Preston North End Football Club

7th May 2017 P46 W16 D14 L16 F64 A63 Pts62 Pos 11th

A good season reaching 8th in February. Possibly have made the play-offs but ran out of fuel in the last month. It was a big test to play 4 of the top 6 in the last month, losing them all. Then taking 1 point from the last 2 games against poor opposition. 1 point from 18. However even taking all those points would have been a close call, Huddersfield being 78pts and PNE 80pts for joint 5th place with Fulham. In reality PNE ended closer to relegation, 11pts above, than promotion 18pts below, so lets not get carried away.

A target of winning 23 games and losing less than 10 is needed for a play-off place. 28 wins for automatic promotion. Simon Grayson is credited with good results for a club on PNE's budget. That is not to criticise the owner Trevor Hemmings as PNE are lucky to have him.

Beckford, Lindegard and Smith are announced as leaving. McGready is wanted on a permanent basis.

Leeds must be disappointed not making the play-offs after being in the top 6 most of the season. Blackburn being relegated with Wigan.

Surprisingly Fleetwood made the League 1 play-offs but lost in the first round. Bolton taking a promotion spot at first attempt in that league.

Blackpool are still in the League 2 play-offs at the time of writing.

Southport relegated from the Vanarama National League to the Vanarama Northern League.

Newcomers AFC Fylde who play in Kirkham are promoted to the Vanarama National League. Much famed Salford failed in the play-offs. Once famed for giant killing Altrincham are relegated from the Vanarama Northern, which is a hard fall.

Local money is propelling AFC Fylde, Fleetwood and Accrington and Morecambe. Same for PNE.

 

31st March 2017 P38 W15 D12 L11 F53 A47 Pts57 Pos 9th

One win, one loss and two draws wasn't good enough to climb the league. Beating Reading 3-0 was a good result but losing 3-1 to fellow play-off challengers Fulham wasn't. McGeady on loan from Everton is flavour of the month after an injury time goal against Blackburn.

The fortunes of other local clubs in the Championship aren't too rosy with Blackburn and Wigan in relegation positions. Burnley are just above the relegation zone in the Premier League. Bolton have a clear lead in 2nd place in League One with Fleetwood out-performing in a play-off position. Blackpool are just outside the play-off places in League Two with Accrington mid-table and Morecambe fairly comfortable but near the bottom.

 

28th February 2017 P34 W14 D10 L10 F46 A41 Pts52 Pos 8th

A month with no defeats puts PNE two places below the play off positions. Three home wins and two away draws against middling opponents. When you look at the table PNE are doing very well considering their small home gates although clubs like Burnley, Watford and Bournemouth can be in the Premier League. PNE are the only biggish club in the area that haven't been in the Premier League. Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn, Burnley and Blackpool, plus Oldham surprisingly.

 

31st January 2017 P29 W11 D8 L10 F38 A37 Pts41 Pos 10th

A good league position at the end of January although the last 3 results weren't the best. An away win and a home win against top club Brighton started the year off well. Two draws and an away defeat followed. A good display against Arsenal in the FA Cup almost securing a win before a late comeback by Arsenal.

In the January transfer window PNE loaned Everton defender Tyias Browning for 2.5 years. Doyle, Simpson and Smith went out on loan. Hugill, who has been scoring well, has been subject of offers which have been turned down, a good sign to have players who are wanted elsewhere, although Ipswich aren't that great a lure.

Blackburn and Wigan are in Championship relegation positions while Bolton and Fleetwood are in play-off positions in League One. Blackpool and Morecambe are middling in League 2 while Accrington are having a bad time at 21st also in League 2.

AFC Fylde are well ahead at the top of the Vanarama Northern League with their new ground near the M55 at Kirkham.

 

31st December 2016 P24 W9 D6 L9 F32 A32 Pts33 Pos 13th

Defeat at home to Leeds 4-1 put a hole in the goal difference. Beckford sent off within minutes of his return from a ban for fighting.

A good away win at Bristol and losing 2 points at home with a last minute equaliser by Sheff Wed.

8pts from 6 games in December isn't so brilliant but we must be grateful North End are in mid-table and still in contention for a play-off place. Blackburn and Wigan are in the relegation spots although watching Blackburn on TV they don't seem a bad team. A lot of clubs let themselves down by players making silly mistakes. Passing to no-where seems to be a frequent trend, even in the Premier League.

30th November 2016 P18 W7 D4 L7 F23 A21 Pts25 Pos 12th

 

31st October 2016 P15 W6 D2 L7 F19 A19 Pts20 Pos 13th

A good October with some good wins but ending with a home defeat to Newcastle. Two good home wins against Villa and Huddersfield and an away win a Norwich and draw at Brighton was a good month. Being knocked out of the EFL cup 6-1 by Newcastle was a poor result although Preston had a player harshly sent of halfway through the game.

 

30th September 2016 P10 W3 D1 L6 F10 A14 Pts10 Pos 19th

A big home win and a big away defeat, with some good results against Midlands sides gave PNE some lift in September.

An away win in the League Cup at Premier League side Bournemouth was a bonus.

 

31st August 2016 P5 W1 D0 L4 F3 A5 Pts3 Pos 23rd

A poor start, narrow defeats. One win away at QPR. Win the EFL cup at home.

Garner moves to Rangers.

Three more signings McGeady, Vermijl, Baptiste.

Blackburn are 24th and Wigan 20th. Northern Powerhouse. Although Huddersfield are top and Barnsley 3rd.

 

1st August 2016 P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0 Pts0 Pos 18th

First league game Reading v Preston. 6th August 3pm.

PNE have signed Maxwell in goal from Fleetwood, striker Makienok from Palermo, defender Spurr from Blackburn, striker Doyle from Cardiff, Robinson from Aston Villa who was on loan last year, and defender Pringle from Fulham.

Seven left the club. Brownhill to Bristol City.

Woods injured ligaments pre-season and will be out for the whole season.

Newly relegated Aston Villa and Newcastle United two big clubs to face. The Sky Bet Championship is full of big clubs. Four from the Midlands. Two from Yorkshire and very few who you can say should be an easy game.

In the north west returning to the Championship is Wigan. Bolton and Blackpool were relegated.