Vår man på plats (Dave)
Här kommer en rapport från Dave + lite bilder från Deepdale. Han brukar inte klaga på domaren men den här gången är han inte glad.
Boys,
I had a feeling that Stoke were not going to get anything out of the fixture on Tuesday night as we had been, for the first real time this season, the focus of alot of
media attention throughout the day.
Even on my way to work Peter Coates was being interviewed on national radio.
The fact that Preston hadn't lost at home on a Tuesday for 7 years (31 games) didn't help my pre-match nerves.
Alot has been said about the referees shocking performance and its true that he was a classic "homer"
This means that he doesn't look like Homer Simpson but that he showed a tendency to give all the big decisions in favour of the home team.
Stokes penalty shout was right at the other end of play so I couldn't tell if it was or not. However, Fuller certainly made his feelings known.
However, I could clearly see when Fuller was later clattered by a Preston centre half. How the hell the ref didn't book the player is beyond me. Particularly, when Stoke players were getting cards for simillar offences.
The ref also stopped play once, when Stoke were on the attack, as a Preston player was supposedly injured. Yet later, when Cort was obviously injured and
in pain he waved "play on"
Should the football league of chosen a 22 year old, who was taking charge of only his second game, to ref this match in the first place?
Im still angry about his performance 48 hours after the match has finished.
Having said all that, the referee didn't cost us the game it was:-
(1) Stoke (Shawcross in particular) giving away needless free kicks in dangerous areas.
(2) Piss poor marking from those free kicks and
(3) Piss poor Stoke finishing.
Fuller had 3 one-on-ones with their goalkeeper and missed them all.
Shawcross hit the post (just after Preston took the lead) and he also missed with a clear header that flew wide.
Sidibe shot over when put through on goal (no surprise there)
However, the best chance fell when Delap found himself in on goal with only the keeper to beat. Instead of shooting he passed it square to Lawrence who also instead of shooting, chose to check inside before then seeing his shot get cleared off the line, That miss happened just after half-time. If it had gone in it may of been a different story.
Other points.
Why did Pulis bring Parkin on for Sidibe when Gally seemed a better option? Cresswell also was pretty ineffective and he took most of the abuse that was dished out by the Preston fans towards Stokes ex-Preston players.
Whelans booking means he is suspended for Norwich & Burnley.
Shawcross & Lawrence now join Fuller with 1 booking off a 2 match ban.
To cap a truly miserable evening, when Cort was being stretchered off, the Preston tannoy announcer called him "Leon Croft"
Stoke took a sell out allocation of just under 2,000.
2 consecutive home fixtures (Palace & Bristol City) have been chosen for live coverage on T.V.
QPR on Sunday is going to be a test.
KEEP THE FAITH.
....Dave
