View from the Preston end.

Went to the game on Boxing day, my first away game for 3 or 4 seasons. My brother lives near Preston and used to regularly take his lads. So went in the Tom Finney stand with him and his 2 lads. It was embarrassing, we were awful. I felt sorry for Holgate who had a nightmare, kept slicing the ball out of play and was just the butt of jokes, he just had an off day as did many, but to fans who've not seen him before him and Smith were "the worst pair of fullbacks" seen. Penalty looked soft from where I was (level with penalty area at other end). Lita was by far our best player. Got a photo of away end I'll post later, great backing from the fans, could hear them throughout the game, why don't we do that at home?

 

Thought Holgate was ok and Smith very good but it's all opinions. Doesn't say much for them then if we were so poor defensively and it took a dodgy penalty for them to score.

Lita looks shot to pieces to me.

Davies probably our best player on the day.

 

I've heard and read so many reports on the game and yours is the only one to slate our fullbacks and big up Lita. Majority were diametrically opposed to your view, Rich. But, as JC says, it's all about opinions.

 

Were there really Preston fans saying that? Football fans really are thick as fook sometimes.

Two 18 year olds with a combined 4 professional appearances between them. I'd be more concerned about having Kevin Davies and Jermaine Beckford as a front two

 

Well that was my view that they are 2 young lads. But I did think that Holgate had a shocker and I've been a fan of his since he came into the side, great prospect. And yes, they were bemoaning the fact they couldn't score against us.
Lita for me was our MotM, held ball up well, really put himself about well, fed the midfield runners.

Yes, a guy behind me said on a couple of occasions "these must be the worst fullbacks I've seen".

Didn't help when Smith dropped that throw in in the 2nd half right in front of us.

 

I agree regarding Lita, especially in the 1st half where held the ball really well at times but lacked any support from the midfield. Unfortunately he missed that chance to put us 1 up. In the 2nd half he was largely anonymous.

I disagree with your comments about the full backs, yes they struggled on occasions but they both stuck at it and kept plugging away throughout which they deserve a lot of credit for. They're only young lads and will be much better for the experience.

 

It's a game of opinions, but some have to be wrong.

 

Your getting my comments about the fullbacks wrong, it was the PNE fans slating them not me. I did however think Holgate had a poor game by the standards he's set so far - not a criticism, an observation. Having said that I'd rather he was just knocking the ball into the stand.