowing there is next to no chance of them coming on.
Surely even a 4-4-2 would be more beneficial, so the wide players can have some support.
Chance for Cornell
Dai Cornell has been the backup goalkeeper at North End since arriving in the summer of 2022. The 33-year-old has been a number two for most of his career, and you can be forgiven for thinking Woodman has become complacent because he doesn’t have someone behind him pushing for that number 1 shirt.
Cornell’s best spell in his career came at Northampton Town when he made 80 appearances over two seasons in League Two between 2018 and 2020. Before joining North End he made 30 starts for Peterborough United in the Championship.
For Preston he’s played just five games in all competitions before having to come on for the final few minutes against Stoke.
You’d like to say the shirt is his to lose now after Woodman’s error. But even with the most impressive of performances against West Brom on Saturday, Woodman is likely to reclaim the gloves the following week.
However Heckingbottom may have a keen eye on a more permanent replacement in the January transfer window. It has to be looked at anyway, with Woodman’s contract unlikely to be extended beyond this season.
Need to up their game for Saturday
The last two games have been terrible adverts for Championship football. Derby and Stoke were just as poor as Preston, but West Brom are likely to be a much tougher opposition.
The Baggies are the only team to have drawn more games than The Lilywhites this season, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that result.
But West Brom have some players with real quality, and a very highly rated manager at this level in Carlos Corberan. Preston usually step up their game when they need to. They should have beaten Sunderland a few weeks ago, and Burnley at the beginning of October as well.
West Brom have only lost twice all season, and top scorer Josh Maja is already on 10 goals for the campaign. Seasoned professionals Alex Mowatt and John Swift usually have good games against us too.
But it’s seven games without a win for Preston and they have to go all out for three points on Saturday. At the very least just to lift the mood among the fanbase.