Macca saves North End’s blushes

By Alex Higgins

Paul McKenna was the savior at Deepdale as he got North End’s equalising goal against a stubborn QPR team. It was old boy Gareth Ainsworth who put Rangers a goal up early on in the game. With big Danny Dichio out My wishes were granted, as Whaley played up front with Nugent.

The Londoners strong team held their back line well, as they were happy to keep their 1-0 lead. It was more injury worry for the Lilywhites as Kelvin Wilson was stretched off and the signs didn’t look good for PNE’s number 28, Alan McCormack was the man to place him at right back.

Nugent showed some more promising signs as he had a few efforts for PNE, one nearly going in just before the ref blew for half time as winger Danny Pugh linked up well with Hill on the left and drilled in a cross for Nugent who put the ball just over. At half time Rangers went in 1-0 up. QPR’s height in their team showed how they were going to play and stuck to their game plan as North End struggled at times to cope with the big 6 footers.

North End started the second half with a lot more determination than they showed in the first half. The crowd sprung to life, which really fired the players up, chances from Whaley, Nugent and Pugh all went begging as Rangers were starting to look nervy. Simmo opted to change things and Agyemang and Lewis Neal came on to the field for Sedgwick and Matt Hill.

Lewis Neal showed why he deserves a place in the team as he showed some good touches and runs on the left wing. St Ledger had a good chance from a corner but at an acute angle he could only knock it back where there was no North End shirts to poke the ball home.

Finally North End’s second half performance paid off as a Lewis Neal cross found Paul McKenna who neatly headed the ball into the bottom right corner giving Paul Jones no chance in the QPR goal.

It wasn’t a pretty game at times but North End showed they are creating enough chances to win games but the finishing from North End was poor. We really need fresh faces in the team, the sooner the better. Luke Chilvers looked shaky at times, you can tell he played in a lower league as he always seems to hoof the ball up, he needs to learn that we are a passing side and needs to start the attacks from the back line just like Claude Davis did.

Next off is a Wednesday night trip to Port Vale in the league cup. We never have had a good run in this competition so lets hope Simmo wants to win as much as we do, expect a few changes on Wednesday but I think too many could see us going down to the league 1 leaders, lets give the boys a big lift at Vale Park and see us through to the second round.

Higgo