Preston North End head into the international break in 4th place after a deserved 2-0 win against Charlton Athletic. Second half goals from Thierry Small and Daniel Jebbison gave Paul Heckingbottom’s side the three points.
Keeping up with the pace setters
Not many would have predicted this start from Preston. But having drawn three of the last four heading into Saturday’s game, you felt a win was needed to stay in the mix at this stage. 16 points from nine games is very impressive and when you consider the draws against Middlesbrough and Hull City could easily have been wins as well, credit has to go the the club.
Charlton themselves had started the season well after being promoted from League One, and they offered a different proposition to the other home games so far this season. North End enjoyed a lot more of the ball on Saturday, but the first half was very low on quality.
The Addicks didn’t look like threatening North End and you felt the home side would need to turn to the bench to find that killer instinct. However it wasn’t needed, as the name on everyone’s lips going into the game would have a big say on the result.
Thierry has the last laugh
Charlton fans were bemused when Thierry Small left them in the summer to join Preston on a free transfer. He was jeered and booed throughout the game, and there were chants of ‘greedy’ at the wing-back. He struggled in the first half, and it would have been tough for him to hear things like that for probably the first time in his career.
However in the second half, Small found himself in space on the right hand side of the box, much like he did for his goal against Hull, and this time he had a bit of luck, with his deflected effort looping over Thomas Kaminski in net.
Small’s first reaction was to shush the Charlton fans before knee sliding towards the Sir Tom Finney stand. It feels as if North End are usually on the wrong end when it comes to players scoring against their former clubs, but we could enjoy this one. Small went on to wish his former club all the best after the game, but I imagine there will be a frosty reception on his return to Valley Parade.
Dobbin and Devine exactly what we needed
There have been so many memorable loan signings in recent years that have had huge impacts at Preston. Already this season it looks like three players will be key to any success. They were the last three transfers of the window and they look to be the most important.
We’ve already seen Lewis Dobbin and Alfie Devine score some wonderful goals this season, and there technical ability is there for everyone to see. With Dobbin playing just behind Jebbison on Saturday, he was often the outlet. He loves to run at players and get a sight of goal as quickly as possible. Unfortunately he didn’t have his shooting boots on against Charlton, but you can never doubt his endeavour.
Devine was surprisingly named on the bench for this game, with Armstrong playing alongside Ben Whiteman and Ali McCann in the middle. In the second half you felt we needed Devine to create more chances and have some shots himself, with the crowd singing his name whilst he warmed up. In the end he managed to assist Jebbison for his first goal for the club.
The Spurs loanee is a very exciting player to watch. Much like Dobbin he’s so positive with everything he does, always looking to go forward. So many times last year, we were slow with our play and lacked urgency and creative ability. Whilst Mads Frokjaer and Sam Greenwood could show glimpses, Dobbin and Devine are a class above. It’s a long season but Mads is finding it tough to even get on the pitch at the moment – just nine minutes in the last four games.
Armstrong will give Hecky selection headache
Harrison Armstrong arrived from Everton with rave reviews from Derby County fans after his spell their last season. After three appearances from the bench Armstrong was give his first start in midweek against Hull and kept his place for the Charlton game.
You wouldn’t believe he is just 18-years-old. Whenever he had the ball it seemed he had so much time, his touch and composure brought confidence to the rest of the team. He would often move out to the left of the midfield to try and combine with Andrija Vuckcevic on Saturday and he looks a real asset.
With McCann as good as ever, and Whiteman having a strong start to the season, it will be tough for Heckingbottom to pick his midfield each week. Dobbin and Devine are the more attacking options and each game will provide a different challenge, but it’s great to see competition there, and it also gives us very strong options on the bench.
Vuckcevic shows his worth
Many, including myself, were surprised at the three-year-contract awarded to Montenegrin Andrija Vuckcevic who at the age of 28 had already played in six different countries in his career. With Small and Pol Valentin starting very well as the wing-back options, Vuckcevic has had to be patient, but has slotted in on the left in the last few games after Valentin’s injury.
He has a quick burst of space, which allows him to beat a man in tight situations, and on Saturday his crossing ability was on show. Whilst it was frustrating that there wasn’t always someone on the end of them, he was putting them in the right places and with some pace on it.
‘Andy’ was awarded the man of the match and that will do him the world of good. He seems to have fit into the squad really well, and again gives us more depth which we have lacked in recent years.
Jebbison off the mark
For a highly rated striker, the one thing Daniel Jebbison has lacked in his career so far has been the most important thing – goals. Since scoring on his Premier League debut as a 17-year-old for Sheffield United, Jebbison has struggled aside from a decent loan spell at Burton Albion.
Now 22, he had managed just five goals since February 2022. This is a huge season for him, and he knows he will need to start scoring more. His effort on the pitch has been noticeable in his time at Preston. He battles away, and has good pace to be able to press the defence.
His touch has let him down at times, and he often seems to run into trouble rather than space. I think he works better alongside another striker rather than up top on his own. On Saturday he battled all game, without actually doing much on the ball, but he didn’t let the Charlton defence rest.
Devine put one on a plate for him and Jebbison was able to stretch and divert the ball into the net. As a striker you want to get off the mark as quickly as possible, and the Canadian international will be relieved to get his first for the club.