For a player to have a whole terrace agreeing in unison that his nose is bigger than Andy "I'm taller when I put my head back" Booth's enormous hooter means that his conk must be something special. The Sheffield Wednesday connection had me wondering about whether they were bothed hounded out of Hillsboro because of the sky high Vicks Synex bill?
Craig Brown brought what seemed quite a small squad for a friendly that struggled from very early on to handle the pace of Blundell, Coppinger and Jocky McSporran. Blundell had a bad day at the office with the Keeper winning out on several one on ones, a charmed life was led by the Preston Keeper first half. A midfield of Ravenhill, Celi, McIndoe and Mcsporran moved the ball quickly down the wings and stood its ground in midfield. A lack of height was made up for with the impressive detrermination of Blundell and the tricks of Coppinger. the Back four of Marples, Morley, Foster and some triallist were rarely bothered and it took a defensive error for Preston to go one up.
After Rovers had some comic moments with a ball that would just not go in they finally equalised with a rather tame finish that in all honesty didn't deserve a goal, as usual in Football they all count.
The triallist that came on all put up a good show after that, but as the Sarge was introduced Craig brown began to worry. His reaction as Mark Albrighton thumped some geaded clearances almost into the Preston Penalty area and then nearly sent Richard Cresswell with it was a joy to see. A wise managerial decision had his senior stikers substituted before the Sarge could get more than a few tackles in, but they were tackles the'yll notice in the morning.
All in a all a satisfying performance with Rovers very unlucky in front of goal, you wonder how Nichloas Anelka will take to Mark Albrightons attention on Saturday?