The Bottom Line
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Town need to halt a run of three defeats. Therefore a win would be nice.
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The Opposition - Any Good?
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The good news for Town fans is that North End’s number 9, who caused Town so many problems earlier this month, Ricardo Fuller is out for the season. But still, the Lancashire side have plenty of talent in their ranks. Former Huddersfield and Bury defender Chris Lucketti and ex Town loanee Marlon Broomes (left) are a strong combination at the back, whilst former Manchester United forward David Healy, is on his day, one of the best in the division.
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Recent Form
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Town | Preston |
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L | Wimbledon | (h) | 3-5 |
L | Aston Villa(Cup) | (a) | 0-5 |
W | Coventry | (a) | 2-1 |
W | Leicester | (h) | 2-0 |
D | Brighton | (h) | 2-2 (4-5 pens) |
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Players To Watch
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Town | Preston |
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Stuart Campbell
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Richard Cresswell
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The former Leicester City midfielder has been in much better form this season, playing on both flanks and even in central midfield this term. A £200,000 signing from Leicester City after the end of the 2000/01 season, Campbell has hit three goals from midfield this season, one of them of course against Preston last month at Blundell Park. A tricky midfielder, he likes to join in the attack and take on defenders as much as possible. The performance of he and the rest of the Mariners midfield could decide Town’s fate on Saturday. |
Former Sheffield Wednesday, York City and Leicester City striker who was voted the club’s player of the year last season, when he scored 15 goals. This season he is doing equally well, leading the Preston attack with skill and guile, having bagged 10 goals already this season. He signed for what now seems a bargain £500,000 in March 2001 after a successful loan spell. A tricky customer, the former England under 21 striker will be a problem for the leaky Mariners defence to handle. |
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Top Scorers
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Town | Preston |
Kabba 6
Pouton 4
Campbell 4
Livingstone 3
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Cresswell 10
Fuller 9
Alexander 5
Healy 4
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Team News
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Town | Preston |
The Mariners will welcome back recent injury victim Darren Mansaram back into the side. This will accommodate John Oster on the right hand side of midfield, seeing Darren Barnard dropped to the bench.
In defence, Paul Groves may be tempted to change things, with his defence now officially the worst in the division, conceding the most goals so far. This depends on the fitness of John McDermott, who is struggling with injury.
If Macca fails to make it then Simon Ford will play right back with Paul Groves and Jason Gavin in central defence.
Elsewhere, George Santos may be installed to beef up the central midfield in place of Stacy Coldicott.
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Striker Richard Cresswell returns from suspension. Youngster Pawel Abbott may keep his place, but more likely is Cresswell partnering David Healy in the Preston attack.
Elsewhere the North End line up will be the same as the one that lost to Wimbledon last week, with no new injury worries.
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Probable Starting XI's
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Town | Preston |
Danny Coyne |
Simon Ford |
Jason Gavin |
Paul Groves |
Tony Gallimore |
John Oster |
Stuart Campbell |
George Santos |
Alan Pouton |
Steve Livingstone |
Darren Mansaram |
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David Lucas |
Graham Alexander |
Chris Lucketti |
Marlon Broomes |
Rob Edwards |
Paul McKenna |
Dickson Etuhu |
Eric Skora |
Eddie Lewis |
Richard Cresswell |
David Healy |
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Subs
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Town | Preston |
David Soames |
Darren Barnard |
Stacy Coldicott |
Jonathan Rowan |
Sean Allaway (GK) |
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Mark Rankine |
Pawel Abbott |
Tepi Molianen (GK) |
Colin Murdock |
Lee Cartwright |
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Last Time Out
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I need not remind you that the last time Town played Preston was only four short weeks ago when the two sides shared a 3-3 draw at Blundell Park.
Town Team: Coyne, Parker, Gallimore, Ford, Gavin, Oster, Campbell, Pouton, Coldicott, Livingstone, Mansaram.
Attendance: 5,774 Report
Preston Head-to-Head
(77th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Prediction
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Directions
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Click on the link for directions to Deepdale (left).
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Pubs
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Click on the link for the Preston site's Deepdale Pub Guide.
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