A New Plumber

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

https://www.pnefc.net/

Preston North End 0 - Glasgow Rangers 2 - Preseason Friendly

Preston went down 2-0 this afternoon to two late goals at Deepdale from Glasgow Rangers. Preston started well, with Alex Lane seeing his header saved on 8, whilst Rudden planted a header wide twenty minutes later. Rudden would then draw a fine stop from Cameron Dawson, before, after half-time, Dan Crowley's shot on the half volley after good work by Vanzie and Browne flew just wide. Preston made a whole host of changes on the hour mark, and almost opened the scoring instantly, when Hargreaves' pass found Ross Soutar, who stung the palms of Zander Clark from the edge of the area. Rangers eventually began to dominate proceedings, and on 78, took the lead when Barry McKay found highly-rated striker Will Finlayson , who flicked home from close range. Two minutes later, Finlayson added his second, glancing home Farrell's free kick. Graham Hargreaves tested Clark late on for Preston, but it was not to be, with the game ending with the Scottish visitors successful.

Following the match, Stuart Fairway said; "As preparations step up we decided to mix things up a little today, giving the starting eleven a full hour before we made changes. We came up against a top, top side today, and for the most part, acquitted ourselves really well"

Preston First Hour; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Bell, Vermilj, Smith, Browne, Hughes, Crowley, Vanzie, Lane

Preston Final 30 Minutes; Black, Buchanan, Smyth, Byrne, Cartwright, Mooney, Browne (c), McManus, Hargreaves, Emnes, Soutar

As he reflected on the defeat, Fairway learnt of a change to the preseason programme, with the game against Newport County at Deepdale cancelled by the visitors due to a plethora of preseason injuries. He decided against sandwiching a replacement game in between the trips to Bamber Bridge and Chorley , instead leaving just the visit of Southport on the 31st of July as Preston's final warmup game. 

Sunday's big news came from London, where, as Tottenham were putting the final touches on a £19.5 Million signing, Sporting Lisbon fullback Jonathan Silva , across town their rivals Chelsea were making plans for life without Victor Lindelöf , as the Swedish defender moved on to Barcelona for an enormous £62 Million. For Preston though there would be two pieces of good news - with Johnny Burn passed as fit to return to training on Monday ahead of the trip to Bamber Bridge, and, equally as importantly, a name finally emerging for the vacant left wingback slot that came without the complications of work permits.

Fairway had spent much of his summer chasing left wingbacks from all over Europe - and beyond - and when a work permit for Tobias Badila , a Democratic Republic of Congo international was turned down on Monday morning, he made his move - and broke the habit of a lifetime, or at least a managerial career, by making a loan bid for Tottenham Hotspur's England Under 21 international Louis Campion , who had appeared against his club in the final game of the 2020/21 season for Millwall .

Whilst the offer - at 50% of Campion's wages - was quickly accepted, and the youngster weighed up the move, Fairway told Burn that he would get at least a half on Tuesday night, down the road at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium , home of Bamber Bridge.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

https://www.pnefc.net/

Bamber Bridge 0 - Preston North End 2 - Preseason Friendly

A 2-0 victory for the Lilywhites tonight against Bamber Bridge saw a dominant performance which was marred by two injuries for Preston. After Cameron Dawson had to be alert to see an effort from Paul Alexander go wide straight from the kickoff, Nicky Hughes picked up a gashed head when stooping for a low header early on, and was forced off, before Rico Vanzie's shot was pushed wide on 17. Dan Crowley was close a couple of minutes later, and Brian Bell denied by the offside flag on 24, before Preston did take the lead on 35, when a fine pass from Vanzie teed up Marnick Vermijl for a rare goal. Goalkeeper Rimmer would hold from Crowley and Burn before the break, when Stuart Fairway made three changes. The bulk of the substitutions would come just after Preston's second, an own goal on 64 when Alan McManus' shot took a heavy deflection off defender Saunders to wrong-foot the 'keeper. A rare opportunity for the hosts saw Khan strike the part on 68, with Marvin Emnes twice shooting over. The game finished on a sour note when Dan Crowley pulled up hurt, with a stretcher required to carry the midfielder off as the game entered stoppage time, leaving Preston to finish with 10 men.

Following the match, Stuart Fairway said; "The injury to Dan is a hamstring tear and is likely to keep him out for a couple of months. It is a blow, there is no denying it, but it was one of those things, he just went after the ball and felt it go. Nicky (Hughes) came off with a gash purely as a precaution and he will be fit again by the end of the week. Going forward though I was pleased with our play, we are still trying to find the right balance up front but Rico Vanzie showed what he can do with a great pass for the first goal."

Preston; Dawson (Black 65), Burn (c) (Clarke 45), Bowles (Byrne 65), Bell (Smyth 45), Vermilj (Cartwright 65), Smith (Mooney 65), Browne (Hargreaves 45), Hughes (McManus 23), Crowley (Off Injured 90), Vanzie (Soutar 65), Lane (Emnes 65)

With Dan Crowley ruled out for two months, Fairway felt his preseason preparations had taken one step forward and two back on Wednesday morning as he sat with Alistair Lishman and Mark Morrison to pick through the bones of the 2-0 victory. The gut feeling amongst the pair was that the performance was OK - somewhat underwhelming, given Preston's statistical dominance, with a concern that whilst chances were being created, they were not being taken.

Training resumed on Thursday, and with no game at the weekend the coaches took the opportunity to up the intensity with the season rapidly approaching. Fairway took something of a back seat, instead concentrating on transfers, and was very disappointed to take a call on Friday morning advising that Louis Campion had turned down the loan approach, claiming that he did not want to move away from London. New scout Nigel Keady was also in touch, filing his report on a left wingback who Fairway had targeted - but the fee, at £2.5 Million, would not only smash Preston's transfer record, but also end any chance of adding further to the squad over the summer, meaning that, although a real talent, the player would have to go onto the back burner for the time being. Final reports though had been recieved on another player, with an offer made.

Fairway found himself the target of some unwanted speculation over the weekend, laughing off rumours linking him with a move to Queens Park Rangers , but after a quiet enough weekend was able to welcome back Daniel Johnson following his summer in the USA, as Jamaica saw their Gold Cup dreams ended at the final hurdle by El Tri , as Mexico saw off the Caribbean nation 4-2 in New Orleans. Johnson, after a very hectic summer which also saw him help Jamaica to the little-known Carribbean Championship , and appear in two qualifying games for China 2022 , understandably reported back a little fatigued, but the coaching staff felt that, with a few days rest, he would be able to be considered for the first game of the new campaign, if not Saturday's friendly against Southport . 

It was a player from the other side of the globe however who was uppermost in Fairway's thoughts on Tuesday morning, and whilst the majority of the squad just had a light session ahead of the short trip to Chorley , Australian international striker Steve Michaelis arrived after firstly an intercontinental flight to London, and then a shorter connecting one to Manchester. It was no wonder the 21 year old looked a little drained by the time he arrived, but perked up having been shown around Deepdale, and, after discussions, personal terms were quickly offered.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

https://www.pnefc.net/

Chorley 0 - Preston North End 2 - Preseason Friendly

Dogged defending from Chorley was finally cracked 20 minutes from time on Tuesday night as Preston continued their preseason preparations with a 2-0 win at Victory Park. Despite Stephy Mavididi returning in his first game since injury at the tail end of last season, Preston wasted early chances, with Mavididi shooting over from Hughes' clever pass on 2, whilst the striker saw his instinctive effort from Adam Smith's cross well held on 24. After the break Rico Vanzie's free kick went just over, and Alan McManus, starting for the first half, sent a shot on the half-volley wide of target. Preston eventually broke the deadlock once substitutions had been made, and on 71 Nigel Cartwright sent in a cross to the near post that was acrobatically volleyed into the corner by Ross Soutar . A minute later, Preston doubled the lead - Marvin Emnes, in an unfamiliar midfield role, slipping in Alan Browne for a fine finish.

Following the match, Stuart Fairway said; "We weren't particularly clinical tonight but we again controlled the game and kept our passing up to scratch. It was good to see Stephy Mavididi get some game time, and I have to give a lot of credit to the lad and the medical staff for getting him to a stage where we can start to introduce him again. A break is never good for anyone, so to see him playing under three months later is remarkable, and shows how hard he has worked in the gym."

Preston; Dawson (Black 66), Bowles (Clarke 66), Burn (c) (Byrne 66), Bell (Smyth 66), Vermijl (Cartwright 66), Browne, Smith (Mooney 66), McManus (Hargreaves 66), Hughes (Emnes 66), Vanzie (Lane 66), Mavididi (Soutar 66)

On Wednesday morning Fairway spoke to teenage defender Marvin Buchanan after agreeing for a request from Gainsborough Trinity to send the youngster on loan to the Northolme Stadium for six months. It would though not be the big news of the day, as just after lunch, Fairway shook hands with Steve Michaelis on an initial £650,000 deal to bring the Australian international to Deepdale. He considered it a bargain, with the 21 year old having scored four goals in seven international caps for Australia, including a brace in their most recent game, a friendly against Uzbekistan . Michaelis' impressive domestic record - 15 goals in 31 games for Brisbane Roar in the A League had also been a factor in his acquisition, with Fairway telling a surprisingly sparsely-attended press conference that he hoped Michealis' could continue his fine form now he had moved to England.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

https://www.pnefc.net/

Preston North End 3 - Southport 0 - Preseason Friendly

A goal from the returning Daniel Johnson saw Preston get off to a good start in this final warmup game against Southport. Johnson, who has missed most of preseason on international duty, made no mistake from the penalty spot after Miller handled from Marnick Vermilj's cross early in the first half, minutes after new boy Steve Michealis had fizzed a shot just wide from the edge of the box. Michaelis though turned provider as Preston added a second on the stroke of half time, expertly bringing down Adam Smith's long pass to turn across the box for his fellow new arrival, Rico Vanzie to fire home from 12 yards. Johnson, Michaelis, Vanzie and the rest lasted an hour before Stuart Fairway made eleven changes, with Preston continuing their dominance and only an effort from Andy Wright, hit straight at Craig Black, causing any concerns at the other end. A third did follow late on, when Graham Hargreaves played in the again impressive Alan McManus for a cool finish in injury time, completing the preseason friendlies in fine fashion.

Stuart Fairway spoke to pnefc.net after the game, saying "A win is a nice way to wrap up what has been, on the whole, a very positive preseason campaign. We've had a look at a fair few players over the summer and I am delighted to have been impressed with some of our youngsters. To come into a game on a Saturday with two players who were in a different continent this time last week is always difficult, but Daniel Johnson has come back raring to go and Steve Michealis is getting sharper with every training session"

Preston; Dawson (Black 66), Bowles (Clarke 66), Burn (c) (Byrne 66), Bell (Smyth 66), Vermijl (Cartwright 66), Browne, Smith (Mooney 66), McManus (Hargreaves 66), Hughes (Emnes 66), Vanzie (Lane 66), Mavididi (Soutar 66)

With Preseason done and dusted - and, after the saga of the summer finally reached a conclusion, Arsenal appointed Luis Enrique as manager, there would now be just a few short days to go before the commencement of the 2021/22 Football League season. Fairway expected a busy time, and got it, with his Sunday interrupted by a phone call from Neil Aspin of League Two Gateshead , asking for permission to take winger Richard Macrae on loan for the season. Fairway agreed with the move, with the 20 year old not having figured in his preseason plans, and off the back of a successful spell at lower level AFC Fylde last season, felt it would be a good step up for the diminutive player yet to make his first team debut.

Another of the formalities would take place on Tuesday morning, with Tom Clarke confirmed as Captain for the season, and Johnny Burn stepping up to the plate in place of Cunningham as the newly appointed Vice Captain. Macrae would make his move the following day, heading eastwards to the International Stadium, but it would not be all positive for Fairway, with news of yet another rejection from yet another left sided defender casting something of a shadow over final preperations. With no other options, he would be forced to advise a delighted Adam Smith that, eleven days before his 20th birthday, he would be making his first appearance in a Preston shirt some three years after joining the club from Chester . Smith had worked hard in preseason, and deserved his chance, but Fairway was still keen to add to the squad, although a chat with Andy Lamb revealed that the £1.7 million in his transfer budget would have to do for now, with no room - unless further players were sold - to add to it.

Quote

 

Daily Telgraph, Friday 6th August

Telegraph Football League Preview

Preston North End
Last Season; 16th
Key Man - Daniel Johnson . Jamaica international scores goals and makes things happen from midfield.
One To Watch - Rico Vanzie . Some have been surprised at his transfer fee, but English youngster Vanzie is the sort of striker who can both score and create. Needs a big season to justify his price tag.

First Team Squad

Goalkeepers ; Cameron Dawson, Craig Black
Defenders ; Marnick Vermijl, Sam Bowles, Tom Clarke, Johnny Burn, David Smyth, Brian Bell
Midfielders ; Alan Browne, Daniel Johnson, Nicky Hughes, Dan Crowley
Forwards; Marvin Emnes, Rico Vanzie, Stephy Mavididi, Steve Michaelis, Ross Soutar

Youth players likely to be involved; Alan McManus (Midfield), Adam Smith (Midfield/Fullback), Alex Lane (Striker)

In ; Craig Black (Unattached, Free), Sam Bowles (Free, Man City), Ross Soutar (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, £110k), Rico Vanzie (Middlesbrough, £1.3 Million), Steve Michealis (Brisbane Roar, £650k)

Out ; James Thomas (Dundee Utd, Loan), Marvin Buchanan (Gainsborough, Loan), Richard Macrae (Gateshead, Loan), Martyn Biggs (Aberdeen, Loan), Will Tuck (Hibs, Loan), Ben Pringle (Rangers, £650k), Greg Cunningham (Leeds, £4.5 Million), Ross Laidlaw, Liam Coyle, Tim Hofstede (All Released)

Telegraph Verdict; 21st - Safe, but only just

PRESTON put together a good run of form to end last season on a high, comfortably staying up after bringing in Stuart Fairway from Lincoln City at the start of the winter. Fairway has struggled to recruit over the summer though and failure to replace the influential Irish international Greg Cunningham will be a blow. Two new strikers in Rico Vanzie from Middlesbrough and Aussie international Steve Michealis will have to click quickly, but it appears another season of struggle is on the cards at Deepdale.

 

 

Fairway brushed off the newspaper predictions in his press conference on Friday afternoon, reusing a line he had used on his appointment, stating that he believed "Preston have what it takes to stay up". Only time would tell if he would be proved correct.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 7th August 2021

Preston North End 1 - Reading 0

Preston just about did enough to edge out Reading on a tight opening day in baking sunshine at Deepdale. The hosts began brightly, with the tightest of offside calls denying Steve Michaelis a debut goal on 3, before Daniel Johnson saw his effort tipped just over. After early pressure, Preston did make the breakthrough on 13, when Nicky Hughes found Marnick Vermijl on the right, who crossed low and hard. The ball was first parried by 'keeper Jonathan Bond , who could only deflect the ball onto the post, and then deflected the ball over the line as he tried to push wide. After the comedy of errors that was the opening goal, Reading came close themselves on 25 when Dane Duxbury hit the crossbar with a left-footed drive, with Jordan Obita shooting wide five minutes later. Bond would partially redeem himself with a fine stop to deny Johnson on the stroke of half time, before holding from Sam Bowles' header from the resulting corner.

A slow start to the second half prompted three changes from the visitors, but it was Preston who came closest to a second, with Rico Vanzie's cushioned header hooked inches over the top by Hughes on 68. Reading rallied, with John Swift seeing a volley pushed wide by Dawson, but Preston gained a second wind with their substitutions, with first Vanzie and then sub Stephy Mavididi shooting wide. Whilst it was by no means clinical, getting off to a winning start will have pleased Preston manager Fairway, who came in for some criticism for the sales of Josh Windass and Greg Cunningham over the summer, but for reading, their faliure to truly test a new look and relatively inexperienced Preston defence will concern Craig Darymple.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermijl, Smith (Smyth 73), Browne, Hughes, Johnson, Vanzie, Michealis (Mavididi 68)

Unused; Bell, Black, McManus, Emnes, Lane

Reading; Bond, Moore, Poole, Cooper (c), Gunter, Kiltie, Williams (McEachran 62), Swift, Obita (McQueen 67), Barrett (Anichebe 56), Duxbury

Unused; Sy, Bailey, Pinto, Rodwell

Referee; S Martin - Attendance; 15,603

Whilst thoughts of Preston supporters were still with their - slightly fortuitous - opening day victory on Sunday morning, Stuart Fairway was, at last, getting his man. Left wing back Rico Henry had become available earlier in the summer, and though the fee for a permanent deal was too high for Fairway's liking - at this point in time at least - a season-long loan deal with an option to make the move permanent was certainly agreeable to him. Fortunately Bristol City agreed, and after appearing for The Robins in their League opener, Henry made his way northwards to put pen to paper on the deal. 

He would not be Fairway's only signing, as suddenly, deals which had dragged on throughout the last week of preseason came through - Henry just one of three unveiled at a Monday morning press conference, with Travis Bartholomew , an eighteen year old right wing back from Charlton Athletic (£300,000) and Tom Coughlan , a 20 year old midfielder from Cork City (£100,000) joining Fairway, Lamb and Henry behind a packed top table. Coughlan, despite his tender years, already had just over 100 league appearances to his name, both with Cork and University College Dublin , whilst the Trinidadian-born Bartholomew had just nine Chartlon appearances to his name, having broken into the Addicks side at the tail end of last season. The two though had been long-term targets for Fairway, and with the preseason injury to Dan Crowley , adding another midfielder became a higher priority.

The signings would reduce Fairway's transfer budget to just over £450,000, meaning that, whilst two who had been on his summer shortlist, St Johnstone striker Scott Maxwell and Liverpool's versatile Trent Alexander-Arnold attracted offers on Tuesday, Preston would be in no position to match the bids. Fairway briefly considered petitioning Lamb for extra funds, but decided against, content with his £3 million spend.

A light session on Wednesday ahead of the trip to North Yorkshire saw Rico Henry and fellow new signing Tom Coughlan named in the squad in one of two changes, with Adam Smith and Marvin Emnes not joining the party for the League Cup game against Harrogate Town . 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Wednesday 11th August 2021

Harrogate Town 1 - Preston North End 2

Championship side Preston made hard work of disposing of League Two Harrogate Town, going a goal behind before coming back to win in normal time at Wetherby Road. After Louis Rowe had shot over for Harrogate in the second minute, Chris Renshaw needed two attempts to hold from Steve Michealis on 12 at the other end, whilst Nicky Hughes rifled over from just inside the box after the ball broke kindly for Preston from the kick out. On 23 though the visitors found themselves behind, from a goal delightful in its simplicity - Eze Ebuzoeme seizing possession in midfield and playing a first time ball into the channel for Liam Mandeville to run on and slot past the advancing Cameron Dawson. Preston would have been facing even more of an uphill battle had Rowe done better with a header from Mandeville's cross on 28, but neutral hopes of a cup upset were dampened when, on the stroke of half time, Daniel Johnson headed Marnick Vermilj's cross back into the six yard box for Rico Vanzie to slam home his first goal in Preston colours from close range.

Rowe failed to emerge after the interval as Harrogate shuffled their pack, but Preston, after their early scare, looked much the better side, and after Vanzie had scooped over and Michealis rippled the side netting, it seemed only a matter of time as the visitors increasingly asserted their authority. When it came, the goal was a masterclass in close control - Brian Bell backheeling Rico Henry's short throw to Michealis, who helped the ball on to Alan Browne, the Irishman's pass leaving countryman Tom Coughlan with a tap-in on his debut. Preston could have added more - Renshaw saving well from Hughes, whilst Michealis shot inches wide, before Preston's night suffered a blow when Alan Browne limped from the pitch late on.

Harrogate; Renshaw, Burke, Honeyball, Taylor (O'Connor 56), Shaw, Ebuzoeme, Rose, Smith, Rowe (Robertson 45), Saunders (c), Mandeville (Ford 61)

Unused; Woollacott, Fisher, Williams, Hornby

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c) (Bell 72), Bowles, Burn, Vermijl, Henry, Browne, Hughes, Johnson (Coughlan 72), Vanzie (Lane 81), Michealis

Unused; Black, McManus, Smyth, Mavididi

Referee; J Simpson - Attendance; 2,942

The injury to Alan Browne would be diagnosed as just a twisted knee after initial swelling had gone down, with the medical team ruling the midfielder out for around ten days. Fairway worked on alternatives the next day, whilst the playing staff enjoyed a rest day, and would also reject a loan bid from Crawley Town - coincidentally Preston's Second Round opponents in the League Cup - for Ross Soutar .

The following day there would be loan interest in another of his players, Adam Smith , with the bid again rejected, before the players and staff left for the overnight trip to Essex ahead of Saturday's game. On arrival at the Weston Homes Stadium, Fairway was pleased to receive a call from Marvin Andrews , who had taken the Under 18's up to Carlisle for their League opener, with Alex Lane scoring twice for the youngsters, fully justifying Andrews' pleas for him to be made available. With Soutar and Graham Hargreaves called into the squad, the midfield dilemma would be solved by shifting Daniel Johnson into the deeper role and handing Tuesday's goalscorer, Coughlan , a first start alongside Nicky Hughes . 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 14th August 2021

Colchester United 2 - Preston North End 2

Colchester United manager Joe Dunne claimed after the game that this result proved his side would be more than makeweights on their return to The Championship after seeing his team come back from two goals behind to hold Preston in Essex. The visitors almost took the lead inside the first minute when a delightful passing move saw Rico Henry earn a corner with just 30 seconds on the clock, and certainly should have on 4 when Josh Pask deflected Nicky Hughes' drive onto the post, only for Steve Michaelis to fire the rebound against the other upright with the goal at his mercy. As it was, the opener would come in the 19th minute - Daniel Johnson playing a free kick square to the unmarked Nicky Hughes , who took two touches before drilling a shot high into the roof of the net beyond Colchester's teenage 'keeper Luke Wood. Wood could do little about the second, on 25, after Rico Vanzie galloped away on the right to put in a pinpoint cross for Steve Michaelis to make up for his earlier miss with a powerful close-range volley. After rarning themselves a good lead however Preston took their foot off the gas, allowing Billy King to flash a shot straight at Cameron Dawson before, on the stroke of half time, Kgosi Nlthe crossed for Brooks Lennon to get in between two to prod home at the near post.

