Preston North End Football Club

Manager Frankie McAvoy replacing Alex Neal.

 

8th May 2021 P46 W18 D7 L21 F49 A56 Pts 61 Position 13th

 

Five wins keeps PNE in mid-table.

 

On 8th April Doug Holden died at the age of 90. He was a long term Bolton player who came to PNE aged 32 in 1962 and played in the 1964 Cup Final for PNE, it was his 3rd Cup Final. A likeable player who played on the left wing scoring 15 goals in 103 games for PNE.

Greg Cunningham and Ched Evans sign 2 year deals.

Moult and Nugent released. Great memories from Nugent in the David Moyes era. Billy Bodin, Josh Ginnelly and Graham Burke have also been released.

10th May Frankie McAvoy formally appointed PNE manager. Paul Gallagher becomes first team coach after retiring from playing. Good to keep them.

Norwich and Watford promoted. Brentford, Swansea, Barnsley, Bournemouth in the play offs.

Wycombe, Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday relegated.

Hull and Peterborough promoted from League 1. Play-offs underway.

Fulham, WBA, Sheffield United relegated from the Premier League.

 

 

31st March 2021 P38 W13 D5 L20 F39 A49 Pts 44 Position 16th

 

A bad month, zero wins. Manager Alex Neil is sacked. He had a good run but this year it ran out after 4 years. Assistant Manager, Frankie McAvoy takes over as interim and is then appointed full time. McAvoy was Neil's assistant at Hamilton and Norwich. To rub salt into Alex Neil's wound he was fined £2000 by the FA for a red card.

 

28th February 2021 P33 W13 D4 L16 F37 A42 Pts 43 Position 13th

 

Win 2, Draw 1, Lose 3 in February. North End's last 2 months losing as many as they win and draw is mid-table form. Winning the last game of February 3-0 at home to Huddersfield was a boost, improving the goal difference which took a knocking with 2 4-0 defeats of late.

 

31st January 2021 P27 W11 D3 L13 F31 A34 Pts 36 Position 11th

 

Win 1, Draw 1, Lose 3 in January. North End's roller coaster continues but they're still 11th and only 6 points off the play-off positions. February is a short month but there are 6 games and with PNE's form they could get anything between 18 and zero points.

 

At the transfer deadline: Ben Davies, full back, signed for Liverpool for a modest fee with Sepp van den Berg, 19, on loan for this season. PNE have also signed Anthony Gordon, 19, a forward,from Everton, and Liam Lindsay, 25, centre back, from Stoke. Two teenagers, the Championship must be a great league if they can get first team experience rather than being a sub or playing in the reserves.

 

31st December 2020 P22 W10 D2 L10 F30 A30 Pts 32 Position 11th

 

A good month with 5 wins and climbing the table. The play-offs are at 37 points and relegation 16 points. 2-3W, 2-2, 3-0W, 3-0L, 2-1L, 1-0W, 0-1W, 2-0W.

 

Tommy Docherty dies aged 92 on 31st December 2020. Tommy Docherty played 323 games in 9 years for Preston North End.

Born in 1928 he moved from Celtic to PNE in 1949 leaving for Arsenal in 1958. He played 25 times for Scotland. In 1961 he stepped into coaching and management where his huge personality made a mark. Later managing Manchester United and Scotland. Re-joining PNE as manager for a short spell in 1981. In November 2020 he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

30th November 2020 P14 W4 D1 L9 F12 A20 Pts 13 Position 18th

 

One win in five games. Three games lost by big margins makes things look a bit worse. Fortunately the bottom three are way behind..

 

31st October 2020 P9 W3 D1 L5 F9 A8 Pts 10 Position 16th

 

It might be a record to lose all three home games and win all three away games in the month. It keeps PNE in a reasonable early season position in the league.

 

30th September 2020 P3 W0 D1 L2 F2 A4 Pts 1

 

Three league games with 2 home defeats without scoring, and an away draw at Norwich.

 

In the EFL Cup PNE reach round 3 where they are beaten away at Brighton.

 

31st August 2020 Season 2020/21 Friendlies

 

From 22nd August friendlies were played against Salford, Tranmere, Burnley, Sheffield United, Everton. The 1st round of the EFL Cup Preston 4 Mansfield Town 0.

 

 

 

Final position of season 2019/20 was on 31st July 2020 P46 W18 D12 L16 F59 A54 Pts 56 Pos 9th