It was an enjoyable Good Friday for Preston North End yesterday as they eased to a 3-0 victory over Rotherham United.
It was a professional job from The Lilywhites, and a great first half performance ensured they wouldn’t be slipping on this potential banana skin.
Despite quite a few players missing with injury, Preston stepped up to keep the pressure on the top six. The returning Duane Holmes played very well on his first start for over two months.
Emil Riis took his goal tally to six for the season, with all of those having come in his last seven games.
Heading into half time, Ryan Lowe could relax safe in the knowledge there was unlikely to be a fightback from The Millers.
The numerous injuries meant that the substitutes bench contained a few younger players and the second half presented the perfect opportunity to blood them.
Lowe has never shied away from giving youth a chance and there have been countless players making their professional debuts under him at this club.
Kian Best
After representing England Under 19’s last week, Kian Best was back in a Preston squad for the first time since the defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on 21st January. But it was his first time on the pitch in the league since November.
We’ve already seen what an asset he is. At only 18 he has shown he can be a big player for this club going forward. Capable of playing down the left as well as on the left side of a back three, Best came on to replace Brady in the 61st minute.
At one stage play opened up for Best and a chance presented itself to him but he didn’t quite connect properly with his shot. Hopefully we can see him feature a few more times before the end of the season.
Noah Mawene
The eldest of the Mawene family at North End had already come on as a substitute in away games at Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City earlier in the season.
But Friday was the first time he stepped foot on the Deepdale turf as a first team player. The central midfield handled himself well, getting involved in some tussles with the vastly more experienced Sam Clucas.
He seems calm on the ball and very keen to be in possession. Highly rated throughout his time coming through the PNE youth system, the 19-year-old played 13 minutes after replacing Ali McCann. After the game Lowe said if McCann hadn’t have returned from international duty fully fit then Mawene may have found himself starting.
Noah’s younger brother Theo was also in the matchday squad and warmed up with the other players before the game. At just 16 he also has a bright future ahead of him and could be the third Mawene to play for this club at some stage.
Josh Seary
Josh Seary made his professional debut for the club in a League Cup tie against Salford City at the start of the season.
The 19-year-old is an option for that right-wing-back spot which always seems to be our weak spot especially when Brad Potts is out.
I have advocated for him to be given a chance instead of putting square pegs in round holes.
As it was, Holmes did very well in that position, but Lowe still gave Seary five minutes at the end of the game.
Ending the game with three academy graduates on the pitch was great to see. As a Preston fan you love to see young talent coming through the ranks and in Mawene and Best’s case it’s even better when they are local and have a real connection.
Hopefully we are talking about these players for a few more years to come at Preston North End.