Colchester came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half, following their late goal, and on 49, Luke Evans provided the ammunition for cult hero Denny Johnstone to smash home from ten yards out. Now the game was anybodys -  Matt Butcher close on 56 before Michealis was denied by a trailing leg on the hour, and Wood managed to hold on to a viciously curling Daniel Johnson effort six minutes later. The frantic pace of the game could not keep up for much longer however, with substitutions from both sides halting the tempo, and Johnstone's 85th minute volley wide the only real chance of note late on. Preston handed a late debut to teenager Graham Hargreaves, who looked sharp, but will be frustrated at having thrown away points from a winning position.

Colchester; Wood, Evans, Suliman (c) (Eastman 65), Pask, Ntlhe, King (Wright 65), Tansey, Butcher, Ameobi (Powell 45), Johnstone, Lennon

Unused; Matthews, Jones, Bennett, Dunne

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermijl, Henry, Johnson (Hargreaves 79), Hughes, Coughlan (Emnes 68), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Black, McManus, Smyth, Mavididi

Referee; L Probert - Attendance; 10,058

An unexpected visitor commiserated with Fairway after the game, as Paul Huntingdon travelled back to Preston with the squad, having flown into London's Stansted Airport in time for kickoff. Huntington's career in the MLS had not gone as well as he had hoped - an injury sustained shortly after arriving in the States resulted in him being, despite his transfer fee, cut from the D.C United squad before the commencement of the League season, and, after just a handful of friendly games, he was reduced to helping coaching the younger players. Now back in England, and knowing Fairway had an Under 18 Coaching position to fill, Huntingdon had made himself available, and was only too happy to sit down and discuss terms on a contract. 

Though he had been unable to split himself in two in order to attend the opening Under 18 game of the season, Fairway did travel down with Duncan Shearer in order to watch the Under 23's on Monday afternoon, leaving Mark Morrison to run training ahead of Tuesday night's visit of local rivals Blackburn Rovers . Unfortunately for both manager and players, he would witness a defeat, Preston going down 3-1 despite Ross Soutar's goal against Nottingham Forest . 

When Fairway returned to Springfields on Tuesday morning, he was greeted by a delighted Huntingdon as well as Chairman Andy Lamb , who had popped in to check on progress with the new youth facilities, still very much on track for their November completion. Lamb was also - before he signed off Paul Huntingdon's contract - able to reveal that he had just approved plans for a similar upgrade to the Senior training facilities, with building work set to start in the summer on a new £3.7 Million development after planning permission had been granted, with a new canteen, upgraded equipment all round, a new medical suite and - most importantly of all in Fairway's eyes - state of the art artificial surfaces on three of the most heavily used pitches to enable training to take place continually without having to rotate between different areas of the complex. 

Lamb's news would be the perfect end to the afternoon for Fairway, ahead of the local derby in the evening - an unchanged side named for the visit of the side sitting just behind Preston in fifth position in the early league table. 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 17th August 2021

Preston North End 2 - Blackburn Rovers 2

Preston shared the points with Blackburn in this latest instalment of a rivalry which has simmered since these two great Northern clubs first met competitively in December 1888. Whilst the passion remains, much has changed since those Victorian days, but it is fair to say the pioneers of what was then known as the 'Association game' would have enjoyed this blood and thunder clash at a packed out Deepdale. Early chances for both sides saw Cameron Dawson hold from Lee Myung-Joo on 7, before Steve Michaelis collected a great pass from Rico Vanzie but could only his straight at Jamie Wilson three minutes later. Gradually Blackburn began to assert their authority on proceedings, with Hope Apkan twice close before, on 26, Ross Osbourne's cross was sliced towards his own goal by Tom Clarke, with Cameron Dawson only able to push the rapidly spinning ball into the corner of the net for an unfortunate own goal. Preston responded quickly, and within two minutes had equalised - after Jason McCarthy missed a chance to head clear from Johnny Burn's ball forward, Steve Michealis kept his cool to run on and score with a powerful effort from the edge of the box. The hosts would take the lead on 32 in similar circumstances - with Blackburn pressing, Sam Bowles dispossessed Connor Wickham, and turned defence into attack with a perfectly weighted ball over the top. Steve Michealis brought the ball down expertly, and with Wilson coming out to narrow the angle, slotted past the advancing 'keeper into the corner.  

The first chance of the second period saw Harry Wilson volley just wide after Dawson had parried from Akpan, before a quieter spell in what had been a frantic game as Preston looked to shut up shop. In the end, they would be unable to prevent Hope Apkan from finally getting his personal reward for an industrious midfield display - on 79 sub Ryan Fredericks pulled the ball back after a corner had been only partially cleared, and Apkan found the top corner with a magnificent volley on the turn from the edge of the box. As both sides traded late blows - Lee Myung-Joo close on 89 before Nicky Hughes fired a free kick just wide in stoppage time - football was the real winner on a day when neither side quite managed to do enough to secure all three points.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermijl, Henry, Johnson (Hargreaves 74), Hughes, Coughlan, Vanzie (Mavididi 74), Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Emnes, Soutar, Smyth

Blackburn; Wilson, Holgate (Fredericks 61), McCarthy, Nelson, Wharton, Lenihan (c), Akpan, Osborne (Keane 45), Lee Myung-Joo, Wilson, Wickham (Robinson 67)

Unused; Beeney, Palmer, Hogg, McCain

Referee; C Pawson - Attendance; 23,404

Fairway reported himself pleased with the performance at Wednesday morning's press call - some questions about the game inevitable, despite the main reason for calling the conference, to announce the investment in new training facilities. Fairway would also praise his Chairman's foresight in giving the go-ahead for the new developments, claiming that the new training facilities, along with the rapidly progressing improvements to the youth facilities, would 'set North End up for a generation'.

Whilst the news that the club would be covering the costs of Jason Cowan's UEFA A License course would also back this up, there was also a pang of regret on Thursday, when Fairway learnt that Scott Maxwell , the young striker he had turned down the chance to sign for £2.4 Million, had gone to Stoke City for the same fee, on the same day as Liverpool sold another of Preston's targets, Trent Alexander-Arnold to Bristol City for £1.6 Million. Whilst the developments would help Preston to develop their own stars in the future, Fairway also had to be concerned about the present, and with his own contract up at the end of the season, knew that all of the hard work would be for nothing if he could not guide Preston to - at least - safety in The Championship.

He left the team selection to Saturday morning, meaning that Marvin Emnes would travel but would be disappointed, as on arrival at Ipswich Town a fitness test confirmed Alan Browne would be fit enough to be involved, with Tom Coughlan dropping back down to the bench.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 21st August 2021

Ipswich Town 0 - Preston North End 0

Both defences were on top in a rather dour goalless draw at Portman Road. A frenetic start - with Daniel Johnson playing the ball left for Rico Henry to cross, only for Bartosz Bialkowski to deny Steve Michealis, saw Preston come close to drawing first blood within the opening minute of the game, but it soon petered out, with Cameron Dawson holding from Ricky Willock's powerful header in the only other real chance of note in the first 45 minutes.

After the break the attacking play of both sides improved a little, with Rico Vanzie linking up well with Michealis for the visitors, whilst Dawson saved with his feet from home striker Conor Washington on 56. The best chance of the game came for Ipswich on 63 - Johnny Burn making a vital interception to prevent Washington from scoring from Alex Knowles' centre, but neither side did enough to break the deadlock, with Preston skipper Tom Clarke and his opposite number Adam Webster both dominating at the back.

Ipswich; Bialkowski, Grimmer, Webster, Smith, Knowles, Thorpe, Willock (Hyam 45), Baker, Reid (McGoldrick 57), Kent (Morris 51), Washington

Unused; Hayes, Pierre, Coker, White

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermijl, Henry, Browne (Lane 66), Johnson (Coughlan 66), Hughes, Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Hargreaves, Smyth, Mavididi

Referee; L Mason - Attendance; 27,288

After a quiet Sunday, Fairway was on the road again on Monday afternoon, to watch the Under 23's in a game as far removed from Saturday's dirge as possible - Wigan also playing their part in a game which finished 3-3, with Stephy Mavididi, Ross Soutar and Graham Hargreaves scoring for North End. 

With Alan Browne returning to full training after coming through a good hour on Saturday, Fairway had no new injury concerns, with only Dan Crowley absent, when he chose the side on Tuesday to make the long journey down to Sussex for the League Cup tie against Crawley Town . After consultation with the coaching staff, he would make changes, with Travis Bartholomew, Tom Coughlan and Brian Bell making the starting lineup for the game, with Daniel Johnson, Marnick Vermijl and Tom Clarke all rested.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Wednesday 25th August 2021

Crawley Town 0 - Preston North End 1

Crawley might have had the majority of the possession and chances against higher level Preston North End, but found themselves denied by a visiting goalkeeper in inspired form and a virtuoso goal from a young Australian international. The Sussex side started on the front foot on a wet and windy evening, and saw the visitors forced into an early change when Joe Davis caught debutant Travis Bartholomew on 7. Three minutes later things threatened to turn worse for Preston when Davis was pushed in the box by Brian Bell, only for Cameron Dawson to make a superb save, diving to his right to tip Alexander McQueen's penalty to safety. The miss failed to dampen the spirits of the hosts, with James Collins drawing a good save on 16, but on 29 found themselves behind, after captain for the evening Johnny Burn won the ball back on the edge of his own area and played in Steve Michealis for a run on goal. The summer arrival for Preston took the ball down superbly, seeing his first shot blocked by Jack Ruddy, but following in for a drilled finish into the corner. 

The League One side continued to attack after the interval, with Preston playing very much on the counter, and forcing another acrobatic stop from Dawson on 52 when Anthony Garcia teed up Collins inside the box. Substitutes for both sides would fire wide as time ran out, with Kaby twice close for Crawley and Stephy Mavididi shooting across goal when well placed on 83. Crawley threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors in injury time, but Tom Burridge's tame header, with the clock showing 90+2, just about summed up their evening.

Crawley; Ruddy, McQueen, Connolly (c), Davis, Davies (Bola 57), Burridge, Brown (Burns 45), Whitehead (Kaby 51), Maddox, Garcia, Collins

Unused; King, Cornick, Dickie, Miller

Preston; Dawson, Bell, Bowles, Burn (c), Bartholomew (Smyth 10), Henry, Browne, Coughlan, Hughes (Hargreaves 63), Vanzie, Michealis (Mavididi 63)

Unused; Clarke, Black, Johnson, Lane

Referee; M Clattenburg - Attendance; 3,472

The victory had not been easy, and as Fairway reflected on the coach back to Preston, he considered his side slightly fortunate to still be in the hat. The news came through just after they had turned onto the M25, with a huge cheer greeting the name of Liverpool as Preston's third round opponents at Deepdale. The only one in a slightly subdued mood would be Travis Bartholomew , who had seen his debut curtailed early with what Matt Jackson confidently diagnosed was only a stubbed, rather than broken, toe, ruling him out for around a week whilst the swelling went down.

When the players resumed training on Friday, ahead of another away trip at the weekend, Fairway was pleased to hear from Steve Michealis that he had got the international call for Australia , in the squad for their dead rubber matches in the Asian Section of qualifying for China 2022 against Qatar and Bahrain , with Australia's place at the tournament already secure. There would also be international calls for four of his teammates - Nicky Hughes and Brian Bell both in Scotland's Under 21 squad for the opening two games of the European U21 Championship qualifyers, Tom Coughlan representing Ireland U21s in the same tournament and Daniel Johnson again given the nod for Jamaica in two vital World Cup qualifiers for the Reggae Boyz, against Honduras and the USA.

Quote

The Sun, Saturday 28th August

Football Shorts - Browne To Brentford?

Days after Brighton & Hove Albion smashed their transfer record with the £11 million capture of Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods, the Bees could be set to spend the bulk of the fee received on Preston's Irish star Alan Browne, SunSport understands. With the transfer window closing on Tuesday, when Brentford go to Deepdale in The Championship, a Bees source has revealed that Browne, who is said to be Paul Heckingbottom's number one target, could be lining up against the side he has served since 2013.

With the Under 18's in action whilst Preston travelled down to Birmingham for the League game against bottom of the pile Aston Villa , Fairway was unable to attend the 3-1 victory at Springfields in person, but was delighted to hear that Alan McManus , as well as one of the scholars, had scored in what Marvin Andrews described as a comfortable victory over Rochdale . Alex Lane played in the game, enforcing his absence from the first team squad at Villa Park, with Marnick Vermilj, Daniel Johnson and Tom Clarke restored to the first team lineup, and Marvin Emnes added to the substitutes.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 28th August 2021

Aston Villa 2 - Preston North End 1

Aston Villa moved off the bottom, earning their first victory of the season against Preston North End. It was the visitors who began the brighter - Daniel Johnson's early effort tipped behind by Kjetil Haug, with the goalkeeper also making a smart stop to deny Steve Michealis on 7. Villa though showed positive signs themselves, with Andre Green hitting the woodwork on 21 and then shooting wide ten minutes later. Preston found themselves continually frustrated by Haug, who denied Rico Vanzie and Nicky Hughes, but would go in a goal behind at the interval when youngster Scott O'Brien found space to ram home after Jonathan Kodija had glanced Green's cross towards the far post. 

Preston had the better of the first half chances, and would have felt confident of coming from behind, but Villa came out the better of the two sides after half time, and after Jordan Veretout had shot just wide within a minute of the restart, the Frenchman provided the corner from which Ashley Westwood headed the second on 50. Preston struck back almost immediately - 52 minutes showing on the Holte End clock when a quick break saw Daniel Johnson slip the ball through for Steve Michealis to net his fourth goal in five league games. The visitors were unable to push on though, with Westwood and Veretout outstanding in midfield for Aston Villa, and Daniel Johnson's effort from long range on 81 seeming more desperate than a genuine attempt at goal. Veretout would not be able to cap his fine display with a goal - denied by Cameron Dawson late on - but under-pressure Villa manager Chris Powell will be hoping his side can use this result as a springboard to kick start their stuttering season.

Aston Villa; Haug, Fábio, Elphick (c) (Dann 88), Gardos (Williams 74), Edge, Cousins, Westwood, Green (Lowton 74), Veretout, O'Brien, Kodija

Unused; Ripley, Hepburn-Murphy, Cargill, Davis

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles (Bell 60), Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Browne (Coughlan 52), Johnson, Hughes, Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Black, Hargreaves, Mavididi, Smyth, Emnes

Referee; P Bankes - Attendance; 33,273

The journey back north was mercifully quick, with a rather subdued mood on the coach after Preston's first defeat of the season. Fairway decided not to overreact, allowing the players their usual rest day on Sunday, with the general mood amongst the coaching staff that the defeat had been coming, after North End had rode their luck of late. Fairway was keen though that such despondency did not become a regular feature, and with two home games coming up, knew that his side would soon have a chance to set the record straight.

Whilst the players had Sunday off, the management team did not - and nor, on this occasion, did Chairman Andy Lamb . Lamb took a call from his counterpart at Brentford early on Sunday, and by 11, an impromptu meeting would be convened. There was only one subject on the agenda - the future of Alan Browne . Browne, a Preston player since his move as a teenage hopeful from Cork City , had made 284 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals - but was now the subject of a huge bid from the ambitious West London club.

The initial fee would be £5.75 Million - with a further £1.8 million being spread over 12 months, and a colossal £2.1 million after the Irishman had made 50 league appearances at Lionel Road - plus a 20% sell on any profit made by Brentford in the future, making a total of at least £9.75 Million. The figures, even for a seasoned businessman such as Lamb, seemed enormous. They were also well balanced, with Brentford seemingly recognising that Fairway would have to invest immediately in a replacement. After leaving the initial call to go to voicemail, Lamb got back in touch with Brentford and asked for a 24 hour window for Preston to make their decision, which would be granted. Following talks in which nothing was decided, the small group broke up to enjoy what was left of a pleasant summer Sunday. Several hours later, as Fairway's head hit the pillow on Sunday evening, his thoughts were still with which way to go. The Chairman had been somewhat non-committal - Fairway's summer sales had improved the balance sheet no end, but he reminded his manager as they parted that he had full control of all transfer activity at Deepdale, and Fairway felt he was perhaps trying to balance his head with his heart, as both Chairman and lifelong fan.

By Monday lunchtime, the manager had made up his mind, and, with a heavy heart, let Browne know that the offer had been accepted. His afternoon press conference passed by in a blur, with the handful of journalists in attendance seemingly more interested in stirring up a minor difference of opinion between Fairway and Brentford manager Paul Heckingbottom from last season than the potential transfer, which seemed to be the elephant in the room, something which all knew of but nobody dared discuss. Fairway was pleased to be out of the conference room, getting up as soon as the final question had been asked, and returned to his office, with scout reports on potential replacements coming in all the time.

Alan Browne made his decision overnight, and with the clock showing 8am on transfer deadline day, came in to say his final farewells. Fairway spoke passionately to the player in front of the whole group, telling him that he had been a fantastic servant to the club, and would be welcome back at any time in the future. Browne, for his part, thanked Fairway, claiming that his game had improved under his tutelage, and that whilst he was looking forward to a new challenge, he would always consider himself a Preston supporter. The issue of whether Browne would line up against his former teammates the same evening was left to Paul Heckingbottom to decide - Preston not able to insert a clause into the deal preventing it, should Brentford decide to hand their new man a baptism of fire.

Fairway winced as he heard the reaction of some of the supporters collared by an on the ball BBC Radio Lancashire reporter in the City Centre, but knew that he could not afford to dwell on the matter further, with a decision to be made on who to bring in to replace Browne. Fortunately, it did not take long for him to come to the conclusion, with two others discarded on the grounds of form and unwillingness to leave London respectively - and by lunchtime, Preston's transfer record, which had been set back in December 2000 lie in tatters, as £2.4 Million man Kean Bryan , signed from Leeds United was unveiled at Deepdale. 

Whilst Byran settled in, Fairway bade a temporary farewell to Brian Bell and Nicky Hughes , who would miss the evening game by travelling off on International Duty for Scotland Under 21's, meaning youngsters McManus and Hargreaves would both be on the bench, and another of the Under 18's, Dave Byrne would earn a first senior callup to fill a spot amongst the seven substitutes. He would also try to get another transfer over the line, but despite having an offer accepted, Georgia international midfielder Giorgi Aburjania issued wage demands that were on the far side of excessive, with Fairway, after a quick consultation with Lamb, deciding to pass.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 31st August 2021

Preston North End 1 - Brentford 0

All eyes were on Brentford midfielder Alan Browne, who made his debut for the League leaders against the side who, until 8am in the morning, he had represented in over 280 League games. The Irishman would receive a rousing welcome from both sets of supporters, but blotted his copybook in the second minute when he upended Steve Michealis, allowing Daniel Johnson to shoot just wide from the resulting free kick. After an inauspicious start, Brentford did begin to impose themselves on proceedings, with Cauley Woodrow close from Maximme Colin's superb cross on 16, before Lewis Macleod shot over three minutes later. The best chance of the first half again fell to Woodrow on 29, a minute after Tom Coughlan had shot wide in a rare foray forward for the hosts, only for the striker to fire into the side netting after good work by Dale Stephens.

Browne's first chance came three minutes after half time - Macleod finding  Adam Frizzell, who touched the ball into Browne's path, only for Cameron Dawson to hold the low, driven effort. As time went on Preston began to grow in confidence however, and after Kean Bryan, Browne's £2.4 million replacement at Deepdale was tripped, youngster Coughlan grazed the bar with a powerful free kick. Coughlan would stand aside for the next dead ball opportunity - and on 79, Rico Vanzie put Preston ahead with a stunning free kick into the top corner. Teenage debutant Alan McManus could have made it two minutes later, when Bryan combined well with goalscorer Vanzie, only for Marcus Bettinelli to hold at the second attempt, but after their early exertions Brentford seemed to run out of steam as the game - and Alan Browne's early return to Deepdale - ended tamely.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson, (McManus 66), Coughlan (Mavididi 80), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Smyth, Black, Hargreaves, Byrne, Emnes

Brentford; Bettinelli, Colin, Konsa, Stephens, James (c), Macleod (Mollo 65), Browne, Zaha, Frizzell (Nego 60), Smith (Hogan 60), Woodrow

Unused; Raya, Dunk, Dean, Vatajelu

Referee; J Linnington - Attendance; 16,665

The win was a huge weight off Fairway's shoulders, and certainly made the rest of his evening - a busy one - a little easier. Kean Bryan had looked sharp on his debut, sitting in front of the back four but roaming forward as Browne had done, whilst Rico Vanzie's goal was out of the top drawer. The performance clearly impressed the second new signing of the day, as, before the various journalists had left the ground, they were able to file a report announcing the arrival of Tom Huddlestone , the 34-year old former Tottenham, Hull and, most recently, Brighton midfielder, who had put pen to paper on a two year deal, combining playing duties with his first steps in coaching, as part-time assistant manager to Duncan Shearer with the Under 23's. 

Fairway's signing of Huddlestone raised a few eyebrows - seemingly going against his 'Youth First' philosophies - but the manager explained in an impromptu press conference that he was delighted to add some more experience to the spine of his squad, with Huddlestone not expected to be a regular, but a very dependable backup option when required. The player, for his part, backed up his new manager, saying that he had very much bought into Preston's philosophy, and was keen to help by using his vast playing experience at the top level of the game to bring on the next generation of Deepdale talent.

Whilst nobody came close to matching Manchester United's signing of Marco Verratti in terms of fees paid, it would certainly prove to be a busy transfer window, with in excess of £970 Million spent across the country over the summer - including some huge deals on Deadline day, with Chelsea splashing the cash on £24 Million teenager Ben Wood from Fulham, and the Italian Tony Pane , who cost a cool £33 million from Sheffield Wednesday . Wednesday were quick to reinvest - spending £13 million to sign Tammy Abraham from Norwich and Leeds goalkeeper Will Huffer . 

