Preston North End made it back-to-back wins for the first time this season after an entertaining 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Just three weeks after the reverse fixture which saw The Owls claim a draw despite a dominant display from North End, Paul Heckingbottom’s side ensured they would have no regrets at Deepdale.
Two goals from Emil Riis and a penalty from man of the match Sam Greenwood saw Preston run out comfortable winners in the end, but it wasn’t all plain sailing.
Poachers goals
Emil Riis has had a mixed season with the Dane frustrating supporters at times. He clearly works better in a front two or with someone like Sam Greenwood right behind him, and struggles at holding the ball up at times when it is needed to take the pressure off. In the 2021-22 season Riis plundered 20 goals in all competitions and was supported with the likes of Ched Evans and Cameron Archer.
The next two seasons were disrupted by injury with a year long lay-off due to anterior cruciate ligament damage. Since coming back Riis has been hot and cold, but we know he likes to drift out wide and use his pace and power to come back in.
But a striker needs to pick up the scrappy goals too. On Sunday, Riis did exactly that. If you position yourself centrally, between the posts, then chances will come your way.
He only needed the feintest of touches for the first goal after Jack Whatmough’s perfect header across the goalmouth. It’s worth noting Whatmough timed his run very well, bringing himself back into an onside position just before Ali McCann whipped the ball in.
Riis’ second goal secured the three points and it was thanks to a fine run and effort from Greenwood, combined with Wednesday’s inability to clear their lines. Riis was able to poke the ball past the impressive James Beadle and pick up his seventh goal of the season.
Riis is in his fifth season with the club but his contract expires next summer. It’s hard to tell whether he sees his future at Preston or whether he fancies a new challenge. It was just over two years ago that Middlesbrough reportedly tabled a £7.5 million bid for the striker.
Preston turned that bid down but could now face the possibility of seeing him leave on a free transfer.
Greenwood superb
Preston have found themselves with yet another incredible loan player on their books. In recent years we have seen many talented players arrive at Deepdale on a short-term deal, go on to endear themselves to the fans with fantastic performances only for it to end in heartbreak when they don’t return for another spell.
Liam Millar was one of the more recent frustrating ones, with the Canadian not willing to sign permanently to play as a wing-back and joined Hull City for a similar fee we forked out for the barely used Jeppe Okkels. Millar’s season is already over due to injury, but it was disappointing not to see him return nonetheless.
Sam Greenwood has lit up Deepdale with many great displays this season, and the one against The Owls was probably his best.
He really came to life in the second half, finding space in between the lines and driving forward with Wednesday finding it hard to deal with him. With four players in pursuit of him, Greenwood weaved his way into the box before pulling it back for Ali McCann who should have scored.
Even in the tightest of spaces he can create something, just as he did when he hit the bar with a shot that dipped slightly too late. Wednesday would equalise shortly after but Greenwood would continue to cause havoc in their defence.
Another fine run forward resulted in a strong shot which Beadle parried out, but Preston kept the pressure up and within a minute Josh Bowler had been fouled in the box. Greenwood stepped up to score his third penalty of the season.
The 22-year-old on loan from Leeds United would also contribute to to the third goal, with his shot saved once again by Beadle, Riis was their to stab the ball home in front of the Town End.
There is thought to be a clause in place to turn the loan deal into a permanent one, but his wages would increase if Leeds won promotion making it trickier for Preston to afford him.
Perhaps they could look into tying up a deal in January but then that would eat into an already tight budget with other areas of the squad currently more pressing. Either way we have to ensure we don’t let another fine player slip through our hands.
Storey’s form should lead to new deal
The Preston North End defence has been a hot topic this season, with it being felt that it should have been strengthened in the summer. With Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrew Hughes, Patrick Bauer and Kian Best all out of contract in the summer, the defence is likely to have a new look this time next year.
However in four of the last five games, the backline has really stepped up and collectively put in some strong displays. The clean sheets against Cardiff City and Hull City were crucial in getting the three points, whilst the backs to the wall job against Leeds deserved more than just a point.
On Sunday, Storey made numerous vital challenges, and interceptions just as Sheffield Wednesday were getting in dangerous positions. Hughes and Whatmough were also impressive on the day.
Storey enjoyed a loan spell with The Owls in 2022 and has been with Preston since 2018, becoming a regular in the defence in the last three seasons. Now 27-years-old Storey’s next contract is a key one. It will dictate how his peak years will pan out. He’s been a solid player for the club, but up until recently you would probably say it’s 50/50 among fans whether he should be kept.
His form has come at a perfect time though, and you’d expect to see an extension announced in the next month or so.
Bowler may still have a part to play
When Heckingbottom swooped to make Josh Bowler his one and only signing for the club you thought it would see us change formation and the former Blackpool winger would be a big part of that. Instead the wing-back formation has continued and along with Okkels, Bowler has had to sit on the sidelines.
With Brad Potts and Robbie Brady unavailable, Bowler was brought in down the right for just his fifth start of the season. Just last week it was reported that Preston were looking to cut short the loan. But in the win over Wednesday Bowler played his part. He won the penalty to get back into the game, and on a few occasions he showed he can stretch the defence, and get into dangerous positions with his neat footwork.
He’s certainly a very different option to Potts, and should have seen more game time this season. It remains to be seen whether he will get many more chances, but he is likely to start on New Year’s Day against West Bromwich Albion.