With a ten day break before Preston's next game, Fairway was able to congratulate the Qatar-bound Steve Michealis , awarded the Championship Young Player Of The Month award for his efforts after a terrific start to his Deepdale career. He was also able to take in another game the same afternoon, watching as Birmingham saw off Preston by a goal to nil in the Under 23 league. Despite the result, Fairway found himself again impressed with the performance of some of the young players, and also with the man management skills of Tom Huddlestone , who he watched the game with, Huddlestone frequently up, cajoling and praising the youngsters, some of whom seemed in awe of the former England international at first.

[displaced_seagull]

The international action for Preston's jet-setters began on Thursday, when Brian Bell and Nicky Hughes both featured for Scotland U21s in a rather disappointing 1-0 defeat against Ukraine . Things were little better in Dublin, where Tom Coughlan was replaced at half time as Ireland U21 went down 2-1 against Greece . By the weekend it was the turn of the seniors, with Steve Michealis scoring for Australia in Doha, but seeing his nation go down 2-1 to Qatar , whilst Daniel Johnson sat through Jamaica's 4-3 win over Honduras as an unused substitute. Closer to home, for England it would be a a little too easy, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hitting four as Gareth Southgate's side thrashed Kosovo 6-0, Marcus Rashford also adding a brace.

Fairway would again be an interested spectator on Monday afternoon, this time with assistant Mark Morrison , as Tom Huddlestone put on a masterful display of passing in a superb 5-0 win for the Under 23's , at home to Wigan . The day would not end well for Preston's new signing however, with Huddlestone picking up a back injury in the match that would rule him out for around three weeks, with Ross Soutar's fine hattrick, as well as goals from Alex Lane and Travis Bartholomew , his first for the club at any level, all coming in the first half as Preston blew their opponents away. 

Whilst for the Under 23's the win was tinged with disappointment at Huddlestone's injury, Fairway was pleased to see that his Internationals all came through unscathed - Nicky Hughes and Brian Bell starring in a 2-0 win for Scotland against Georgia , whilst Tom Coughlan played his part as Ireland cruised past the minnows of Gibraltar , winning 3-0. The following day there would be success for both Steve Michealis and Daniel Johnson , as Australia wrapped up their campaign with a 3-0 win over Bahrain , and Jamaica put themselves within a point of qualification for the playoffs after a nervy 2-1 victory over the USA , but disappointment for England , who, not for the first time in football history, suffered an upset in Oslo, going two goals behind to Norway early on before the in-form Oxlade -Chamberlain , as well as Harry Kane netted to salvage a point.

Those on international duty reported fit and well on Friday, with Fairway putting most of the squad, bar Cameron Dawson who was carrying a slight knock, through a light session ahead of Saturday's game against Cambridge United . Those who had been absent would return - Hughes to the starting eleven, replacing Coughlan , who dropped to the bench, whilst Brian Bell was also named amongst the subs, replacing Dave Byrne , whilst Dawson passed a Saturday morning fitness test on the heel strain that had kept him out of training.
 

 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 11th September 2021

Preston North End 4 - Cambridge United 0

Preston North End continued their good start to the season with a 4-0 victory over Cambridge United at Deepdale. After Aaron Lewis had sent a free kick over the bar, Preston scored with their first chance, when Kean Bryan was sent sprawling just outside the area, and Daniel Johnson sent the free kick into the top corner for his first goal of the season. Johnson could have doubled the tally on 22, only for Jamal Blackman to make a smart save, before midfield partner Nicky Hughes went even closer on 35 with a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the box. Johnson would come close once more on 40, after another fine pass from the impressive Bryan, before, on the stroke of half time, Johnson's disguised shot slipped in Rico Henry down the left, who pulled square for Rico Vanzie to tap in.

Preston extended their lead soon after the break - Bryan and Hughes combining well for Rico Vanzie to add his second and Preston's third, with Cambridge making a triple change in response. Ten minutes later, a fourth - and a hattrick for Rico Vanzie put the game beyond any doubt, with the summer signing glancing home Johnson's free kick at the far post. With the game as good as won Fairway replaced Cameron Dawson, a pre-match injury doubt, handing a debut to young Scot Craig Black, who safely watched as Lewis sent another free kick over the top, before getting down well to tip Mason Bennett's shot onto the post as time ticked away. Preston could have had a fifth - Hughes close in injury time - but manager Fairway will be delighted at the response of his side, with two victories in two games since the sale of the talismanic Alan Browne at the end of the transfer window.
 
Preston; Dawson (Black 62), Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Coughlan 62), Hughes, Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Hargreaves, Mavididi, Smyth, Emnes

Cambridge; Blackman, Lewis, Ajayi, O'Grady, Holt (Gillesphey 50), Ledson, Moran, Thomas (c), Walker (Hunter 50), Bennett, Caton (Jackson 50)

Unused; Norris, Allen, Murphy, Halliday

Referee; K Stroud - Attendance; 18,200

Whilst the first team had cruised to victory, Preston's Under 18's were in action at Springfields, under the watchful eye of Marvin Andrews , and earned a creditable 2-2 draw against Crewe Alexandra , with Alan McManus and one of the scholars both on the scoresheet. Checking in after the game with Cameron Dawson , Fairway was pleased to hear that the 'keeper was suffering no ill effects after completing over an hour, though he did understand his manager's reasoning for the unusual substitution.

Sunday's Team of the Week announcement saw no less than five Preston players earn the accolade, with hattrick hero Rico Vanzie , as well as Dawson, Tom Clarke, Johnny Burn and Daniel Johnson also recognised as part of a superb team display. The Under 23's would be in action the following day, earning another victory to continue a decent start to the season, with Ross Soutar continuing to knock on the door with another goal for the second string, and Stephy Mavididi , who played for an hour at Fairway's request, also scoring in a 2-1 win over MK Dons .

Cameron Dawson was passed fully fit the following morning as the squad trained ahead of the Tuesday night trip to Sheffield Wednesday , with an unchanged squad, and an unchanged starting eleven, making the trip to the side in 5th place, one ahead of Preston.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

 

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 14th September 2021

Sheffield Wednesday 1 - Preston North End 1
 
Sheffield Wednesday have caught the eye after a summer of transfer spending, but will need to take their chances better than they did on a mild evening at Hillsborough if they are to regain their seat at English football's top table. A dour opening spell saw neither side register a shot before Tom Proctor's tame header wide on 17, but it was the hosts who looked the more likely in a rather dour first half, with Proctor twice close and Viktor Claesson shooting across goal on 21. Preston, by contrast, had to wait until the 28th minute for their first chance of the game, with Kean Bryan's right footed effort from distance well held by Joe Wildsmith, whilst youngster Jadon Sancho fired over late in the first half at the other end as Wednesday continued to push.

After the interval though it was Preston who stepped up a gear, with Rico Vanzie, fresh off the back of a hattrick at the weekend, seeing an effort saved by the legs of Wildsmith, and Bryan having a header blocked on 51. On 54 they would go one better - countering quickly, Rico Henry found Daniel Johnson, who pushed a ball into the right hand channel. Steve Michealis dropped onto it, taking two touches before steering the ball beyond Wildsmith from the edge of the box. Wednesday made an immediate change, with the disappointing Tammy Abraham replaced by Isreali Anas Mahamid, who had an impact almost immediately, teeing Proctor up to shoot over on 56. As the half went on it seemed as if Preston may have just done enough, Wednesday found a second wind - after Kean Bryan had headed wide on 66, it took a spectacular stop from Cameron Dawson to deny Claesson three minutes later, but with six minutes remaining Viktor Claesson did level, slotting home from the angle as relentless pressing and crisp passing finally broke down the stoic Preston defence. After a first half of few chances, the second ended with both sides pushing hard - Vanzie's free kick just over, whilst sub Tom Coughlan headed wide for Preston, and Patrick Roberts blazed over at the other end as neither managed to find a winner, deservedly sharing the points.

Sheff Wed; Wildsmith (c), Hunt, Goldson, Craddock, Cresswell, Arao, Davenport (Roberts 51), Proctor (Barrera 65), Claesson, Sancho, Abraham (Mahamid 55)

Unused; Huffer, Kane, Wilson, Smith

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan (Smyth 81), Johnson (Mavididi 66), Hughes (Coughlan 57), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Hargreaves, Emnes

Referee; J Adcock - Attendance; 22,556

 

The post game analysis saw an even game on the possession front, but also proved that Preston had struck a little lucky in facing a Wednesday side who were woefully inaccurate when shooting. It rang a few alarm bells, and Fairway asked Jason Cowan to step up the emphasis on defensive positioning, with the manager concerned that Preston gave the ball away too often when trying to play out from the back. He had no desire to see his side resort to longer balls - although the counter attack had led to their goal on Tuesday evening - but equally, knew that balance would be key.

Despite the draw - and, with the equaliser coming only a few minutes from time, what felt liked dropped points, the League table still made happy reading on Wednesday morning, with North End sitting sixth after 8 games although very much locked in a pack with others, as just two points separated 4th from 11th. 

A quiet end to the week with no games for the younger age group sides saw an almost fully fit squad available for selection as Preston travelled to Derby County on Saturday, with just Tom Huddlestone and Dan Crowley , who was stepping up his recovery and would be made available for Monday's Under 23 game ruled out. Despite this, there would be no changes, with Fairway considering his side more than a match for the wildly inconsistent Rams.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 18th September 2021

Derby County 0 - Preston North End 2
 
Surprise package Preston continued their fine start to the season with two early goals to frustrate a Derby side who never really got out of the starting blocks at Pride Park. The visitors could have taken the lead within the first thirty seconds, with only Dael Fry's excellent last ditch tackle denying Rico Vanzie, before veteran 'keeper Wayne Hennessey got down quickly to turn Steve Michealis' half volley around the post on 6. Preston's pressure finally told on 15, as after Derby failed to properly deal with a free kick, Kean Bryan passed short to Daniel Johnson, who slipped in Steve Michealis for a fine shot on the turn into the far corner of the net. Derby had a chance to make amends for their poor start almost immediately, when Sam Bowles' slip allowed Hakan Aksoy in on goal, only for the Turkish-born England Under 20 international to shoot straight at Cameron Dawson. Preston soon regained control, with Hennessey tipping over on 26, before doubling their lead a minute later, when Fry upended Vanzie and Daniel Johnson fired the resulting free kick into the roof of the net. 

Rico Vanzie twice headed over as Preston went for the jugular late in the first half, and the second began in similar fashion with Hennessey needing two attempts to hold Johnson's 50th minute free kick. The Jamaican international ran himself ragged, ably supported by the superb Bryan, with a standing ovation from the away end greeting his departure on 76. His replacement, Tom Coughlan, immediately won a free kick from which Vanzie would shave the woodwork. Preston though had done enough early on, and with the hosts both shot-shy and lacking discipline - no less than 14 fouls conceded by County over the course of the game - North End eased to a comfortable victory.
  
Derby; Hennessey, Harrison, Fry (O'Brien 70), Whatmough, J Bryan, Fraser, Ainley, Cousins (Bennett 63), Wildschut, Vydra (c), Hakan Askoy (Ince 63)

Unused; Barnes, Ngoy, Clark, Fisher

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Coughlan 76), Hughes, Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Hargreaves, Mavididi, Smyth, Emnes

Referee; T Robinson - Attendance; 26,142

Fairway was delighted with the victory, with the season having started better than he - or Chairman Andy Lamb - had ever dreamed possible. Preston would go into the difficult midweek League Cup game against Liverpool sitting in fifth place in The Championship, with a very good return of four wins, four draws and one defeat from their opening nine games. It was something of a surprise then, when, as the coach pulled back into the Deepdale car park, young defender David Smyth approached his manager and requested a transfer. Smyth explained that he did not feel he was getting enough football at Deepdale, and with reported interest, wanted to move.

Fairway asked for 24 hours to make a decision, which was granted by the player, albeit grudgingly. The following day he would take a call from Smyth on his afternoon off, and accept the player's request. Andy Lamb seemed a little disappointed when Fairway told him of the player's decision, but with an unhappy player out of contract at the end of the season, took on a more businesslike approach shortly afterwards, circulating the details of the Wigan-born player who had come through the academy.

By Monday morning there was interest, with Scotland looking like the probable destination, and after an initial offer was swatted away as being derisory, Fairway and Lamb reluctantly agreed to the Hearts offer of £185,000 , with Smyth sent northwards on Monday to discuss terms. Fairway had not heard back by the time he departed Deepdale to travel with the Under 23's for their game - which ended two apiece - against Bolton Wanderers , with Graham Hargreaves and Ross Soutar on the scoresheet.

Come Wednesday morning, there would be another offer on the manager's desk - although this time just a loan bid, for goalscoring midfielder Hargreaves from local outfit, and Vanarama North League Chorley . Fairway would accept the offer immediately, reasoning that although Hargreaves had found himself on the bench for the first team regularly, it was more out of a lack of numbers in that position thanks to Dan Crowley's preseason injury than any genuine potential. Whilst Smyth was absent in Scotland, meaning a bench spot for Travis Bartholomew , Hargreaves would keep his place for the visit of Liverpool , with Tom Coughlan starting in place of the cup-tied Kean Bryan , and another homegrown prospect, Alan McManus , stepping up to take Coughlan's place amongst the substitutes.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Wednesday 22nd September 2021

Preston North End 0 - Liverpool 1

Liverpool manager Marcelino praised Divock Origi after the out of form Belgian scored the only goal of a see-saw Cup tie at Deepdale. Preston set their stall out early, looking to put the 8-times winners on the back foot, with Gerónimo Rulli twice making good saves from Nicky Hughes early on. Daniel Johnson would also test the Argentinean, whilst at the other end, out of favour midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, handed a rare opportunity to impress, spurned a good chance on 10 by shooting weakly from distance when Ben Woodburn was clear on the right. Liverpool struggled to settle in the first half, with Steve Michealis firing into the side netting on 23 before Rulli could only parry Rico Vanzie's header on 31, with Roberto Firmino in particular looking frustrated. 

After Rulli had held from Johnson's free kick on 48, Liverpool, urged on by Marcelino, looked brighter in the second period, kicking towards their supporters, with only a fine save from Dawson denying Passarelli on 50. The Spanish manager made changes soon after - Firmino replaced by Origi and Bentaleb by Nikos Kouroupis - and almost instantly Liverpool looked the more likely side. Origi started his came with a header wide on 58 and Emre Can's rifled free kick grazed the bar, although Preston too saw chances, with Steve Michealis heading into the stands on 64 from Rico Henry's whipped cross, and Nicky Hughes' volley requiring another acrobatic save from Rulli. Passarelli, Kouroupis and Woodburn all had chances, but with Preston holding firm, it looked as if extra time would be required - until the 80th minute, when Woodburn and Kouropis combined well, and Divock Origi finally beat the resolute Dawson with a well-placed effort from close range. Whilst Preston seemed determined to go down fighting, with sub Stephy Mavididi and Michealis close late on, Origi should have added a second with an effort from José Carlos' pass in stoppage time, but had to be content with just the one to open his account for the season. 

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c) (Bell 75), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Coughlan, Johnson, Hughes (Mavididi 69), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Black, Hargreaves, McManus, Bartholomew, Emnes

Liverpool; Rulli, Troupée, Albendea, Sakho (c), Sourlis, Passarelli, Emre Can (José Carlos 68), Bentaleb (Kouropis 56), Adekanye, Roberto Firmino (Origi 56), Woodburn

Unused; Grabara, Clyne, Boothby, Matip

Referee; J Simpson - Attendance; 22,125

With the game live on TV, Fairway would endure tunnel interviews as well as a post-game press conference, before finally heading home with the clock approaching midnight. Despite his late start, he would be in early the next day, with a second big press conference to come in the morning. Having been spotted by, of all people, striker Steve Michealis whilst on international duty and with his initial assessment more than backed up by the scouting team, Fairway had secured the services of another forward. Now Qatar international Abdulla Al-Yazeedi had been granted a work permit, and Fairway was delighted to secure his services on a free transfer - albeit with the move having to wait until January, when the 19 year old's contract with Al-Rayyan came to an end. The teenager, tall and strong, stood at 6'3, towering over club Doctor Dominic Lakeland as he breezed through a medical. With 21 caps and 10 goals for his country, Al-Yazeedi's scoring record was also sensational at domestic level, having scored 16 in 26 starts for his club, and, on a free transfer, Fairway felt confident that it would be a gamble he could afford to take, especially with the player offering the height and upper body strength lacked by both Michealis and regular partner Rico Vanzie .

With Leeds United the visitors to Deepdale at the weekend, Fairway was pleased to be able to welcome Kean Bryan back into the fold, the defensive midfielder straight back in at the expense of Tom Coughlan for the game against his former side. Also stepping onto the bench would be Dan Crowley - fit again after his preseason injury problems, with Graham Hargreaves departing for the season to Chorley . A home game meant Fairway would be able to watch the Under 18's in the morning, with an 11am kickoff at Springfields against FC United of Manchester , and Marvin Andrews side continuing their decent start to the season with a fairly routine 2-0 win, Andy Sykes joining Alex Lane on the scoresheet.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 25th September 2021

Preston North End 1 - Leeds United 0

Preston North End dealt a blow for Lancashire in this particular War of the Roses, recording a 1-0 victory at Deepdale to condemn Leeds United to their first defeat of the season. As has been their trademark of late, Preston started well, with Daniel Johnson shooting over on 5, and Nicky Hughes close a minute later. Leeds seemed content to allow Preston possession in deeper areas, with their first chance coming on 12 with George Thorne's effort from distance. Samuele Lazzari would then fire a free kick over the top, but on 31 Sylvian Mirval should have done better with a header over the top after Lazzari's corner had evaded both Sam Bowles and Kean Byran. 

Byran impressed in Preston's first chance after the interval, finding space to pick a pass to Nicky Hughes, only for Steve Michealis to eventually shoot straight at Sam Johnstone. Stuart Dallas blazed over in response, but a quieter start to the second half saw Kemar Roofe with the best chance for Leeds, shooting straight at Cameron Dawson on 58. With half chances for both sides comfortably dealt with by the goalkeepers, the moment that changed the game would come when Preston made two changes on 83 - Dan Crowley making his long awaited return from injury to rapturous applause, and a tiring Michealis, who had toiled without reward, replaced by Stephy Mavididi. Preston tried to utilise his searing pace at every opportunity, allowing Rico Vanzie more space, with two chances for the summer signing both going wide in the final ten mnutes. The only goal would come in second half stoppage time - Vanzie cleverly finding the overlapping Marnick Vermilj, who crossed to the near post for Stephy Mavididi to get in front of his marker and volley home at the near post. Leeds had no response - Preston nulifying the threat of the prolific Whites attacking trio very effectively - and if they can keep this early form up, who knows where the season could lead?

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Coughlan 67), Hughes (Crowley 83), Vanzie, Michealis (Mavididi 83)

Unused; Bell, Black, Bartholomew, Emnes

Leeds; Johnstone, Matthews (Tavernier 68), Hector, Ogbeide, Walker-Peters, Thorne, Hayden, Reed, Lazzari (Roofe 51), Dallas (Ngbakoto 68), Mirval

Unused; Prandini, Hyun-Soo, Kouyaté, Stewart

Referee; G Scott - Attendance; 21,296

Whilst David Smyth agreed terms with Hearts on his move, to go through in January, on Saturday evening, Fairway found himself unconcerned by the news, instead more pleased with the dramatic nature of the victory against a side who he considered amongst the favourites for automatic promotion. The victory would push Preston up to fourth, although with other sides around them also winning, there would still be little breathing room. 

His good mood would continue into Monday, when after Tom Huddlestone resumed training, the veteran midfielder immediately declared himself available for some game time for the Under 23's against Coventry City in the afternoon at Springfields, with Huddlestone coming through a half unscathed as another Ross Soutar goal - his eighth in only seven games - secured the victory for Preston's second string under Duncan Shearer . 

The Wednesday night trip to Nottingham Forest would see no changes to the squad, with Travis Bartholomew again preferred on the bench to the Scotland-bound Smyth .

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Wednesday 29th September 2021

Nottingham Forest 0 - Preston North End 1

Preston edged out Nottingham Forest on a damp night at The City Ground as Forest continue the hunt for their first league win since August. After an early corner which Liam Friend headed into the side netting, Preston could have taken the lead on 10 when Daniel Johnson's cross was deflected onto the post before being hooked away by Harry Toffolo. Steve Michealis then shot over for the visitors, but on 25, Jack Hobbs could only partially block Daniel Johnson's shot from the edge of the box, the ball creeping into the corner to give Preston the lead. The visitors would spend the remainder of the half trying, but failing, to build on the lead, with Michealis brilliantly controlling from Rico Henry's pass but only able to skew a shot over the bar from the left hand side of the box, before Nicky Hughes fired wide from distance.

After the interval a frantic opening with Paul Kiely holding from Michealis and Johnson, and Forest sub Corey Jordan heading over, soon fizzled out, leaving much of the play bogged down in the centre of the park, although Akaki Gogia was unfortunate to see a free kick fly just wide having bent the ball around the Preston wall. Gogia would then tee up Friend on 72, with his effort being held well by Cameron Dawson, but as neither side seemed able to force the issue going forward, Preston had to be content with the single goal victory - leaving Forest to contemplate a fifth home game without a win on the bounce. 

Forest; Kiely, Wotherspoon (Jordan 45), Hobbs, Baldwin, Toffolo (Whittle 45), Gogia, Flanagan, Brady, Fitzpatrick, Friend, Sterling (Sinclair 45)

Unused; Caillard, Pilkington, Lansbury, Iacovitti

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Bartholomew 67), Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Coughlan 67), Hughes (Crowley 79), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Mavididi, Emnes

Referee; A Marriner - Attendance; 22,352

Fairway learnt on Thursday morning that there would be a double celebration at Preston, as, for the first time in his Deepdale reign, he had been awarded the Manager of the Month trophy - and Daniel Johnson would also be voted Player of the Month for September. As well as the personal award, Johnson would also be given the chance to continue his international career, earning a callup to the Jamaica squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and El Salvador , with just a point required for the Reggae Boyz to seal their place at China 2022 . Australia had already qualified from the Asian section, with Steve Michealis called into their squad for the friendlies against Bahrain and Syria . Closer to home, Tom Coughlan (Ireland U21's) and the Scottish duo of Nicky Hughes and Brian Bell would be on Euro U21 qualifying duty, leaving the camp after Saturday's game.

With Rico Henry ineligible to play against his parent club, Fairway called on youngster Adam Smith to make the step up to cover at left wing back - Smith, who had been working on his positional sense in training, delighted to be named in the squad on Saturday morning, with Tom Huddlestone also replacing Dan Crowley in the eighteen for the visit of lowly Bristol City .

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 2nd October 2021

Preston North End 0 - Bristol City 0

Stuart Fairway admitted a strong sense of disappointment as his Preston side dominated, but failed to score against strugglers Bristol City at Deepdale on Saturday, although North End remain fourth in the table heading into the International break. Preston looked to put the game to bed early on, with Michalis Papacharabous making two saves inside the first three minutes, from Rico Vanzie and Daniel Johnson whilst the latter would also shoot wide on 8. City though held their line well, with Steve Michealis flagged offside on two occasions before, when he did burst through, dragging a shot wide of target on 29. At the other end chances were fewer for the visitors, with Jamie Paterson shooting over on 32 and Tom George firing into the side netting a few minutes later.

After the interval the best chances in the early part of the half would fall for the visitors - Cameron Dawson tipping over Olufela Olumola's drive on 52 and George shooting wide from a free kick on 54, before Nicky Hughes almost put Preston ahead with a dipping effort that required quick feet from Papacharabous to get across and make an acrobatic save. A flurry of changes for both sides in the middle part of the half disrupted the flow of the game, and it was not until the final mintues when chances began to flow again, with Steve Michealis twice seeing efforts blocked in the final ten minutes of what turned into a somewhat drab affair.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Smith, Bryan, Johnson (Huddlestone 62), Hughes (Coughlan 75), Vanzie (Mavididi 75), Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Bartholomew, Emnes

Bristol C; Papacharalabous, Solly, Baranek (Flint 67), Bosnjak, Antonov, Paterson, Ntcham, Payne (c) (Dowling 62), Freeman, George, Olomola (Bonfiglio 56)

Unused; Glover, Gallagher, Alexander-Arnold, Ekstrand

Referee; M Oliver - Attendance; 22,042

With those on international duty leaving immediately after the game and the usual Sunday rest day in place, Fairway took a day out himself, to spend some much needed family time with his wife and children, travelling to nearby Blackpool for an - expensive - afternoon on the Pleasure Beach. It was not the first time that they had made the trip, and indeed one of the attractions of Preston for the kids would be the proximity to dizzying rollercoasters and waltzers, but it was the first time that Fairway found himself getting autograph requests from strangers, which he obliged, even if it did feel somewhat strange in the home town of Preston's biggest rivals.

By Monday morning, with the kids back at school, and the manager back on the training ground, there was a game to attend, and a superb performance from Alex Lane for Fairway to enjoy, with the teenager scoring a well-taken hattrick as Preston brushed aside Bury Under 23's 3-1 in Manchester. On the way back to base he also took the opportunity to go over some recent reports regarding those out on loan, with Will Tuck and James Thomas in particular impressing of late in the Scottish Premier League, for Hibernian and Dundee United respectively. 

The first of the international games involving Preston's players came on Wednesday, with an experimental Australia lineup which only featured Steve Michealis for the first half going down 1-0 to a late goal in Bahrain . That would be followed on Thursday by the Under 21 internationals involving Scotland and Ireland , with both Nicky Hughes and Brian Bell seeing game time in a 2-0 defeat to Portugal for the Scots, whilst Tom Coughlan helped the Irish youngsters see off a spirited Faeroe Islands 3-2 in Dublin. Fairway's main focus though, in the evening at least, was in Tallinn, where Harry Kane scored the only goal of the game in the first minute to give England victory in Estonia , setting up the opportunity to qualify at Wembley on Sunday. 

Friday morning would see Fairway's monthly board meeting, a little later than usual due to Andy Lamb's absence on business matters, but Fairway was nonetheless delighted to receive not only a glowing appraisal from his boss, but also the news that the club would, with the forthcoming new developments in the Youth System, give him permission to appoint a Sports Scientist, Preston's first at anything below first team level, for the Under 18's. 

Later the same day, Daniel Johnson would be involved as Jamaica sealed the point they needed to be assured of at least a playoff place for the World Cup , holding the already qualified Mexico to a 2-2 draw in the cavernous Azteca Stadium, with a game against El Salvador to come in which they could secure automatic qualification. There would also be news from Fairway's first choice for the Under 18 Sports Scientist role, with Gareth Moss , a contact of coach Jason Cowan , accepting the offer to become the latest member of the Preston North End backroom team.
 

[displaced_seagull]

Sunday dawned grey, but brightened later, and in the evening became even better for the Preston manager - albeit just as a fan, as England thrashed Hungary 5-1 at Wembley to secure their place at China 2022 . Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Marcus Rashford struck early to settle home nerves, before Norbert Balogh pulled one back for the Magyars, but second half goals from Rashford, James Ward-Prowse and John Stones gave England the three points they needed to be sure of participation in the summer festival of football.

England's explosive finishing had obviously rubbed off closer to home too - although it was the Scot, Ross Soutar , who claimed three in a 5-1 victory for the Under 23's on Monday morning against a Millwall side who seemed to have done a little too much celebrating the night before. Soutar's hattrick, combined with goals for Alex Lane and Dan Crowley sent Duncan Shearer's side top of the table, and the success would continue into the evening for Preston's younger players, with Brian Bell and Nicky Hughes amongst the Scotland players who tasted success with a 3-1 win in San Marino , and Tom Coughlan starring as Ireland saw off Lithuania 3-0. 

After such positive news over the past few days, Fairway was disappointed to be brought back down to earth on Tuesday afternoon, as, when playing for the Under 18's in a 1-0 defeat at Fleetwood in the FA Youth Cup , 16 year old fullback Nigel Cartwright sustained a serious ankle injury, later confirmed as a damaged achillies tendon, ruling him out for around six months and, in all probability, ending the teenager's season. 

The following morning there was at least better tidings from Australia , with Steve Michealis scoring his sixth international goal in a 3-0 win for Graham Arnold's side against Syria , whilst Daniel Johnson also helped Jamaica to reach the finals, as the hosts cruised to a 3-0 win against El Salvador in Kingston. With the players who had been overseas arriving back at base late on Thursday, more injury news was to follow, with teenage 'keeper Reece Mistry the latest to end up on the treatment table with a groin strain, ruling him out for a fortnight.

The news of the youth team injuries was, perhaps understandably, not touched on in Fairway's Friday morning press conference ahead of Saturday's big televised game against Burnley - instead, Football365's Tom Chaplin starting with a somewhat leading question, asking if Fairway found Carsten Jancker's recent praise of him as patronising. Resisting the temptation to refuse to answer, Fairway diplomatically replied that he would rather focus on the game itself, and, fortunately, such line of questioning soon dissolved, with talk instead being around the game itself.

It was as he was leaving the conference room however that Fairway had his biggest surprise of the day. Andy Lamb was waiting when Fairway arrived back at his office, and quickly got down to business. It had been in the back of Fairway's mind for some time that he was now in the final year of his Deepdale contract, but he had not expected to be invited to discuss an extension just twelve games into the League season. After positive discussions, Lamb departed to speak to Steve Osman , and soon returned with an offer of a two year extension, with Fairway's wages rising by £750 to £7,000 a week. The manager did not need to be asked twice, and by early afternoon, Hayley had already sent out the press release confirming that Fairway would be staying at Deepdale - unforeseen circumstances permitting - until the summer of 2024 at least.

The reaction was, almost unanimously, positive from the Preston support as Fairway perused social media later that day, as it was from the playing staff, but he knew that such a reaction would not continue if his side were not winning games, and with Burnley just around the corner, made clear the focus should be on the team, rather than issues behind the scenes in the weekly meeting with the coaching staff. With just the youth team injuries meaning Cartwright and Mistry would be unavailable, there would be two changes to the side for the trip to Turf Moor - Rico Henry returning after missing the game against his parent side, replacing Adam Smith , whilst a jet-lagged Daniel Johnson would also be allowed to rest, meaning a first start for Tom Huddlestone alongside Nicky Hughes in the centre of midfield, and a spot on the bench for Dan Crowley .

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 16th October 2021

Burnley 2 - Preston North End 1

A full blooded Lancashire derby saw Burnley victorious against Preston North End at a packed out Turf Moor despite the visitors taking an early lead. Preston, without their talismanic midfielder Daniel Johnson who was rested, and after Sam Bowles had headed over from Nicky Hughes free kick on 9, took the lead on 13 through an unusual source. Picking a loose ball up on the right hand side, veteran skipper Tom Clarke curved over a superb cross, allowing Marnick Vermilj to ghost in at the far post for a stooping header beyond Tom Heaton. With the hosts looking rattled, Kean Bryan would then drive into the side netting from range, before Burnley came close themselves when Scott Arfield saw an effort held by Cameron Dawson. Preston continued to push, with Rico Vanzie's trickery taking him away from Trevoh Chabolah before driving a shot against the bottom of the post, but on 31, Johnny Burn collied with Jordan Rhodes in the box, and, after a moments hesitation, referee Atkinson awarded the penalty from which Rhodes made no mistake. Furious about the decision, Preston lost their way a little, with passes going astray, and on 34 they were punished for a second time when Scott Arfield let fly from 20 yards out with a shot that took a slight deflection on it's way past Dawson. 

Preston assistant manager Mark Morrison had to be hauled away from the referee at the start of the second half, but on the pitch the hosts still looked the more likely, with Dawson saving well from Bradley Dack on 47 and seeing Arfield shoot over three minutes later. Preston though should have done better - Steve Michealis seeing a shot on the volley tipped wide, whilst Vanzie overhit a cross on 68 with men waiting in the middle. As time ticked away, Preston became more frantic in their attacks, leaving gaps at the back from which Jake Bidwell came close to exploiting with a searing run and shot on 73, whilst Vermilj shot when he should have passed on 87 as the wingback again found space on the right, allowing Burnley to close out the win and secure all three points.

Burnley; Heaton, Paterson, Duffy, Chalobah, Bidwell, Morris, Kasami, Gray (Ugbo 90), Dack, Arfield (Osborn 85), Rhodes (Howson 85)

Unused; McCarthy, Mawson, van Aanholt, Ejaria

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Huddlestone (Coughlan 68), Hughes (Crowley 82), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Mavididi, Bartholomew, Emnes

Referee; M Atkinson - Attendance; 22,546

Fairway would court controversy after the game, noting Burnley's five bookings and the somewhat questionable penalty decision in his post-match press briefing, but nonetheless was pleased to note his side had only dropped by a single place in the lead at the conclusion of the day's fixture list.

With his side at home on Tuesday evening, Fairway did not travel with the Under 23's for their Monday game away at Colchester United , but was still disappointed to hear from Duncan Shearer that things had not gone as planned, with just a Dan Crowley goal in a 3-1 defeat to give him any positive news from the trip. Crowley would miss out on a place in the first team squad for the Fulham game as a result, with the young midfielder's ankle still not up to the rigours of two games in two days, meaning Tom Huddlestone would step down to the bench with Daniel Johnson returning to the starting eleven.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 19th October 2021

Preston North End 1 - Fulham 0

Preston North End recalled Daniel Johnson and saw the midfielder score the only goal of the game against a Fulham side who look to be increasingly dragged in to the mix at the wrong end of the Championship table. A dire first half at Deepdale saw neither side record a chance of note, with only a heavy challenge on home fullback Marnick Vermilj arousing any real noise from the crowd.

Vermilj failed to reappear after the break, replaced by Travis Bartholomew, but after Kevin Mbabu had shot over from distance for Fulham, Daniel Johnson lit up Deepdale with a fantastic goal on the 50 minute mark, with a dipping shot from 25 yards out after Nicky Hughes' clever pass beating 'keeper David Button and ending up in the bottom corner. Bouyed by the goal, Preston surged forward, with Rico Vanzie seeing a header palmed around the post on 54 before Kean Bryan nodded the resulting corner wide of target when well place. At the other end Fulham struggled to break down the Preston back line, with Franco di Santo shooting wide from range, before Vanzie struck the woodwork from Rico Henry's low cross on the hour. It was now all Preston, with Button again forced to make a smart save to deny Johnson on 63, and then earning his keep once again when Neil Harte failed to deal with Vanzie's whipped cross-come-shot on 72. Fulham offered little in response, with only Martin Connelly's shot on 85 briefly troubling Cameron Dawson who handled well, but despite the win, Preston will be concerned about the lack of goals of late from their strikers, with both Vanzie and Steve Michealis registering blanks on the last five occasions. 

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Bartholomew 45), Henry, Bryan (Huddlestone 64), Johnson, Hughes (Coughlan 64), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Mavididi, Emnes

Fulham; Button, De Laet, Bennett, Harte, Mbabu, Christensen, Jozabed (Connolly 45), Rybus, Williams (Moore 45), Harris, di Santo (Vellios 57)

Unused; O'Donnell, Jenkins, Koumourias, Ayité

Referee; A Taylor - Attendance; 16,907

With Daniel Johnson once again flavour of the month after another eye-catching goal, Fairway was pleased to see that the positive atmosphere generated by the win had just about quelled any negativity left over from the previous weekends local derby defeat. The only fly in the ointment was the injury to Marnick Vermilj , with a twisted knee ruling the Belgian out for around ten days.

It would be a quiet couple of days before the squad left for the overnight stay in London ahead of the game against Queens Park Rangers , with just the one change to the side - Travis Bartholomew stepping in for his first League start, and David Smyth brought back in from the cold to take a place on the bench.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 23rd October 2021

Queens Park Rangers 0 - Preston North End 0

On a wet, miserable day in West London QPR's usual brand of exciting, flair-filled football cut little mustard against a workmanlike and industrious Preston side who nullified Rangers completely, taking a point back to Lancashire for their troubles. A slow start to the game saw little action of note before a frenetic ending to the first half, in which Steve Michealis twice hit the post and Rico Henry forced a smart save from Alex Smithies. 

Chupa Akpom looked the most likely for Rangers, but could only shoot weakly at Cameron Dawson after bursting through on 48, whilst at the other end, Sam Bowles headed against the woodwork on 54 as Preston pushed for the opener that their play had, on balance, deserved. Akpom would again head wide on 55, whilst Dawson had to be alert to turn behind after the striker had seen a cross cannon off the knee of Travis Bartholomew on 65, before both sides seemed to run out of steam in a poor ending to what had been a reasonably entertaining goalless draw.

QPR; Smithies, Darikwa, Harness, Hall, Choudhury, Clark, Byrne, Willian José (Cullen 57, McGhee 73), Sawyers (Lua Lua 68), Boschilla, Akpom

Unused; Long, Onuoha, Brown, Kaikai

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c) (Bell 73), Bowles, Burn, Bartholomew, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Mavididi 88), Hughes (Huddlestone 73), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Black, Coughlan, Smyth, Emnes

Referee; S Attwell - Attendance; 15,571

Fairway would learn on the way home that the Under 18's had gone down 2-1 to Morecambe away from home, but was more concerned at seeing Steve Michealis and Daniel Johnson both look exhausted as they trooped off the Loftus Road pitch - both players clearly feeling the effects of recent games on both the domestic scene and at international level. With no midweek games for some time, Fairway hoped the usual rest period would be enough to see the key duo back to their usual selves ahead of the game against Norwich City on Saturday. 

Speaking to Duncan Shearer on Sunday, Fairway requested that the Under 23s manager give Stephy Mavididi a good run on Monday afternoon when his side faced Colchester United , and was delighted to see the young striker score one and set up another for Ross Soutar in a 2-2 draw. Less pleasing was the sight of goalscorer Soutar departing Springfields heavily bandaged, although the news would later be confirmed as better than first feared, with just a sprained ankle rather than any serious ligament damage ruling the Scottish youngster out for up to a month.

The lack of midweek action for his side would give Fairway the chance to take in another game, much to his wife's displeasure, and on Tuesday he travelled to Salford City to watch young midfielder Graham Hargreaves run the show for Chorley in a 2-1 win over the natives, with Hargreaves scoring one and assisting another in a dominant individual display. 

Leaving it late in order to give Marnick Vermilj the best chance of being available, Fairway chose not to name his side to face Norwich City until Saturday morning. Whilst the Belgian did pass a fitness test, the medical team also advised that he only play for a maximum of an hour, with Fairway as a result choosing to stick with the same starting eleven, but with Vermilj replacing the out of favour David Smyth on the bench, meaning Travis Bartholomew would continue on the right of the back five. 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 30th October 2021

Preston North End 2 - Norwich City 0

Preston continued their good home form with a dominant performance against a disappointing Norwich City. The hosts came out of the blocks quicker, with Steve Michealis shooting wide from Rico Vanzie's through ball after 90 seconds, before Timm Klose did well to clear from Travis Bartholmew's early cross. Norwich's first chance came from a dead ball, with Alex Pritchard's free kick held by ex-Canary Cameron Dawson on 9, but after the promising early start neither side could create enough to open the scoring before the interval.

After half time however it was a different matter, and on 48 Preston took the lead after breaking quickly, with Kean Bryan and Daniel Johnson working well together to play in Nicky Hughes, who slipped in Steve Michealis for a shot on the turn which beat Declan Rudd for sheer power into the corner of the net. Michealis could have added a second on 54, shooting wide from the angle, before at the other end Niall Ennis drew a smart stop from Cameron Dawson at the expense of a corner. Though having the better of possession, Preston seemed unable to break through a second time, with Daniel Johnson instead shooting from distance, but on 72 a similar chance would lead to the second goal, with Vanzie combining well with the excellent Bryan to set up veteran Tom Huddlestone for a shot which kept low and took a slight deflection to beat Rudd. With a two goal cushion, the hosts were able to play a more expansive game, with Rudd saving well from Vanzie on 81 and Michealis on 84, before Bryan's effort off the post would be ruled out by a flag for offside a minute later. Huddlestone came closest to adding to the scoring late on - Bryan again involved in the buildup with Rudd holding the former England International's strike in stoppage time, with Preston always in command of the game.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c) (Bell 71), Bowles, Burn, Bartholomew, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Mavididi 71), Hughes (Huddlestone 64), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Black, Coughlan, Vermilj, Emnes

Norwich; Rudd, Mijailovic, Magnússon, Klose (Chester 70), Dasilva, Pritchard (Chandler 78), Pearson (Eraso 73), Ndong, Kaputska, Ennis, Hernández

Unused; Ingram, Taylor, Rossiter, Gray

Referee; J Adcock - Attendance; 19,078

The impressive victory saw Fairway delighted to head into his Monday morning board meeting with his side sitting in fourth place in the table. It was no surprise to find Andy Lamb in equally jubilant mood, with both manager and Chairman very pleased with the way the season was going, although, even with his new contract, Fairway took the Chairman's comment about his 'untouchable' status at the club with a pinch of salt, knowing how quickly things can change. The other news to come out of the meeting was that Fulham had offered £500,000 to buy out Greg Cunningham's transfer clause relating to games played, with both manager and Chairman happy to lose a potential £155,000 in order to add to the - much depleted, after the summer signings - transfer kitty.

There was not such good news from the Under 23's , as Duncan Shearer saw his side go down 3-2 away at Cardiff City , with goals from Alex Lane and Dan Crowley , but also would lose Adam Smith to injury for a fortnight, with the youngster ruled out after a groin strain sustained in the warmup. The news would though be tempered by the fact that Smith would only miss one first team game, should he be needed, as with another round of internationals on the horizon, Saturday's trip to Sunderland would be the last first team action for two weeks. Steve Michealis (Australia) and Daniel Johnson (Jamaica) would again be the only two senior callups, with Nicky Hughes and Brian Bell again in the Scotland Under 21 squad, and Tom Coughlan representing Ireland at the same level. 

There would be further injury news on Thursday, with Dan Crowley taken ill after training, and ruled out for the weekend by the medical team with a provisional diagnosis of food poisoning. Fairway was somewhat relieved to hear that the midfielder seemed to be the only player affected, meaning the source was unlikely to be at the club. Selecting his side on Friday, the only dilemma would be at right wingback, with Travis Bartholomew again getting the nod over the fit-again Marnick Vermilj , who would have to be content with a place on the bench.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 6th November 2021

Sunderland 0 - Preston North End 0

Preston manager Stuart Fairway defended big money summer signing Rico Vanzie as the forward went through another hour without a goal on Saturday afternoon in a dour affair at the Stadium of Light. Vanzie, who has started every one of North End's twenty games this season, has only four goals to his name and never looked likely to add to that tally in a game when neither side seemed to pack their shooting boots. Setting the tone early on, Vanzie could only shoot straight at Nick Pope on 8 before Adam Clayton finished weakly when well placed, handing Cameron Dawson a routine save. Despite losing the possession battle though it was the hosts who always looked more likely, with Jerry Mbakogu heading against the crossbar on 21 from Andrew Little's cross, whilst for Preston the most likely source of goals again looked like being from midfield, with Pope turning a Daniel Johnson effort around the post on 25. Sunderland should have led at the interval - Little hitting first the post and then the crossbar on 43, whilst Adam Clayton would also graze the bar with a rising shot on the volley from Kyle Naughton's centre on the stroke of half time.

Vanzie would nod Preston's best chance of the early exchanges after the interval wide from Rico Henry's corner on 51, before departing somewhat despondently on the hour to be replaced by Stephy Mavididi. Neither side did enough in the second period, which went long spells without action at either end, as Lass Bangoura, always a threat on the right, headed over on 79 before Preston sub Tom Coughlan dragged wide at the other end two minutes later. With the game heading towards a disappointing conclusion, Nicky Hughes could have snatched what would have been a somewhat undeserved win for the visitors, shooting wide on 84 when left carelessly unmarked, and as both sides head into the international break, there are still questions to be answered as to whether either are strong enough to mount a promotion challenge as we head ever closer to the vital winter months.

Sunderland; Pope, Naughton, Lienhart, Kabasele, Garbutt, McNair, Bangoura, Clayton (c) (Seavill 73), Mowatt (King 56), Little, Mbakogu (Asoro 61)

Unused; Gash, Dymond, Martin, Williams

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Bartholomew, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Coughlan 77), Hughes, Vanzie (Mavididi 64), Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Huddlestone, Vermilj, Emnes

Referee; R Madley - Attendance; 36,233

Whilst the big news after the game was that Norwich City , whose hopes of returning to the top flight at the first attempt now looked unlikely, had dismissed Adam Murray , thoughts of those in the Preston camp were closer to home. 

It had been a case of goalless draws all round for Preston on Saturday, as Fairway learnt after the game that Marvin Andrews and the Under 18's had been held 0-0 by Chester in the morning. Chewing over the result on the way home with Mark Morrison , Fairway made a late night call to Duncan Shearer , with the Scot asked to give Vanzie - and the out of favour Marvin Emnes - a run up front for the Under 23's on Monday, with the manager hoping that the chance would get his young striker out of his recent rut, against Barnsley at Springfields.

With Ross Soutar injured, Shearer was only too happy to oblige, but, despite the presence of the experienced duo in attack, and Marnick Vermilj who completed the 90 minutes on his return from injury, Preston went down 1-0 to a Cedwyn Willis goal nonetheless. Fairway was though pleased with Vanzie's effort, and could see that the striker was desperately keen to return to form, reassuring him on Tuesday morning that he retained the faith of the management team.

The midweek internationals did not begin well for the Preston jet-set, with Steve Michealis disappointing as Australia were humbled 3-0 at home by Uzbekistan , but later Daniel Johnson was at least on the winning side, as Jamaica saw off Bolivia by a single goal. The internationals would continue on Thursday evening, with Tom Coughlan scoring his first goal for the Ireland Under 21's in a 2-1 win against Greece , but Brian Bell and Nicky Hughes again on the losing side as Scotland lost narrowly, 1-0 to Germany at St Mirren.

[displaced_seagull]

England had to wait until Saturday afternoon to play their penultimate World Cup qualifier, with an own goal, Marcus Rashford and a debut goal for Chelsea playmaker Ben Wood enough to see off Kosovo with Jack Butland also keeping a clean sheet. Back at Springfields, with the fringe players training, there would also be good news with Adam Smith pronounced fit, joining the well-again Dan Crowley in contention for a spot in the Under 23's side to take on local rivals Burnley on Monday. Marvin Emnes , who continued for the nominal second string, did hit the target, but Fairway was disappointed to see the side fall to a somewhat lacklustre 3-1 defeat - and seeing Emnes ruled out for a few days with a bruised thigh proved to be the icing on a rather unsatisfying cake.

After Couglan's goal for Ireland the week previous, it was no surprise that Fairway heard his young midfielder again completed the 90 minutes, albeit in a 2-1 defeat against Romania , but he would not be the only Preston goalscorer of the week, as Nicky Hughes opened his Scotland account in a comfortable 3-0 win against Ukraine , with Brian Bell also a standout performer for the young Scots in Paisley.

Back at base, Andy Lamb advised Fairway that FC Inter Turku had asked to extend the loan deal for Ander Cantero for another season, with all parties only too happy to accept, as Fairway confided in his Chairman that he was considering other options for the backup goalkeeper slot. Lamb agreed, and without much fanfare, Cantero would be formally transfer-listed on Wednesday morning as a result. Steve Michealis would not be involved for Australia in the evening, as they returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win against China , and it would also be a disappointing final Jamacia game of 2021 for Daniel Johnson , who played, but saw his side beaten 2-1 by Paraguay . For England however there would be no such disappointment - a 4-0 win over Norway banishing the ghosts of the goalless draw in Oslo with Demari Gray, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane and Jesse Lingard all scoring on a night with plenty of empty seats at Wembley.

With his players returning from international duty, Fairway would be busy on the training ground on Friday, before, alongside the local MP, he was called on to formally open the new building at the youth academy on Saturday morning, managing to stay just long enough for the inevitable photo calls and handshakes before heading off to finalise the side for the afternoon game against Birmingham City , which would see two changes to the starting lineup, and a third on the bench, with Daniel Johnson only named amongst the substitutes with a touch of jet-lag, to be replaced by Tom Huddlestone , and Marnick Vermilj returning for Travis Bartholomew on the right. On the bench, the injury to Marvin Emnes would mean a chance for Dan Crowley , should he be required.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 20th November 2021

Preston North End 3 - Birmingham City 1

Birmingham manager Gareth Ainsworth saw his side beaten by Preston at Deepdale, but after the game claimed that a defeat which saw his side fall to the bottom of The Championship, he had seen enough spirit to believe his side had enough about them to move away from the relegation places sooner rather than later. The visitors should have taken the lead in the fifth minute, when loanee Owen Buck picked out the run of Greg Stewart, only for the midfielder to plant a header over the top with only Cameron Dawson to beat, with Preston punishing their guests by taking the lead on 10 when Rico Vanzie's delightful pass into the channel was fiercely driven home by the revitalised Steve Michealis . Vanzie should have doubled the lead on 19 after a fine through ball by the excellent Tom Huddlestone, only to shoot wide, whilst Birmingham saw Michael Morrison head straight at Dawson in a disappointing end to the first period.

After a quiet ending to the first half, anyone tempted to be late taking their seats after the interval would be disappointed, as on 52 another fine pass from Huddlestone teed up Nicky Hughes for a rifled effort from 25 yards out to claim the second Preston had been looking for. They would concede on 70, when Charlie Colkett's corner was bundled home by teenager Andrew Oates after Morrison had flicked on, but never looked in any real danger, and would be indebted to Greg Leigh's goalline clearance on 82 after good work by Vanzie. Three minutes later however there would be no such luck, as a mixup from Rico Henry's cross saw Greg Leigh deflect the ball off the post and into his own net, sealing a comprehensive victory for the hosts.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Huddlestone (Coughlan 86), Hughes (Johnson 70), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Bell, Black, Mavididi, Bartholomew, Crowley

Birmingham; Araluskis, Coton (Oates 64), Shotton, Morrison, Leigh, Lewis (Hancock 58), Kieftenbeld, Colkett, Buck (Adams 70), Obi, Stewart

Unused; Bowen, Brock-Madsen, Slater, Tesche

Referee; J Simpson - Attendance; 19,786

Whilst the first team would be victorious, for the Under 18's it proved a disappointing afternoon, as they went down 2-0 at League leaders Fleetwood Town . It would prove to be something of a quiet week at the club, although Fairway was pleased to see the newly upgraded Youth Facilities were proving popular, with plans almost finalised for the upgraded training facilities at Springfields as well, and the first ground likely to be cut sooner rather than later.

There would also be managerial news, as a couple of weeks after Norwich City had dismissed Adam Murray , Fulham's Russell Slade also paid the price for a poor start to the season, with Murray linked to an immediate return to the game at Craven Cottage. In the top flight there would be changes too, with Friday night's coach trip to Oxford United enlivened by the - long expected - news that Radhi Jaidi had received his P45 at Southampton . By the time his squad arrived at the hotel, Fairway had also made up his mind regarding the team, with Daniel Johnson recalled after his rest, replacing Tom Huddlestone who had performed admirably in the victory the previous week.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 27th November 2021

Oxford United 2 - Preston North End 0

A Preston side who were their own worst enemy fell to only their third league defeat of the season on a disappointing afternoon for the visitors against an Oxford side who played with a high tempo and pressed their opponents all over the pitch. Straight from the kickoff the hosts looked the more likely, with Cameron Dawson forced to tip Liam Walsh's effort wide in the ninth minute. Oxford could have gone ahead on 17 when Sam Bowles tripped Kane Hemmings inside the box, only for Dawson to make a smart save from former teammate Josh Windass' spot kick. As Oxford almost queued up to take pot shots at goal Dawson found himself by far the busier of the two 'keepers, with Walsh only denied by the post on 39 before being beaten just before half time, when Kane Hemmings pulled away from a hesitant Bowles to meet Windass' centre with a bullet header into the roof of the net from close range.

Preston, who had hardly got out of the blocks, emerged early for the second half after what manager Stuart Fairway cryptically called after the game a 'reality check', and his side improved a little after the break, with Nicky Hughes' effort on 53 deflected wide by Nathan Smith, and Daniel Johnson shooting over on 61. Oxford had to wait until the 64th minute for their first chance, but when it came, they would make it count, as Vanzie pushed Windass in the box, allowing Liam Walsh to slam the second penalty of the afternoon beyond Dawson. The under-fire striker could have made amends on 74, with a cross come shot which Adam Smith did well to turn around the post, before Theo Walcott blazed over when well placed from Rob Hall's free kick on 80. Preston saved their best football for the final five minutes, with Smith making superb saves to deny sub Tom Huddlestone and the unfortunate Vanzie, but as Paul Dickov's side slowly make their way up the table, a lesson in not underestimating The U's would not go amiss for many of The Championship's promotion chasing pack.

Oxford; A Smith, Facey, N Smith, Nelson (RIbero 85), Riley, Windass (M Johnson 65), Oakley-Boothe, Walsh, Hall, Hemmings, Walcott

Unused; Simpson, Maguire, Rothwell, Howe, Tanner

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn (Bell 74), Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Huddlestone 61), Vanzie, Michealis (Mavididi 67)

Unused; Black, Coughlan, Bartholomew, Crowley

Referee; J Moss - Attendance; 12,205

After a disappointing defeat Fairway chose not to ask the players in for extra training on Sunday, but warned them on the way home that if they were to maintain their position in the playoff places, they would need to avoid too many more similar performances - and results - for the remainder of the season.

By Monday, his thoughts were on more financial matters, with Nicky Hughes asking for a word after training to discuss his contract. Fairway had no intention of losing the young midfielder, and, privately, was inclined to agree with the Scotsman when he pressed his case for a more lucrative deal. Hughes had shrugged off the 'might-be' tag that had accompanied him from his days at Aberdeen to become a crucial part of the Preston side, and, after some tough negotiations, a deal would be finally hammered out, with the midfielder and his agent going away to ponder Preston's final offer. Fairway considered the club still in the box seat, despite the player forcing the issue, with Hughes under contract until 2024, but did not want it to become a big issue, agreeing to a substantial increase to fully reflect his worth to the side.

The contract talks had prevented the manager from travelling to Huddersfield to watch the Under 23's share the spoils in an eight goal thriller, with Ross Soutar scoring twice on his comeback, including a stoppage time equaliser, and Marvin Emnes joined by Adam Smith on the scoresheet in what sounded like a game certainly not for the defensive purists. As if to enhance his claims for a new contract further, Hughes would be awarded Championship Goal of the Month for November on Wednesday morning, with his effort against Birmingham awarded the monthly accolate, ahead of efforts from Brentford's Dennis Adeniran and Ryan Mason of Hull City . 

The big news in the footballing world would come on Friday with the draws for the World Cup announced in a predictably over the top and over long ceremony in the still magnificent 'Birds Nest' Stadium in Beijing, built for the 2008 Olympic Games. England would be in Group D, alongside holders Brazil , Iran and Senegal , whilst the other home nation to qualify, Wales , came out in Group A, one of two to feature potential interest for Preston, alongside hosts China , Columbia and Daniel Johnson's Jamaica . For Steve Michealis , should he, as expected, earn a place in the Australia squad, there would be group games against Argentina, Georgia and Guinea . 

For now though, Michealis - and Johnson - would have to be content with domestic action, with Fairway keeping an unchanged side for the Saturday afternoon visit of Middlesbrough . Whilst the players went through their pregame routines, Fairway was pleased to see the Under 18's record a 1-0 victory against Oldham at Springfields, with Alex Lane scoring the only goal of the game.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 4th December 2021

Preston North End 2 - Middlesbrough 0

Preston returned to winning ways with victory over a Middlesbrough side who too often allowed the basics to slip on a grey afternoon at Deepdale, although Stuart Fairway will be concerned having seen both Nicky Hughes and, in injury time, Rico Henry limp off. After early chances for both sides, with Daniel Johnson shooting just over for Preston and Cameron Dawson tipping Patrick Bamford's effort wide, the game tailed off towards the middle part of the first half with chances limited. 

After a disappointing opening, Preston started the second half with a goal from their first chance on 50 - Preston countering quickly, with Rico Vanzie and Nicky Hughes combining well for Hughes to play a pinpoint ball forward for Steve Michealis to fire beyond the advancing Neto. The goal - briefly - enlivened what had become a somewhat drab affair, with Kean Bryan seeing his effort from Ross Quinn's weak header blocked on 55 and Rico Henry curling a cross against the outside of the post on the hour. 'Boro forays forward were more limited, and more direct in nature, with Johnny Burn getting the better of Patrick Bamford in the air on several occasions, before sub Willyan found Tom Smith on 68, only for Dawson to make a smart save. Michealis should have made it two on 70 and again on 77, but, after Willyan had forced a flying save from Dawson 86, Preston finally killed the game off with a minute of normal time remaining. Terrific work from Michealis would be rewarded from Vanzie's clever pass, the Australian driving to the touchline inside the box before unselfishly squaring for Tom Huddlestone to score his second in as many games. 

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c) (Bell 78), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Bartholomew 78), Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Huddlestone 64), Vanzie, Michealis

Unused; Black, Coughlan, Mavididi, Crowley

Middlesbrough; Neto, Marshall, Quinn, Cooper, John, Ring (Willyan 60), Smith, Delph, Ramírez, Engvall (Clough 45), Bamford (Jakupovic 76)

Unused; Mitov, Chijioke, Watson, Hernández

Referee; M Jones - Attendance; 19,916

A week after he had found himself spending Sunday stewing over a disappointing defeat, Fairway would be able to relax on Sunday, and although the news regarding Rico Henry was not great - the loanee wingback ruled out for three weeks with a pulled hamstring, for Nicky Hughes , who was again superb and took the sponsors Man of the Match award despite playing only 65 minutes, the thigh strain which had seen him miss the latter stages of the game would only rule him out for a few days. Elsewhere, job news provided the Sunday afternoon headlines, with Fulham luring former goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from Bradford City , and Craig Darymple swapping Reading for Norwich City .

Monday's 1-0 victory for the Under 23's , with Alex Lane again on the scoresheet would be followed by the Third Round draw of the FA Cup , with Fairway given an early opportunity to play against Stekelenburg's Fulham on the first weekend in January. The dream draw tag, however, went to National League AFC Telford , picked for the plum tie of the round and a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in a game that could set the Phoenix club up for a generation to come.

After a fairly benign start to the week, Wednesday would be a bleak day for Preston and their manager. He had planned to take some time out from training to view final scout reports and videos on a January transfer target, but scarcely had he started when a knock on the door brought some bad news, with key striker Steve Michealis ruled out for up to three weeks after turning an ankle. Whilst Fairway immediately asked for Ross Soutar to train with the first team group with an eye on Saturday, there was more bad news to follow, when Marnick Vermilj advised his manager that he had been informed of potential interest from Spain for his services. Fairway sat down with the Belgian to garner some more information, and, at the conclusion of their chat, reluctantly informed the 29 year old that, should Eibar indeed match the £1.2 million valuation set by Preston, he would sanction the transfer.

Discussing the potential move with Mark Morrison the following morning, Fairway found himself feeling slightly more relaxed - Travis Bartholomew had been performing well of late, and was perhaps ready for a longer-term crack at first team action. By lunchtime, all such plans were off, when, after a session in the gym, Bartholomew would be ruled out for up to a month with strained muscles in his back. At least there was better news on the transfer front, with 20-year old Mozambique international goalkeeper Joaquim Manjate receiving clearance - and the all important work permit - to join the club in January, on a free transfer from Academia Mário Esteves Coluna , one of a number of 'Academy clubs' within Africa, and named after the legendary Portugese international midfielder Mário Esteves Coluna, who captained a side including Eusébio to third place in the 1966 World Cup.

Perhaps unsurprisingly coming from a club associated with such a man, Manjate certainly appeared something special - making his international debut at 17 against Mayotte, and still six months from his 21st birthday, he had already nailed down the first choice goalkeeper slot for 'Los Mambas', and, prior to Preston's swoop, had been heavily linked with a move to Portugese giants Benfica . Personal terms, negotiated via video-link, had been fairly easy to accommodate, with Fairway choosing not to question Manjate's agents' demand for a £12 million minimum fee release clause, reasoning to Andy Lamb that if the player ever became worth that sort of money, he would have seriously improved North End's prospects - both on and off the field.

Mercifully Friday's training session passed without further incident, with Fairway also delighted to see Nicky Hughes passed fit for inclusion. His enforced changes would see Adam Smith step up from the Under 23's to replace Rico Henry , whilst Ross Soutar would also make his senior Preston debut at Hull City on Saturday, with David Smyth again recalled to fill a place on the bench.
 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 11th December 2021

Hull City 1 - Preston North End 0 

Hull City took all three points in a tight affair which could have gone either way. Preston - after a nightmare week which saw two key players in Steve Michealis and Rico Henry ruled out through injury - started the better, with Daniel Johnson seeing an effort tipped wide by Karl Darlow on 3 before shooting over three minutes later, but Spencer Sands should have done better than to hook over on 9. Despite this let off, the visitors should have taken the lead, and after Kean Bryan and Sam Bowles had tested Darlow it seemed as if the opening goal would be only a matter of time. Ross Soutar, making his first start for North End, pulled another chance wide of target on 20 before the hosts started to force Preston back, with only a good save from Cameron Dawson denying Jason Cummings on 31. Seven minutes later the ball was in the net - but from an unexpected source, when Richard Smallwood combined well on the right with Liam Palmer, who crossed from the byeline for the unfortunate Sam Bowles to deflect past his own 'keeper.

Both sides pushed in a busy opening spell at the start of the second half, with Christian Fuchs' free kick just over the top before Rico Vanzie, who again struggled to hit the target, fired wide then over within the space of a minute. Tom Huddlestone would be next for Preston, swerving a shot from distance that swung in the air but was still held by Darlow on the hour, but as time ran out, the visitors were reduced to efforts from long range, with Johnson wasteful, and Hull efficient at recycling the ball from blocked shots. Preston will have easier Championship away days than the Circle, whilst Hull will want to put their indifferent early form behind them to improve in the second half of the season.

Hull; Darlow, Palmer, O'Connell (c), Walsh, Fuchs, Smallwood, Livermore, Mason (Tunnicliffe 80), Okkels, Sands (McClean 78), Cummings (Barnes 68)

Unused; Wardley, Grocott, Bridcutt, Wilson

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Smith, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Huddlestone 45), Vanzie (Mavididi 65), Soutar

Unused; Bell, Black, Coughlan, Smyth, Crowley

Referee; K Stroud - Attendance; 23,023

The lack of sleep on Saturday left came from the result, rather than the performance, with Fairway left concerned that the mid season injury problems were taking a toll on his side, albeit with the two prearranged January transfers still to come in. He resolved to speak to both the Chairman and the Scouting team as a result, and on Sunday morning, one of the sell on fees in the huge deal that saw Alan Browne depart Deepdale had been cashed in, with Fairway's transfer kitty up to £940,000 as a result. For the scouting team, there would be new assignments, with the Monday morning staff meeting particularly busy as a result.

After playing on Saturday, Ross Soutar was left out of the Under 23's side who won at Ipswich Town on Monday, with Alex Lane, Marvin Emnes and Dan Crowley on the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory. He would also be left out of the starting eleven for the visit of Huddersfield on Tuesday, with Stephy Mavididi handed his first start of the campaign. 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 14th December 2021

Preston North End 1 - Huddersfield Town 1 

Preston rescued a point with an equaliser in the second half, but suffered further injury woe on a chilly night at Deepdale. After a quiet start in which Daniel Johnson shot over at one end and Cameron Dawson saved well from Jacob Murphy at the other, Huddersfield took the lead on 39, when Tony Watt helped Liam Kinsella's cross into the path of Javario Dilrosun for a fierce drive into the roof of the net. Danny Hunter would then see a powerful effort clawed away by Dawson as the visitors looked to cement their position before the break, whilst Preston struggled against a side who pushed high up the pitch, denying space to wingbacks Marnick Vermilj and Adam Smith.

The hosts would see their day take a further turn for the worst on 55, when Rico Vanzie had to be stretchered off after taking a tumble and landing awkwardly, but, after narrowly avoiding conceding a second when Hunter could only fire a rebound into the side netting after his initial effort was parried, improved, and, on 62, equalised. With youngster Ross Soutar replacing the injured Vanzie, his inch-perfect pass from Nicky Hughes' ball found strike partner Stephy Mavididi a willing runner, beating Michael Hefele for pace before shooting low into the corner beyond a despairing Lawrence Vigouroux. With Preston now looking brighter, Kean Bryan would head wide on 71 before Nicky Hughes' free kick grazed the bar on 77, but for the hosts there would be no glorious comeback, with sub Tom Huddlestone closest from range in stoppage time.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Smith, Bryan (Coughlan 83), Johnson (Huddlestone 68), Hughes, Vanzie (Soutar 55), Mavididi

Unused; Bell, Black, Smyth, Crowley

Huddersfield; Vigouroux, Baldock, Stankovic, Hefele, Fryers, Reed, Kinsella, Hunter (Bennacer 63), Murphy (Barker 69), Dilrosun, Watt (Onyedinma 61)

Unused; Cadman, Gyaki, Tomori, Close

Referee; P Bankes - Attendance; 18,407

The news on Rico Vanzie was not good, with a broken shoulder diagnosed by the time the players had left the field, and the young striker off for surgery which would sideline him for a month. With the draw seeing Preston drop a place to fifth, and a tricky trip to Barnsley ahead at the weekend, Fairway needed a boost, and late on Thursday, got one when Sam Bowles put pen to paper on a new four year contract, with the pitifully low minimum fee release clause inserted in his contract raised to a - still low, but at least more reasonable - £3 million for the young defender.

Questions about Bowles would dominate the early part of the Friday press conference ahead of Preston's final game before the busy Christmas period, with Fairway expressing his delight that the summer signing had committed to a longer term future at the club. Alan McManus' goal helped the Under 18's to a 1-1 draw with Carlisle United on Saturday morning, whilst with Vanzie's injury enforcing a change, Fairway chose to recall Ross Soutar and bring Marvin Emnes onto the bench to back up his threadbare and somewhat inexperienced attacking line in the only change.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 18th December 2021

Barnsley 2 - Preston North End 0 

Barnsley eased to a comfortable victory on Saturday afternoon with Preston looking very lightweight without either of their two first choice forwards. The visitors were second best from the word go at Oakwell, with Cameron Dawson called into action inside the first minute to deny Clive Bishop after Tom Clarke's weak pass. Barnsley, after an early booking for dissent for Rolando Aarons, controlled play, and on 19, took the lead when Scott Maxwell was given the freedom of the box to prod home from Bishop's pass, before coming close to a second soon after when Johnny Burn just beat the young striker to Kenji Gorré's cross. Preston looked bereft of ideas, and when the ball did get forward, neither Ross Soutar, who skewed wide on 28, or Stephy Mavididi, who failed to register a shot on target all afternoon, looked likely to score. The hosts doubled their tally on the half hour - Josh Scowen blasting home from another fine Bishop pass, and were only denied a third on 41 when Tom Davies hooked over.

Preston began the second half a little brighter, with Mavididi close on 52 before grazing the outside of the post with an effort from range on 56, but Barnsley were better in every department throughout, with only some sterling defensive work by the again impressive Burn helping Preston to get off somewhat lightly. Ross Soutar summed the day up for the visitors on 84 - sent clean through by Tom Huddlestone only to blaze high into the stand from the edge of the box, whilst Hiram Boateng was unfortunate to clip the woodwork with a screamer from distance late on. Stuart Fairway will be hoping for a Christmas miracle with his injury list now causing real concerns.
 
Barnsley; Gascoigne, Richards, Roberts, Baker, Kpekawa, Gorré (March 79), Davies, Scowen (Boateng 73), Aarons, Maxwell (Folivi 79), Bishop

Unused; Gogic, Friend, Winnall, Blackett

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Crowley 64), Smith, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Huddlestone 64), Soutar, Mavididi

Unused; Bell, Black, Coughlan, Smyth, Emnes

Referee; D Bond - Attendance; 17,878

Extra training would be ordered on Sunday with Fairway furious at his team for what could politely be described as a poor performance, with only a couple of North End players coming out of the game with any credit. Better news though would follow, with January arrival Abdulla Al-Yazeedi scoring an eyecatching overhead kick for Qatar in a friendly victory over Afghanistan , with the manager hoping the new faces would inspire something of a turnaround in the camp.

By Tuesday, his mood had lifted even more, as Rico Henry resumed light training, but would swifty be brought down to earth again the following morning, when Steve Delaney , Preston's Head of Youth Development , announced he would be leaving the club to take up a similar role at Bristol City . Although Fairway - and Lamb - tried to talk Delaney into staying, the 46 year old was having none of it, and, after he had watched a 4-0 reverse for the Under 23's at home to Crystal Palace , Delaney made the switch in exchange for £23,000 in compensation. Mindful of the Christmas period, but still keen to replace Delaney quickly, Fairway asked Lamb to make another approach to his former employers.

Christmas Eve then would see Stephen Wright make the trip north westwards, to discuss terms. Wright had been Fairway's Under 23 manager at Lincoln City , and had a good footballing pedigree, having come through the tanks at Anfield before a £3 million move to Sunderland , making 42 appearances in the Premier League and racking up close to 300 games in the top three tiers before ending his playing career in the Cymru Alliance with Denbigh Town . From there, Fairway took him to Sincil Bank, and now, Wright would quickly agree terms to follow his former manager to Deepdale.

The move officially went through on Christmas Day, with some light training in the afternoon ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Reading , where Fairway was delighted to see a minor Christmas miracle, with Steve Michealis passing a late fitness test to take the place of Marvin Emnes on the bench in one of two changes, with Rico Henry also returning for Adam Smith .

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

 

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 26th December 2021

Reading 1 - Preston North End 1 

Like the ex girlfriend who turns up at the work Christmas Party, an old face came back to haunt Reading on Boxing Day in an entertaining draw at the Madejski Stadium. The Royals began brightly and after Liam Moore had been flagged offside just as he was about to head goalwards on 5, took the lead on 11, when Josh Barrett curled a free kick into the top corner from 25 yards out to settle any early nerves. Whilst Preston were limited to shots from distance, from which Daniel Johnson came closest, Reading looked the brighter of the two sides, with Rico Henry making a fine challenge to deny Callum McManaman on 26 and John Swift shooting just wide on 31. After taking their time to settle, Preston began to come back into the game with half time approaching, as Johnson volleyed wide on 42 before Stephy Mavididi turned Regan Poole but could only fire against the base of the post from the edge of the box two minutes later.

After a first half mostly dominated by the hosts, the visitors responded instantly after half time, with Stephy Mavididi scoring against his former club, again turning Poole before blasting a shot from the edge of the area which Jonathan Bond could only flap at. There would now be chances at both ends - Swift for Reading and Nicky Hughes for Preston from range, whilst Josh Barrett finally got the better of Rico Henry, only to head over when well placed from Moore's long throw. Substitutions interrupted the flow of play in the second half, although Hughes was unfortunate to strike the woodwork on the half volley on 72, but the biggest cheer from the away end was reserved for the introduction of Steve Michealis after injury. The Australian would only get the one chance as Reading had clearly done their homework and marked tightly, but just didn't have the legs to catch Cameron Dawson's huge punt, with Moore comfortably seeing it back to Bond as the final whistle blew.
 
Reading; Bond, Gunter, Moore, Poole (Keown 79), Bailey, McManaman (McEachran 69), Williams, Swift, Obita, Barrett, Jakubiak (McQueen 74)

Unused; Sy, Pinto, Rodwell, Grant

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Bell 64), Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes, Soutar (Michealis 64), Mavididi

Unused; Black, Huddlestone, Coughlan, Smyth, Crowley

Referee; L Mason - Attendance; 17,783

 

With another game in 48 hours time, Fairway had expected a quiet couple of days before Tuesday's visit of struggling Colchester United , but would be mistaken, as his journey home, having seen his side drop out of the playoff places to 8th, was interrupted by a phone call from Marvin Emnes . Having been out of favour for much of the season, and after preliminary talks in the early part of December, Emnes informed his manager that he would be willing to terminate his contract six months early, in exchange for half the wages owed to him. The fee would be £120,000, but, more importantly to Fairway, it would give him a little more room to maneuver in the January window, and, with Emnes not likely to feature, he felt it only fair to allow the 33 year old to return to his native Holland in order to either retire or find a new club for one last hurrah. Andy Lamb agreed, with the three men meeting for the final time at Deepdale on Monday morning for Emnes to collect his cheque and Lamb to offer final thanks - as a supporter, rather than as a Chairman - for five years of loyal service since Emnes' arrival on a free from Blackburn Rovers . 

The departure would see Fairway's transfer budget for January stand at £1.1 Million - not quite enough for Fairway to be able to turn the loan move of Rico Henry into a permanent one, but still enough to add to the squad if he felt it prudent. One early thought would be in the right wingback position - with Marnick Vermilj having been told he could leave should the right offer be received, Fairway asked the scouts to step up their efforts to find a potential replacement. The immediate option of course would be Travis Bartholomew , still a couple of weeks away from return to full fitness. 

Vermilj was also in Fairway's thoughts regarding Tuesday afternoon's game - with the defender suspended, after picking up a booking against Reading to rule him out for one game. His replacement would be the out of position Adam Smith , with Tom Clarke and Daniel Johnson also dropping to the bench with Fairway taking the opportunity to shuffle the pack against a side struggling for points and form, although Steve Michealis would remain a substitute with one eye on the New Year's Day trip to Blackburn. In their place would come Brian Bell for only his second start of the season, and the reliable Tom Huddlestone starting on his 35th birthday.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 28th December 2021

Preston North End 1 - Colchester United 0 

Dogged Colchester were just unable to hold onto the point that, certainly late on, they appeared to be playing for as Preston returned to the playoff places and winning ways thanks to a late goal at Deepdale. A quiet opening spell saw Luke Wood hold comfortably from Ross Soutar and Nicky Hughes, whilst Colchester could only manage a hopeful effort from Brooks Lennon in stoppage time by way of response to excite the small number of travelling supporters in a sparsely populated away end. 

A more positive start to the second period for both sides saw Luke Evans see a cross-come-shot tipped over by Cameron Dawson on 52, with birthday boy Tom Huddlestone clipping the crossbar five minutes late for the hosts. Denny Johnstone would then head wide on 67, with Colchester looking to ease off and frustrate Preston by sitting deep. It would prove their undoing as, six minutes from time, Adam Smith's cross struck one of the many pairs of Colchester legs in the box, deflecting behind for a corner, from which sub Daniel Johnson picked out Huddlestone, who headed across goal for Kean Bryan to power his first goal in Preston colours beyond the despairing Wood from a matter of yards. Colchester's inevitable rally was too little, too late, with Bily King blazing wide when shooting optimistically from 35 yards, leaving Joe Dunne and his side to make the long journey home with only four league wins to end the calendar year.

Preston; Dawson, Bell, Bowles, Burn (c), Vermilj, Henry, Bryan (Coughlan 85), Johnson, Hughes (Johnson 67), Soutar (Michealis 67), Mavididi

Unused; Clarke, Black, Smyth, Crowley

Colchester; Wood, Nyambe, Suliman (c), Gale, Denton, Evans, Powell, Woodward (Dunne 45), Ameobi (Moses 45), Lennon (King 62), Johnstone

Unused; Matthews, Lowe, Pask, Eastman

Referee; J Adcock - Attendance; 15,230

Victory saw Preston return to the Playoff positions, putting Fairway in a positive mood ahead of the earlier than usual monthly board meeting. Andy Lamb reported himself as being 'very pleased' with Fairway's performance, and also offered an interesting proposition, offering to increase the transfer and wage budgets should Fairway feel he could better the expectations agreed in Preseason of avoiding the drop. Fairway found himself torn - knowing the increase in budget, to £2 million, could really boost his squad in the second half of the season, but also not wanting to push his luck too far. After a brief chat with Mark Morrison , Fairway decided to chance it, telling Lamb he was certain of - at least - a mid table finish, and, with the Chairman's blessing, saw the budgets adjusted accordingly, with managerial discretion as to the split between wages and transfers. There was also a mention of Fairway's future, with the manager telling Lamb he had 'no intention' of succeeding the recently dismissed Bob Bradley at Leeds United despite tabloid talk to the contrary. 

What he did have intentions of doing however, was adding quality. With the funds now in place to make Rico Henry's loan switch a permanent one, he the manager resisted the urge to make an immediate offer, instead preferring to strengthen another area as a priority. The negotiations would drag on long into Thursday evening, with Fairway taking a break to agree to send young winger Andy Sykes out to Bromley for the remainder of the season, but eventually terms would be agreed with Scottish giants Celtic for the signature of a young Yorkshireman, the versatile Jamie Burgess . Burgess, 21, had come to Fairway's attention earlier in the season and had been heavily scouted, with Head Scout Leon Hunter , as well as Kenny Black and Nigel Keady all running the rule over him. Best in the centre of midfield, Burgess had also been seen to play in a deeper, defensive midfield position, and even popped up at right wing back as well, offering another option should reputed interest in Marnick Vermilj translate into a firm bid. Burgess had started with his hometown club, Harrogate Town , making his debut as a 16 year old before being whisked away to the bright lights of London, as Charlton Athletic gambled on paying a nominal fee. He would not make a senior appearance at The Valley however, as, in the summer of 2018, Celtic swooped, paying £245,000 for the youngster, promptly sending him out on loan to Welsh champions TNS , where he played 21 games and scored five goals. The following year, it would be League One and Notts County , with 32 games recorded, before returning to Parkhead and featuring regularly in Cup games for the first team.

He arrived in Preston on New Year's Eve, just as the news was breaking that Steve Michealis had been named in the AFC All-Star XI for the season, selected by international managers across Asia, something which seemed to merit more discussion in the Lancashire city than the news that the most prestigious individual award in world football, the Ballon d'Or had been awarded to Kevin De Bruyne , the first time since 2015 that the award had gone to someone other than legendary Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi - who, at the age of 34, still commanded enough respect to be voted as runner up ahead of Eden Hazard of Real Madrid . 

Personal terms proved less of an issue, with agent Tom Thompson demanding a fairly hefty fee, but the wages pleasingly middle of the road for a player who Fairway considered could slot straight into the first team picture and also become a key player long into the future. Discussions were wrapped up by mid afternoon, as Burgess headed back northwards to consider the approach, allowing Fairway to see in the New Year with his family before heading to the office as dawn broke on 2022 to welcome two more new arrivals to Deepdale.

Both Abdulla Al-Yazeedi and Joaquim Manjate certainly seemed pleased to be at the club, although the early morning temperature at their photo call in front of the Sir Tom Finney stand was perhaps a little chillier than they had both been used to, and both would get some time to acclimatise, making the short journey to Blackburn for the lunchtime kickoff but not involved as Fairway instead made two changes to his starting eleven, bringing back Steve Michealis for Ross Soutar and Marnick Vermilj for Adam Smith , leaving Johnny Burn to take the captains armband for the second match in succession. A further change - and an unexpected bonus - would come on the bench, after Travis Bartholomew passed a fitness test to replace David Smyth , who would be leaving for Scotland in the morning.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 1st January 2022

Blackburn Rovers 0 - Preston North End 1 

It proved a tale of two penalties in the early game at Ewood Park as Preston took all three points in an enthralling match. Blackburn, playing with two wide men in support of the diminutive Nathan Burton, started the brighter, with Callum Robinson's header saved well by Cameron Dawson on 3, before Lee Myung-Joo teed up the winger for another effort which was held on 7. Preston perhaps should have done better with their first chance, with Rico Henry bursting through only to see Mitchell Beeney bundle the ball around the post for a corner. Both sides continued to trade half chances as possession ebbed and flowed, with Nelson just wide on 26 for Blackburn, and Stephy Mavididi outjumping Scott Wharton from an excellent Steve Michealis cross, only to glance wide of the far post with Beeney beaten. It did look as if both sides would go in at half time level pegging, but on 41 referee Stephen Martin became the focus of considerable home ire, after spotting an outstretched leg from Hope Apkan on Kean Bryan, with the midfielder going down after the ball had been deflected to safety. After a booking for Apkan, and a short discussion with several other incredulous Rovers players, the spot kick was awarded and duly converted by Stephy Mavididi , his powerful effort just finding the corner with Beeney guessing the right way.

The grumbles continued as the officials came back out for the second half, with a noticeable phalanx of stewards surrounding the tunnel, but the perceived injustice seemed to spur Rovers on, and within 90 seconds they would create the first opportunity of the second half, with Robinson shooting wide from Burton's pass. The best chance to level would come on 57 - Robinson's pace again causing problems, with a careless shirt tug from Brian Bell halting the flying winger, and a second penalty kick awarded. Harry Wilson stepped up, but found Cameron Dawson equal to his somewhat underhit effort, and, as if to add insult to injury, Preston scampered away and came close to a second of their own, with Beeney turning a Michealis drive around the post. Rovers continued to press - Akpan and sub Connor Wickham both having chances, but would be unable to breach a stubborn Preston back line, with the visitors closest to a second goal when Mavididi smashed the ball against the bar from another fine Michealis centre on 78. The visitors used this disappointment to finish strongly, with Bryan and Daniel Johnson taking potshots from distance late on, but the post game talk would all - for the first, but in all probability not the last time this year - be about the referee.

Blackburn; Beeney, McCarthy (Holgate 69), Nelson, Wharton, Taylor, Akpan, Lee Myung-Joo, Palmer, Wilson, Robinson (McCain 64), Burton (Wickham 64)

Unused; Reeves, Fredericks, Keane, Davie

Preston; Dawson, Bell, Bowles, Burn (c), Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Huddlestone (Coughlan 83), Hughes (Johnson 68), Michealis, Mavididi (Soutar 83)

Unused; Clarke, Black, Bartholomew, Crowley

Referee; S Martin - Attendance; 18,290

Whilst the referee was just as keen to get away from Ewood Park as Fairway was, he made sure to first praise Cameron Dawson for his penalty save in his post game interviews, noting that Dawson's stop had contributed to his 15th clean sheet of the league season, something which certainly had a part to play in Preston's impressive season to date.

David Smyth would say his farewells on Sunday before leaving for Hearts in an expected departure - but Fairway had reckoned without a second one on the same day, as Bournemouth paid just over £80,000 in compensation to name Dean Hammond as their Under 18's manager, leaving Preston with a gap to fill amongst the youth coaches. Hammond went with Fairway's blessing, and with the recent change in the Head of Youth Development role, his departure would also spark a mini reshuffle, with Marvin Andrews wanting to take more of a coaching, rather than managerial role. Fairway was somewhat reluctant to make too many changes at once, but after a heart to heart with Andrews, agreed to offer him a new deal as Under 18's Assistant Manager. A check through the contacts books came up with a few names, but Fairway knew who he wanted when he saw the name - Jordan Sharvin , a Northern Irishman who had been on one of the same coaching courses as he had, and was currently managing in the third tier of football in the province, with Sport & Leisure Swifts . Sharvin was delighted with the unexpected approach, promising to get back to Preston soon with his decision.

After spending much of the weekend dealing with the changes at Youth level, Fairway found himself even more pleased than usual to have a home game to concentrate on, with the visit of Ipswich Town on Bank Holiday Monday. There would be changes despite the victory, with some tired legs evident towards the end of the game at Ewood Park, and Daniel Johnson and Tom Clarke would be recalled for Brian Bell and Tom Huddlestone , with Abdulla Al-Yazeedi added to the bench, replacing Ross Soutar, to potentially make his North End debut against the Tractor Boys.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Monday 3rd January 2022

Preston North End 1 - Ipswich Town 1 

Two playoff hopefuls played out a match which both managers may consider two points dropped rather than one gained after each dominated different periods of play. Preston, who handed a debut to Qatar international Abdulla Al-Yazeedi off the bench, started by far the brighter, and took the lead on 11 when Nicky Hughes floated a delightful pass over Town defender Tom Thorpe for Steve Michealis to run on and slot home. They could have added three more before the 20 minute mark, with Daniel Johnson, Michealis and Stephy Mavididi all shooting over, so it was somewhat against the run of play when Ben Morris headed the equaliser on 24 after meeting a dinked cross from Conor Washington. 

Al-Yazeedi made his entrance after half time, replacing Mavididi, but saw little of the ball in a quiet opening spell to the second half. The pendulum now swung in Ipswich's favour, with the Suffolk side putting some good football together but only seeing both Lewis Baker and Teddy Bishop shoot wide, whilst the resolute Sam Bowles blocked well from Washington on 75. After a long quiet spell, the stage was set for a frantic finish - Al-Yazeedi seeing an effort saved well by Bartosz Bialkowski, and Michealis shooting wide from distance when a cross looked to be the better option. The best Preston chance would come on 85 - Bialkowski again equal to a Michealis strike from the edge of the box, with Nicky Hughes also shooting off target. As a result, Preston drop to sixth whilst Ipswich remain third, and it remains to be seen if either are strong enough to cement a place in the end of season lottery.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Bartholomew , Henry, Bryan (Huddlestone 45), Johnson, Hughes, Michealis, Mavididi (Al-Yazeedi 45)

Unused; Bell, Black, Coughlan, Crowley

Ipswich; Bialkowski, Grimmer, Thorpe, Smith (c) (Pierre 56), Knowles, Hyam, Willock (Baker 61), Bishop, Reid (McGoldrick 61), Morris, Washington

Unused; Hayes, White, Armstrong, Emmanuel

Referee; T Robinson - Attendance; 17,794

Having begun the week with a game, Fairway found his usual routines slightly thrown out of place by the bank holiday, but still managed to be in the right place to welcome the 33-year old replacement for Dean Hammond , as Jay O'Shea arrived from Chesterfield , where he had been helping on an ad-hoc basis with the younger age groups following his summer retirement as a player. After moving to England with Birmingham in 2011 from his native Ireland, O'Shea had led something of a nomadic existence until, after a successful loan spell over the Christmas period of 2012, he was signed permanently by Chesterfield. He had become a firm favourite of Spirites supporters, making over 360 appearances in the following years before he left the club in the summer.

O'Shea would get an instant taste of life at Preston on Wednesday, watching some of the U18's in action for a nominal Under 23 side in a hastily arranged matchup against the Brighton & Hove Albion youngsters. The game, Fairway admitted to his new colleague, had mostly been arranged for the benefit of the January arrivals from overseas, and he was pleased to see both Al-Yazeedi and Joaquin Manjate put in solid performances in a 1-0 victory capped by a sublime curling effort from Dan Crowley after good work by both Al-Yazeedi and, on his comeback game from injury, Rico Vanzie . With no league action for the Under 23's until later in the month, Fairway would also sanction a second friendly for the following week against Bury , where he again hoped to be able to give Duncan Shearer the opportunity of including some of the first team squad.

By late on Friday however, transfer news was again top of the agenda, as, after a lengthy decision making process, Jamie Burgess finally put pen to paper on a deal until the summer of 2024 to finalise his move for an initial £900,000 from Celtic . Burgess would be unavailable for an immediate debut in the FA Cup against Fulham on Saturday, the result of a one match suspension, but Fairway would make changes nonetheless, handing Al-Yazeedi his first start in place of Stephy Mavididi , whilst recalling Rico Vanzie to the bench in place of Tom Coughlan , who had seemed a little out of sorts during the week with Fairway feeling the young midfielder could perhaps do with a regular run of games for the Under 23's . Just as he was preparing his troops for the game, came word of another transfer bid - this time a loan deal, with Carlisle United keen to take Ross Soutar for the remainder of the season. Speaking to the striker, Fairway was only too happy to accept, feeling that Soutar could use the competitive experience in English football following his less than stellar transition from prolific goalscorer for the second string to the first team.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 8th January 2022

Preston North End 2 - Fulham 0 

With a matchup between two sides in the same division not one of the days more appealing Third Round ties, an efficient if somewhat unspectacular performance from the hosts was enough to secure progression to the fourth round. Preston looked the better side throughout, although few in the rather sparse crowd had much to write home about in a dire first half hour which saw just a Daniel Johnson free kick over the top to exercise the pens of the journalists in the press box. The game was crying out for a goal, and on 35, got one - Rico Henry's throw knocked into the path of Abdulla Al-Yazeedi by Johnny Burn, with the Qatari international squaring for Nicky Hughes to drive beyond David Button from just inside the area. The goal lifted proceedings, with both sides then seeing chances before the break, as Rico Henry's cross caused panic only to be hooked away, with Franco Di Santo shooting well wide on 43.

Compared to the first, the second half would be a veritable feast of football - Johnson heading wide at one end before Di Santo did the same at the other, whilst Button would be forced into an acrobatic save from the impressive Hughes on 57. Whilst new arrival Al-Yazeedi seemed to find little space, he did get away from marker Lawrence Moore to head over on 63 and would shoot wide on 80 after good work from the returning Rico Vanzie, on as a second half substitute. Chris Harris wasted Fulham's best chance, looping a late header wide, before Preston sealed the victory in injury time when Hughes and Henry combined on the left for the latter to find Dan Crowley who fired home off the underside of the crossbar to send North End, twice previous winners of this famous old trophy, into the fourth round.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Crowley 64), Hughes, Michealis (Vanzie 64), Al-Yazeedi (Mavididi 82)

Unused; Bell, Black, Huddlestone, Bartholomew

Fulham; Button, Jenkins, Bennett (c) (Harte 69), Mbabu, Rybus, Jozabed, Williams (Moore 57), Ward, Connelly (Vellios 57), Harris, di Santo

Unused; O'Donnell, Koumourias, De Laet, Ayité

Referee; M Clattenburg - Attendance; 11,479

Amongst the crowd would be new Under 18 manager Jordan Sharvin , who would complete his move to Deepdale after the game, signing a three year contract with Fairway looking to build for the future. The FA Cup itself would throw up the usual mixture of shocks and unexpected delight, as whilst AFC Telford exited at the hands of Manchester United , Championship Nottingham Forest suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against League One strugglers Crawley Town , and Arsenal would be held by Huddersfield Town .

There would also be transfer news over the weekend, with Craig Black the subject of a loan offer from Hibernian . With the arrival of Manjate having pushed the young Scotsman down the pecking order, Fairway felt it would be an ideal opportunity for the goalkeeper to get some first team football, similar to his reasons for accepting the loan bid for striker Ross Soutar , who would also agree to head north, leaving for Carlisle for the remainder of the season on Wednesday morning. In between, there had been the Fourth Round draw for the FA Cup , with Preston handed a difficult trip to holders Manchester City , and a goalless draw for the Under 23's .

The rest of the week would prove quiet, although Fairway would have to scotch rumours he was about to decamp to take charge at Aston Villa who had seen Chris Powell leave to take the Leeds United job, and with a long away trip on Saturday it would be a Friday departure and an overnight stay in London, with Fairway missing out on seeing the Under 18's earn a 3-1 win at home to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday morning, thanks to a brace from the ever-improving Alex Lane and one from scholar Warburton. He would make two changes to the squad, both on the bench, with new signings Jamie Burgess and Joaquim Manjate named as subs, replacing Stephy Mavididi and the temporarily departed Craig Black .

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 15th January 2022

Brentford 1 - Preston North End 0 

Brentford's previous home of Griffin Park was known for a pub on each corner, and how the away supporters could have done with a quartet of hostelries to take their minds off this insipid defeat before their long journey home. Preston actually started the brighter of the two sides, with Steve Michealis shooting wide on 3 and Daniel Johnson skimming the bar with a free kick on 11, and aside from Jordan Obita's free kick which hit the outside of the post on 14, made the majority of the early running. Brentford though struck back, with Scott Hogan heading across goal on 28 before Obita crossed for Salim Khelifi to power home a header on 32. Hogan would then have a glorious opportunity to double the lead on 36, beating 'keeper Cameron Dawson to a Reece James corner, but only heading wide of target with the goal at his mercy.

After the interval the hosts stepped up their control of the game, with Hogan twice close early in the second half and Cauley Woodrow drawing a good save from Dawson on 68. Preston seemed unable to string passes together, looking lacklustre and leggy, and should have gone further behind on 70 when Ezri Konsa was left unmarked at a free kick, only to head wide of the near post. The closest the visitors came would be when two of their new boys linked up well late on - Jamie Burgess, a recent arrival from Celtic, playing a one two with Abudlla Al-Yazeedi, only to shoot straight at Brentford debutant Bailey Peacock-Farrell. The former Leeds man had little else to do on his first start for the West Londoners, with Preston barely troubling him, and much work will be needed if North End are to continue their excellent season to date.

Brentford; Peacock-Farrell, Nego, Konsa, Kelly, James, Roberts, Browne, Khelifi (Macleod 61), Adeniran (Mollo 67), Obita, Hogan (Woodrow 61)

Unused; Bettinelli, Vatajelu, Suchy, Stephens

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Burgess 65), Michealis (Vanzie 65), Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Huddlestone, Bartholomew, Crowley

Referee; S Hooper - Attendance; 18,092

Unlike the nameless BBC journalist who wrote the report which Fairway looked up as soon as he got onto the coach, the manager himself did not feel the defeat was anything to be overly concerned about. With Brentford a good side, he had always anticipated a tough game, and although his side did not create enough chances for the managers liking, he felt the performance was reasonable. 

Later in the week, the squad would be down by one, as Hibernian put in an approach to take Dan Crowley on loan for the remainder of the season, something which Fairway was happy to accept given that Crowley had been mostly limited to the bench of late. Before he left for Edinburgh though the midfielder would play for the Under 23's , who cruised to a 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Monday, with a brace from Stephy Mavididi and an own goal the difference between the two sides.

The middle of the week however would see Springfields on lockdown, after two players - young goalkeeper Reece Mistry and club captain Tom Clarke went down with a flu bug. Precautions taken by the medical team seemed to help prevent the spread of the virus, with Fairway seeing only Clarke still unavailable by the weekend, with Brian Bell replacing him and a spot on the bench for teenager Dave Byrne for the match against Aston Villa at Deepdale.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 22nd January 2022

Preston North End 5 - Aston Villa 2 

Preston roared back to winning ways at a packed Deepdale with superb attacking display to cruise past Aston Villa. The hosts piled on early pressure with Daniel Johnson shooting wide straight from the kickoff, and saw Steve Michealis flash a volley just wide on 6. By the 10th minute however, they were ahead - Johnson finding Rico Henry on the left, who played a clever pass inside the fullback for Kean Bryan to lay off and Nicky Hughes to chip the ball beyond 'keeper Kjetil Haug into the roof of the net. Haug would be called into action again just a minute later, turning Henry's drive around the post, but, after Ashley Westwood saw a free kick held by Cameron Dawson on 16, it would be the visitors who struck next, with former Preston loanee Keinan Davis prodding home from close range on 35 after Dawson could only parry Jonathan Kodija's inswinging cross. Whilst Villa had worked hard to get back into the game, the scores would only remain level for a short time - and on 44, Preston regained the lead, with Nicky Hughes scoring his second of the afternoon, shooting home from the edge of the area after first Matthew Lowton and then Jonathan Kodija had wasted opportunities to clear Rico Henry's corner.

With the scores delicately poised, there was a sense in and around the Deepdale stands of the next goal being crucial, and just a minute after the interval, Preston claimed it, with Hughes turning provider to put the ball into the left hand channel from deep in his own half for Steve Michealis to turn and drill into the corner. Four minutes later, it would be four - Henry's throw played back to the fullback by Johnson, allowing the loanee to cross for Kean Bryan to find the corner. The fifth would follow on 62 - Hughes again providing the ball from deep, with Abdulla Al-Yazeedi turning inside his man to centre for Steve Michealis to score from close range. Villa looked shellshocked - Keinan Davis the only bright spark for the visitors, with a speculative effort over the top on 69, whilst Preston looked to close the game out, controlling possession with ease and dominating the play. The visitors would grab a second consolation in injury time, with Keinan Davis again on target - and again refusing to celebrate in front of the Preston fans who idolised him last season - Florin Gardos finding Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, who squared for his strike partner to smash home off the underside of the bar. 

Preston; Dawson, Bell, Bowles, Burn (c), Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Burgess 62), Hughes, Michealis, Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Byrne, Manjate, Huddlestone, Vanzie, Bartholomew, Smith

Aston Villa; Haug, Lowton, Gardos, Cargill, Fábio, Kodija, Gooch (Elphick 67), Westwood, O'Brien (Green 51), Davis, Bradshaw (Hepburn-Murphy 61)

Unused; Ripley, Sudó, Williams, Dann

Referee; L Probert - Attendance; 21,237

Preston's superb victory put Fairway into the kind of mood that could not be dulled by the 3-0 defeat for the Under 18's to Southampton on Sunday morning, with North End moving back up to fifth in the table with 49 points from 29 games as a result of their victory.

Monday would see a 2-2 draw for the Under 23's with strikers Stephy Mavididi and Alex Lane both on the scoresheet. There would also be a transfer offer, with Fairway rejecting the chance to send Adam Smith out to Crewe Alexandra , as the youngster offered a valuable backup option, with clubs seeking to finalise their squads in the final week of the transfer window. The big day itself would come after the weekend, with the window closing, and as Fairway was still keen to do some business, the scouting team would be ask to step up their search. Despite this though, the manager knew that his main target - Rico Henry - would, any late sales to free up funds aside, likely remain outside of Preston's financial reach until the summer.

Training throughout the week would be carried out in good spirits, with the double boost of Saturday's victory behind them and a big FA Cup clash against Manchester City at the weekend also no doubt a motivating factor. Fortunately competition for places stayed on the right side of keenness, with no injuries reported, and Fairway able to bring back Tom Clarke after illness in the only change on the bench for his side ahead of the trip to the City of Manchester Stadium.

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 29th January 2022

Manchester City 3 - Preston North End 1 

Preston defender Sam Bowles was given a warm embrace ahead of kickoff by his former manager Pep Guardiola, but that was all the Spaniard did offer North End as Manchester City outclassed North End at Eastlands. The visitors though can take heart from their performance, and they could have taken an early lead had the unconvincing Luigi Sepe not recovered in time to regain the Steve Michealis shot he spilled inside the first minute, but would go a goal behind from Alessandro Florenzi's pinpoint free kick on 9. The Australian international led the line well for Preston, with another effort tipped wide on 21, but the visitors were running to stand still, with City stretching the play at every opportunity. On 34 their efforts would be rewarded, with Sergio Aguero's superb pass releasing Rafinha , allowing the Brazilian frontman to run on and bend a shot with the outside of the boot beyond Cameron Dawson into the far corner. Rafinha added the third on 41 - Florenzi's crossed free kick headed home from close range, netting what would prove a decisive third.

A quieter start to the second period saw chances limited, with Michealis again testing Sepe on 56 after teenager Andrew Baines clipped the crossbar with a header from a corner two minutes beforehand. Preston would pull one back on 58 - Abdulla Al-Yazeedi and Kean Bryan combining well, with the latter threading the ball through and Nicky Hughes adding his fourth goal of the calendar year with a placed effort into the corner. Dawson would then be forced into an acrobatic save from Leon Ball as City pushed to kill the game off, with Preston sub Travis Bartholomew forced off just nine minutes after coming on when falling awkwardly in a tussle with Serge Aurier on the edge of the box. Dawson was certainly the busier of the two 'keepers late on - saving from a Rafinha penalty on 80 after Jamie Burgess had made minimal contact with Petr Svec inside the area - whilst Aguero, whose summer transfer to Napoli was announced just prior to kickoff, headed wastefully wide at the death as the holders march on. 

Man City; Sepe, Florenzi, Keane (Smith 64), Bains, Aurier, Ball (Mandrault 64), Díaz, Suárez (Garré), Svec, Rafinha, Aguero

Unused; Ryan, Courtney, Mustapha, Foden

Preston; Dawson, Bell (Clarke 55), Bowles, Burn (c), Vermilj (Bartholomew 59, Burgess 70), Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes, Michealis, Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Manjate, Huddlestone, Vanzie, Smith

Referee; M Dean - Attendance; 60,247

Whilst Preston bowed out of the FA Cup, there were still several shocks - most notably League One Wycombe Wanderers , who led Premier League Crystal Palace until the 88th minute before a last gasp equaliser allowed the Eagles to fight another day. North End's defeat however was by no means unexpected, and Fairway was pleased that - as with Antonio Conté the previous season - his side came in for plenty of praise from the opposition manager following the game. It was whilst enjoying a post-game drink with Pep Guardiola that Fairway learnt of a 1-1 draw for the Under 18's against FC United , with one of the scholars on the scoresheet. The other snippet of news which reached the Preston manager however was not so positive, as the medical team reported that Travis Bartholomew had been diagnosed with achilles tendon damage, ruling him out for four months and a real doubt for the remainder of the season.

Whilst rumours abounded regarding those transfers likely to go through on Monday as the window closed, Fairway's first two pieces of business would be relating to players already at the club, as young defender Will Tuck , again impressing out on loan, signed a new contract, with club captain Tom Clarke following him by putting pen to paper an hour later. Fairway would also hand an extended deal to Johnny Burn , with Tuck, Burn and Sam Bowles provisionally listed as his first choice central defensive trio for next season. His monthly board meeting would also prove productive, with Andy Lamb advising Fairway that permission had been granted to add an additional first team coach to his backroom team, in order to spread the workload a little better. 

At Deepdale, Transfer deadline day was proving quiet, but it would not be the case elsewhere, with Blas Riveros joining Manchester City from Barcelona for a shade under £20 million in the biggest deal of the morning, closely followed by Hasan Peker's switch from Atlético Madrid to Liverpool early in the afternoon. Scouting reports came and went, with Fairway pondering a move for a previous target, Georgia international midfielder Giorgi Aburjania , but, after much consideration, he would decline to make the move as the window closed with a whimper rather than the usual flurry of late deals, with only Manchester City's late £7.5 million signing of Luca Zidane from Real Madrid of any real note.

The long crosscountry journey to Cambridge United gave Fairway the chance to talk to Marnick Vermilj , who, it was rumoured earlier in the window, would be a target for Spanish side Eibar . Fairway had told Vermilj he would accept any bids meeting his valuation of the Belgian, but with none forthcoming, was pleased to hear that Vermilj had no problem remaining at Preston, and agreed to discuss the matter again in the summer. With Travis Bartholomew ruled out for the foreseeable, Tom Coughlan joined the travelling party and returned to the matchday squad, with Tom Clarke restored to the starting eleven in place of Brian Bell
 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 1st February 2022

Cambridge United 1 - Preston North End 2 

David Flitcroft admitted to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire that he had been frustrated at being unable to bring in additional firepower on transfer deadline day, with United looking wasteful against a Preston side who never needed to hit top gear. The visitors could have been three up within the first ten minutes after both Steve Michealis and Abdulla Al-Yazeedi tested Jamal Blackman, and it was no surprise when, on 17, Rico Henry galloped clear on the left to cross for Steve Michealis to prod home at the near post. The best early chance for the hosts came on 18, with skipper Macaulay Gillesphey heading over from Jamie Allen's corner, whilst Tyler Walker's booking on 43 capped a frustrating first half for Cambridge.

After the interval Flitcroft's men did improve, and after Nicky Hughes had seen an effort held from long range, Cambridge levelled on the counter - Allen laying Blackman's drop kick out to the left for Gillesphey to put a hopeful ball into the mixer and Tyler Walker to find space to steer home. Far from offering Cambridge the chance to build on their goal however, Preston hit back almost immediately - Tom Clarke heading over on 56 before, on the hour, Nicky Hughes' pass teed up Abdulla Al-Yazeedi for his first goal in Preston colours with a placed effort giving Blackman no chance. The home side huffed and puffed, with Flitcroft animated on the sidelines, but struggled to break Preston down, and, when they did, wasted their opportunities - Walker seizing on a weak pass only to see Dawson save comfortably low down to his right, and Paris Cowan-Hall planting a header over from Aaron Lewis' cross as the game trickled to a conclusion. If Cambridge are to maintain their Championship status, there will need to be more fight than that shown this evening.

Cambridge; Blackman, Lewis, Ajayi, O'Grady, Gillesphey (c) (Holt 86), Moran, Allen, Murphy (Mitchell 45), Walker, Bennett (Cowan-Hall 80), Casey

Unused; Norris, Hunter, Ledson, Cox

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Vanzie 82), Henry, Bryan (Burgess 66), Johnson (Huddlestone 66), Hughes, Michealis, Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Coughlan, Smith

Referee; S Attwell - Attendance; 7,458

Victory took Fairway's men over the 'magic' 50 point margin reckoned to be enough to avoid relegation, pleasing both manager and Chairman, although with his side just three points off second placed Sheffield Wednesday - the visitors to Deepdale on Saturday - both felt were bigger fish to fry.

Whilst discussion of promotion had been made strictly forbidden at Springfields, privately Fairway felt that his side did not quite - at present at least - have the strength in depth to compete at the top level, even if he were to guide Preston up. The Premier League of course remained the holy grail and the ultimate goal, and with the addition to the backroom team of coach Iain Brunskill from Charlton Athletic on Thursday morning, the manager felt his side were moving in the right direction. 

Brunskill appeared to settle in well, with Fairway delighted with the new coach, who had been the subject of interest from elsewhere, but was less pleased at having to make an unscheduled change to his matchday squad, when Adam Smith phoned in sick with a flu bug on Saturday morning, meaning a late call for Dave Byrne to take a place on the bench for the afternoon's big game. 
 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 5th February 2022

Preston North End 0 - Sheffield Wednesday 0  

In a game billed as a clash between defences, with both sides having conceded just 22 goals apiece going into the match, neither quite did enough to unpick their opponents in a match which ended goalless. Both 'keepers were tested in a quiet first half that saw Cameron Dawson forced into action in the seventh minute, turning a Jarlan Barrera drive around the post, before Joe Wildsmith held from Marnick Vermilj on 20. After Preston had begun to turn the screw on their visitors, the best chance of the first period would come in the final minute - Rico Henry's corner headed inches wide of the far post by Kean Bryan.

By way of constrast the second half was a far more open affair, with Dawson saving well from Anas Mahamid on 48, and then again from Tom Proctor on 55, before making the save of the game on the hour mark with an acrobatic effort to tip Jacob Davenport's header over via a touch off the crossbar. As time went on the visitors looked the more likely, with Patrick Roberts close from a free kick on 71 and Bryan making a brave block from Davenport's fierce volley on 83, with Preston seeing two bookings inside the final five minutes as they just about clung on for a point. The hosts could have stolen it at the death - Vermilj again finding himself in an advanced position - but a draw was perhaps the fairest result in the proverbial game of two halves.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Burgess 72), Michealis (Vanzie 63), Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Huddlestone, Byrne, Coughlan

Sheff Wed; Wildsmith (c), Kane, Goldson, Craddock, Cresswell, Davenport, Arao, Proctor (Roberts 63), Claesson (Plavsic 45), Barrera, Mahamid (Abraham 68)

Unused; Huffer, Smith, Sancho, Hunt

Referee; M Jones - Attendance; 19,986

It was a measure of how far Preston had come that Fairway considered himself a little disappointed to having seen his side only hold a team second in the table, but the manager had seen some aspects of the performance that had convinced him that his side would need a few tweaks. Speaking to Mark Morrison on Monday afternoon, as they watched the Under 18's go down 1-0 away at Bradford City , Fairway that in order to best utilise the physical prowess of Abdulla Al-Yazeedi , he would ask the Qatari international to play a more physical, pressing game up front, rather than to drop off and try to link play. 

Whilst training focused on the slightly altered tactics over the week, the Under 23's went down 1-0 to Bournemouth on Tuesday. Better news though would come by the end of the week, with Andy Lamb revealing to Fairway that he had agreed a deal with Finnish outfit Kotkan Tyovaen Palloilijat , more commonly reffered to as KTP , for Preston to be able to send players on loan to the Scandinavian side. KTP play in the second tier of Finnish football, the Ykkonen , and, even more promisingly from Fairway's perspective, had also agreed to send the cream of their youth talent to Springfields for training, meaning that Preston would potentially benefit from talented Finnish teenagers joining the newly enhanced academy structure. The manager was delighted with the news, feeling the deal could only be good for the club in the future.

With Derby County the visitors at the weekend, Fairway had already named an unchanged side before his Saturday morning trip to Springfields, where the Under 18's held Morecambe to a 1-1 draw, with 15 year old scholar Sampson on the scoresheet for North End. Amongst the squad would be Dave Byrne , with Fairway allowing the teenager to return to regular U18 football after welcoming Adam Smith back from a minor knock. 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 12th February 2022

Preston North End 3 - Derby County 0 

A much improved performance from Preston North End saw Derby County easily beaten at Deepdale, with Steve Michealis getting the hosts off to a flying start with a goal in the seventh minute, reacted quickest to poke home from Rico Henry's deflected cross. It was one way traffic as Derby struggled to react to a Preston side who manager Stuart Fairway claimed had worked on adjusting their approach, with Tom Clarke heading over on 9 and Nicky Hughes firing wide. After Hughes had again come close, Preston did double their lead on 27, with Marnick Vermilj's cross volleyed into the net via the post by the excellent Abdulla Al-Yazeedi , who had timed his run to perfection. County manager Gareth Ainsworth roared his disapproval, and his side briefly rallied, with Callum Ainley heading straight at Cameron Dawson and Matej Vydra, looking isolated as the lone striker, adjudged to have pushed the 'keeper as he threw himself at Elliott Bennett's cross on the stroke of half time.

A quieter start for the second half saw Daniel Johnson fizz a shot over from distance on 52, before, three minutes before the hour mark, Abdulla Al-Yazeedi netted his second of the afternoon, outjumping Darnell Fisher to glance Johnson's free kick into the centre of the net. The third proved to be the final blow for Derby, with Al-Yazeedi shooting wide on 62, and although the visitors did manage limited further chances - Craig Bryson's free kick grazing the woodwork ten minutes from time - there was no coming back from Preston's impressive display of attacking football. North End will have tougher tasks, but if they can keep this form up, then who knows what Stuart Fairway's side may achieve.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, K Bryan, Johnson (Burgess 76), Hughes, Michealis, Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Huddlestone, Vanzie, Smith, Coughlan

Derby; McGee, Fisher (Harrison 75), Fry, Clark, J Bryan, Ezzatollahi, Bennett (Wildschut 68), Ainley, Bryson, Fraser (Ince 57), Vydra

Unused; Hennessey, Wilson, Aksoy, Ngoy

Referee; L Mason - Attendance; 19,965

Fairway would be delighted with the result and performance in general - and especially the performance of Abdulla Al-Yazeedi , who seemed to relish being freed from his previous duties and clearly enjoyed the freedom the new role in attack offered him. There would be one dark spot of an otherwise very successful day - Tom Coughlan , who had looked sluggish and under the weather when warming up, diagnosed after the game with a viral illness which would keep him out for around ten days.

Coughlan's illness would mean that the Irishman missed out on the midweek trip to Leeds United , with striker Stephy Mavididi replacing him amongst the substitutes in the only change.

[oche balboa]

Kutgw mate

[displaced_seagull]

Thanks, glad you are enjoying it!

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 15th February 2022

Leeds United 1 - Preston North End 1 

Both sides took a share of the spoils at Elland Road after one of the most entertaining and open displays of Championship football seen all season. The hosts started the stronger, with Elliott Curtis slipping in George Evans in the second minute, only for Cameron Dawson to save well. Leeds continued to pile on the early pressure, with former Preston fullback Greg Cunningham close on 5 and Marian Zilic seeing an effort blocked by Kean Bryan on 14. The midfielder would come very close for Preston minutes later - an effort from distance crashing against the post after good work from Daniel Johnson. For all of the early pressure from Leeds, Bryan's effort was swiftly followed by a goal for the visitors, as, on 19, Rico Henry's cross was met with a firm sidefooted finish from Steve Michealis to put Preston ahead. Leeds should have levelled before the break - Stuart Dallas, George Evans and Samuele Lazzari all seeing chances missed before Elliott Curtis, on 40, saw his close range finish ruled out for a push on 'keeper Cameron Dawson.

Whilst Preston had rode their luck at times in the first half, the second started with the visitors looking the more likely to add to their lead, with Sam Johnstone making a fine save from Daniel Johnson on 48 and Abdulla Al-Yazeedi heading straight at the one-time Manchester United man on 54. Whilst Preston looked to frustrate the home side by sitting back and controlling possession, albeit from deep positions, Leeds were also let down by their finishing, with Curtis wasting a chance on 69 with a shot that ended up closer to the corner flag when in a good position, and sub Sylvain Mirval hooking over on 76. Two minutes later though Leeds would get the goal they wanted, and, on the balance of play, deserved, when Mirval flicked on from Adam Matthews near post corner for captain Henry Ogbeide to volley home at the far post. Both sides pushed for the winner - Dawson holding from Ogbeide on 80, and sub Rico Vanzie denied by Johnstone on 85, but a draw, on a day when football was the winner, was the fairest result.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, K Bryan, Johnson (Huddlestone 71), Hughes (Burgess 82), Michealis, Al-Yazeedi (Vanzie 82)

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Smith, Mavididi

Leeds; Johnstone, Matthews, Oxford, Ogbeide (c), Cunningham, Reed, Evans (Thorne 63), Lazzari (Mirval 45), Zilic (Stewart 56), Dallas, Curtis

Unused; Prandini, Tavernier, Walker-Peters, Roofe

Referee; M Oliver - Attendance; 22,233

With Preston's matchday squad granted a very well deserved day off after the breathless affair on Tuesday evening, Fairway spent his Wednesday going over scouting reports, with two Scottish teenagers in particular coming in for further scrutiny. One of them was a player who he knew that he would see a lot more of - Kilmarnock midfielder Marc Paterson having already agreed a switch to Preston before his time as manager had started. Former North End boss Paul Cook had evidently seen something in the 18 year old over a year previously, arranging to sign the midfielder on pro forms, but due to his age, it had not been possible for the deal to complete until the summer of 2022. With Cook now long gone, Fairway had tasked Kenny Black with running the rule over the teenager, and liked what he saw - already a regular for Killie and a regular for the Scotland Under 19 side, Paterson would get his opportunity to impress in the summer friendlies. 

The rest of the week would remain quiet, although after consultation with his coaching staff, Fairway would announce one change to his side on Saturday morning ahead of the visit of struggling Nottingham Forest , with Jamie Burgess handed his first start in place of Daniel Johnson , who seemed to be taking a little longer to recover from his midweek exertions than others. 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 19th February 2022

Preston North End 2 - Nottingham Forest 1

Nottingham Forest manager James Beattie bemoaned a 'missed opportunity' to escape the relegation zone as Forest conceded late to fall to defeat against high flyers Preston. North End scored early in a first half of few chances, with Steve Michealis smashing the ball into the roof of the net on 5 after Abdulla Al-Yazeedi's threaded pass, but would then be unable to build on their lead, with Daire Brady in particular a constant presence in midfield, breaking up attacks and nullifying the deep runs of Kean Bryan very effectively. Brady could have levelled before the interval, seeing a shot blocked by Tom Clarke, who captained Preston on his 350th North End appearance, but the hosts should have been two up by that point, with Steve Michealis delaying a shot on 35 and allowing John Ruddy to smother. 

The visitors, who had previously offered little, struck back in the opening exchanges of the second half, with Kian Flanagan shooting on the turn from Akaki Gogia's flick on to level things up on 52. Rather surprisingly, it was Forest who then appeared the more likely to go and win the game - Cameron Dawson denying the busy Kazaiah Sterling on 58 before saving twice from Jack Baldwin headers on 71 and 72. With a breakthrough proving difficult to make, Forest seemed to ease off, playing for the point, and it was this extra space that allowed Preston to strike. First Nicky Hughes put Michealis through, only for the Australian international to pick power over precision and fire over the top with Ruddy coming out to narrow the angle, before, on 88, Forest's lack of urgency cost them, when Tom Huddlestone found Daniel Johnson for a trademark effort from distance which Ruddy got a hand to, but could not keep out. Both Flanagan and Louis Moult tried their luck from distance in injury time, but would be unable to beat Dawson from range, with Preston perhaps a little fortunate, but winners nonetheless. The win moves North End onto 60 points, putting them alongside four other sides with the same tally - leaving Deepdale regulars wondering if they dare to dream of promotion.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj (Johnson 67), Henry, K Bryan (Huddlestone 77), Burgess, Hughes, Michealis, Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Vanzie, Smith, Mavididi

Forest; Ruddy, Fitzsimons, Hobbs (c), Baldwin, Iacovitti, Whittle (Lansbury 61), Brady, Gogia (Wotherspoon 67), Flanagan, Pilkington (Moult 72), Sterling

Unused; Kiely, Toffolo, Jones, Digby

Referee; J Moss - Attendance; 23,404
 

The victory would cost Preston £350,000 - the fee paid to Aberdeen on the occasion of the 50th North End league appearance for midfielder Nicky Hughes . Fairway chose the opportunity to push the midfielder's credentials for a Scotland callup as part of his post game interview with BBC Radio Lancashire , suggesting that Hughes' performances over the season more than merited a debut callup for the March friendlies against Israel and Mexico . 

For the Under 18's meanwhile it would be a Sunday trip to Burton Albion , where an Alan McManus penalty three minutes from time was enough to secure a point for the youngsters, but the following day he would be on the losing side as the Under 23's went down 3-2 to Coventry City in a game which saw the comeback from illness of Tom Coughlan , who capped his return with a goal, and another for Stephy Mavididi , with the striker keen to keep himself in his managers mind for the potentially crucial final dozen games of the season.

Those games would start with a trip to Bristol City on Saturday, with Fairway preparing Adam Smith for a start in place of the unavailable Rico Henry , again unable to play against his parent club. Whilst Tom Coughlan looked a shoe-in to fill the place on the bench after his goalscoring return earlier in the week, Friday's light training session saw those plans dashed, with the midfielder pulling out with a heel injury. Fairway instead decided on Alan McManus , with the young midfielder jumping at the opportunity to miss the Under 18's Saturday morning game trip to Barrow to instead travel with the First Team. As it happened, Fairway learnt ahead of kickoff that Jordan Sharvin's side would be victorious without their usual captain, as Alex Lane scored three and made another for one of the scholars in a 4-2 win. The other change would see Daniel Johnson recalled for Jamie Burgess .
 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 26th February 2022

Bristol City 2 - Preston North End 2

A wet and miserable afternoon at Ashton Gate saw four goals in the first half as the struggling Robins showed real resilience to earn a point against promotion-chasing Preston. City had their tails up from the start, with Francesco Bonfiglio swinging a free kick into the box on 4 which Johnny Burn could only head behind, before, on 6, Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross was glanced home by Sam Gallagher for his 50th goal in Bristol City colours. The equaliser wouldn't take long in coming - Adam Smith making up for his foul in the buildup to the opening goal with a fine interception and change of pace to beat Alexander-Arnold, before crossing for Daniel Johnson , arriving late into the box, to net from close range. Johnson would be the busiest player on the park - a half-volley on 29 which Michealis Papacharalabous did just enough to hold onto, before seeing a wickedly curling corner tipped over the top by the Cypriot 'keeper three minutes later. Preston took the lead on 40 - Johnson and Smith again combining well with a ball into the left hand channel for the youngster to pull back for Steve Michealis to poke in at the near post - but less than a minute later, would again be pegged back. Michealis' touch was the last by a Preston player before a clearly frustrated Cameron Dawson picked the ball out of the net, with Sam Clucas hitting a cross deep for Lee Tomlin to glance back for Sam Gallagher to add his second of the afternoon.

After an action packed first half, the second proved - like the weather - more of a damb squib, with the first chance of note not coming until five minutes after the hour, when Kean Bryan steered wide from close range. For the hosts, Gallagher again looked the most likely source - grazing the bar with a header from a Clucas cross on 69 - whilst Johnson's injury time strike from distance hardly troubled Papacharalabous. The visitors seemed frustrated with the draw, in contrast to the joyous hosts, who will need to build on this to steer themselves back to safety.

Bristol City; Papacharalabous, Alexander-Arnold (c), Barenek, Bosnjak, Clucas (Solly 69), Ntcham, George (Dowling 62), Paterson, Tomlin, Bonfiglio (Freeman 57), Gallagher

Unused; Glover, Olomola, Flint, Ajose

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, K Bryan, Johnson, Hughes (Burgess 69), Michealis, Al-Yazeedi (Vanzie 69)

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Huddlestone, McManus, Mavididi

Referee; C Pawson - Attendance; 16,821

Whilst Manchester City ran out winners in a rather lacklustre 2-1 League Cup Final victory over Chelsea on Sunday, the afternoon proved enlightening for Fairway in more ways than one. An impromptu invite to Mark Morrison and Jason Cowan to watch the game turned, inevitably, into an opportunity to talk tactics, with the decision that it would be back to the deeper laying forward role in a bid to give the 'poacher' in the forward line, Michealis , more support. 

Fairway was pleased to see the Under 23's victorious on Monday afternoon, with strike duo Alex Lane and Stephy Mavididi both on target, whilst the clean sheet for Joaquim Manjate also impressed the watching manager. He would also take personal plaudits - earning the Manager of the Month award for February, despite the three draws over the month, and could only hope it would not lead to the feared 'curse' which tradition suggested accompany the trophy.

By late on Wednesday afternoon, he wondered if it already had, when news came through from the gym that Nicky Hughes had suffered strained stomach muscles. Fortunately, the injury would be a relatively minor one, but Fairway knew the three week absence for his talismanic Scottish youngster would more than likely cost Hughes that potential first international callup. It was a frustrating end to the day, although a 1-0 win for the Under 18's against the first team of local Non-League outfit Charnock Richard in a friendly - with Alex Lane bringing his personal tally for the season to 22 - helped raise spirits a little.

The manager felt that Lane deserved some reward for his efforts, naming him on the bench for the Saturday lunchtime televised clash with local rivals - and League leaders - Burnley . He would replace Stephy Mavididi at Deepdale, with Rico Henry returning on the left and Jamie Burgess also handed a starting berth to replace the injured Hughes, as Tom Coughlan came back into the first team picture to replace Alan McManus amongst the substitutes.
 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Saturday 5th March 2022

Preston North End 2 - Burnley 2

There will not be many occasions on which a Lancashire derby has started and ended with a bear hug between the two managers, but Burnley's Carsten Jancker made no secret of his admiration for near neighbour Stuart Fairway in the buildup to what proved an incident-packed encounter in front of a full house at Deepdale. With home supporters hoping for an early goal to settle the nerves, they would have been delighted when, after just 8 minutes, Daniel Johnson stepped up to bend a stunning free kick passed Danny Ward from fully 30 yards after Shane Duffy had tripped Steve Michealis. The league leaders looked to strike back almost instantly - Cameron Dawson holding from Jordan Rhodes just 60 seconds later, before Jake Bidwell somehow beat the giant Johnny Burn in the air, only to head straight at the 'keeper on 19. With Burnley making more of the running, Preston were limited in their response after the early goal - Johnson close from distance on 32, as Rhodes again headed wide minutes later.

After regrouping at the break, Preston came out looking more composed for the start of the second half after some shaky defending in the closing stages of the first, and on 51, doubled their lead when Johnson turned provider, with a deft pass from Abdulla Al-Yazeedi's flick for Steve Michealis to rifle home from the edge of the box. This second prompted a change in approach from Jancker, with the former German international calling for his side to slow down the play. Slowly but surely, the gamble worked - Preston's hard-pressed midfield having to cover a lot more ground as Burnley moved comfortably on and off the ball, and on 64, pulled one back with the third spectacular strike of the afternoon as Patjam Kasami curled home from 20 yards after Scott Arfield's early cross had been blocked. The equaliser should have come on 69 - Bradley Dack steering into the side netting from close range , but it would be the substitution which followed, as the ineffective Andre Gray made way for Callum Gribbin, that would prove to be vital. Before the leveller would come dismay - Shane Duffy again being beaten for pace, and although Steve Michealis went down a little easier than he perhaps could have done, the resulting second yellow for the Irishman was probably deserved. With a man down, Burnley went for it - Jancker moving Gribbin up front alongside Rhodes, whilst young Preston sub Alex Lane could only head weakly into the arms of Ward when well placed. Eventually, pressure told, and, with ten minutes remaining, Ben Osborn's pass found Callum Gribbin with his back to goal on the edge of the box. The midfielder, who has impressed in cameo performances off the bench for the Clarets, showed his class again, expertly turning Tom Clarke before unleashing a powerful, dipping effort to beat Cameron Dawson. Even with the man less, the visitors still looked confident as Fairway decided to hold for a point - although Danny Ward had to be at his best to turn away Tom Huddlestone's piledriver on 88. It proved a fitting finale to an excellent game - leaving both managers - and both sets of supporters - appearing relatively happy to share the points.

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson, Burgess, Michealis, Al-Yazeedi

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Huddlestone, McManus, Mavididi

Burnley; Ward, Paterson (Mawson 73), Duffy, Chalobah, Bidwell, Howson (Kasami 60), Osborn, Gray (Gribbin 69), Dack, Arfield, Rhodes (c)

Unused; Heaton, Brown, Thandi, Ejaria

Referee; M Atkinson - Attendance; 23,404

Whilst the days other results offered little in the way of comfort for Fairway having seen his side pegged back from 2 goals ahead to only manage a draw at home, he was pleased to see that Preston remained in fifth after the game, in an increasingly tight top six. There would be little time to dwell on the result however, with the next batch of potential Preston stars appearing on Sunday as Fairway attended the first senior training session for this season's crop of youth graduates.

Stephen Wright asked Fairway to pay particular attention to one, a 16 year old striker by the name of Micheal Bywater . Diminutive but fearless, the teenager, who had first come to Preston's attention as a 12 year old, immediately impressed his potential manager with a fine display, including scoring the second in a 3-0 win for the new youngsters in a behind closed doors game on the new main match pitch at Springfields against a side made up of the current Under 18's with some other hopefuls thrown in to make up the numbers. The annual game had always been his priority, but he was nonetheless also pleased to hear that the Under 23's had held Millwall to a goalless draw.

Discussing the new arrivals after the game with Stephen Wright, Mark Morrison and Jordan Sharvin , Fairway acted decisively, asking seven to attend a meeting on Monday. Apprehension filled the room as the first team manager spoke to them for the first time, but by the end of the session, all would be offered contracts - Bywater , his fellow striker Tim Price as well as defenders Andy Bull and Paul King two year professional deals to take them up until the summer of 2024, with right back Chris Wright and midfield duo Eddie Ryder and David Butterworth offered one year deals until the summer of 2023. Fairway was at pains to point out that the contract offers did not mean the group had made it as professional footballers, stressing that he expected significant development from all seven over the coming months. For the majority of the remainder - Darran Clarke, Jimmy Wiles, Mick Hibbert, Drew Raynes, Liam Hearn and Peter King , there would be no instant decision, with Fairway promising them game time for the Under 18's over the coming weeks. Sadly, for three - wingers Matt Mellor and Lloyd Reid , and attacking midfielder Paul Price (no relation to striker Tim), it would be the end of the road, as the news was broken that it was not felt that they had shown enough in their final year at the junior academy to progress to the next stage.

Whilst the manager did not enjoy having to impart the unhappy news before leaving with the first team for the overnight trip to London, he felt it only fair to do so before the news leaked out regarding the contracts offered to their peers. The side itself for the game against Fulham remained unchanged, with the injury to Nicky Hughes giving Jamie Burgess , who Fairway had felt had not quite found his feet at Preston as yet, another chance to impress. 
 

[displaced_seagull]

Quote

www.bbc.co.uk/football - Tuesday 8th March 2022

Fulham 1 - Preston North End 1

After the disappointment of conceding two late goals on Saturday to local rivals Burnley, Preston North End again failed to hold onto their lead at Craven Cottage. A slow start to the game saw little action of note before the visitors took the lead on 20 when January arrival Jamie Burgess lobbed a stranded David Button from the edge of the area, whilst Apostolos Vellios should have done better on the half hour for Fulham, planting a free header over the bar from Grant Ward's cross. Ward seemed to be enjoying plenty of space when roaming forward for the hosts, and after his late arrival into the box, the winger was unlucky not to level on 43 with a header which was pushed over the bar. Whilst Cameron Dawson had earned his keep with the initial save, from Maciej Rybus' inswinging corner he had to be thankful for his woodwork, with Chris Harris crashing a volley against the crossbar. 

Fulham's encouraging showing in the latter stages of the first half would continue after half time, and on 47, it was Kevin Mbabu who put in the cross for Apostolos Vellios to head home the equaliser. With Fulham now looking the more likely to push on, home fans will have been frustrated with a second period which promised much but delivered little - Rybus and Harris both seeing efforts tipped away, with Preston reduced to shooting from range as their usual clinical passing let them down. Indeed the visitors - aside from a Rico Vanzie effort which was comfortably saved - had to cling on, as further Fulham chances went astray, Vellios heading straight at the 'keeper on 88 before nodding wide in stoppage time. Preston, it must be said, are desperately missing Nicky Hughes in midfield - and whilst the introduction of veteran Tom Huddlestone helped, it remains to be seen if they have the strength in depth for the long haul.

Fulham; Button, De Laet, Harte, Grant (Bennett 68), Mbabu, Williams, Ward, Rybus, Lawrence (Koumourias 58), Harris (Hedges 68), Vellios

Unused; O'Donnell, Gardner, Jozabed, Ayité

Preston; Dawson, Clarke (c), Bowles, Burn, Vermilj, Henry, Bryan, Johnson (Huddlestone 74), Burgess, Michealis (Lane 74), Al-Yazeedi (Vanzie 63)

Unused; Bell, Manjate, Coughlan, Vanzie, Smith

Referee; K Friend - Attendance; 17,709

With the draw securing Preston's mathematical safety, Fairway chose not to come down too harshly on his squad as they made their way back north along the M1, and although morale seemed good in the squad, he did express some concerns over the mental strength of certain members of his squad to Mark Morrison as they shared a late night coffee. Better news came through from the Chairman en-route, with Andy Lamb advising that Michael Bywater had been only too happy to sign his contract.

Whilst the players were granted a day off on Wednesday following their early morning arrival in Preston, for Lamb and Fairway it would prove a busy afternoon as the five other youngsters offered deals all came in to sign - David Butterworth, Eddie Ryder, Tim Price, Chris Wright, Andy Bull and Paul King all putting pen to paper in what was a genuinely pleasing moment for both, as the first buds of the improved youth setup began to blossom.

They would all be involved on Saturday morning as the Under 18's hosted Chester , with the manager in attendance to see a 1-0 victory - and a thought-provoking goal from Drew Raynes , another of the young hopefuls who as, had yet, not been offered a contract, ahead of the first team game against Queens Park Rangers . Rangers had also drawn in the week, at home to lowly Cambridge , and Fairway issued a warning to his men that some of them would need to step up their game. He had decided however not to make too many changes, with just Stephy Mavididi replacing Alex Lane on the bench for the game against the Londoners.