PNE v Wigan: Match Report

By pnefans.co.uk
May 3 2005

Preston put in a good performance in front of a full house at Deepdale, and showed the country watching on Sky just why were 4th in the table, drawing 1-1 with Wigan.

The stage was set for a great game, Preston already in the play-offs after Suderland beat West Ham on Friday night, Wigan looking for 3pts which would take then another step closer to the Premiership, and all this infront of a full house, and live on sky.

The afternoon started with the fans on the Town End turning the stand into a sea of
white, with every man, woman and child holding up a piece of white card, then out of the sea of white came the words PNE, superbly executed by all of us on the Town End and greatly organised by the club.

The game was always going to be a tight affair, and so it proved with not many clear cut goal scoring chances being created.

Preston could of got off to a dream start inside 5mins when Nugent was put through, bearing down on goal instead of shooting which you would of expexted him to do with only the keeper to beat, he tried to set up team mate Creswell but the pass was a touch to hard and the chance went begging.

On 24mins Wigan opened the scoring, a free kick from the left was curled in a and McCulloch, rose unmarked to fire a header goal bound and although Nash got a leg to it could'nt keep it out.

On 40mins Preston had a great chance to equalise Nugent with the same chance he had earlier in the half but this time coming in from the left, but he fired high and wide.

But Preston did'nt have to wait too long for it to come though, 1min infact, the ball came in from the left and up poped O'Neil to head home.

The second half started with Preston playing some good passing football, and creating a couple of half chances. Midway through the half Preston had a free kick from the right, Mckenna put the ball in, it missed everyone in the middle and ended up falling to an unmarked Lucketti at the back post and with the goal at his mercy he failed to connect properly and a gratefull Filan gatherd up.

Both teams went on looking for a winner in the last quater of the match but it finshed 1-1 and to be fair was probably the right result on the day, and all 20,221 fans were quite happy, Wigan getting another point closer to the Premiership and staying above Ipswich, no matter what they did later in the day against Crewe. And Preston showing they can match anyone in this division, which should give them confidence for the play-offs.

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Preston boss Billy Davies:

"I thought we were very, very good today and created some very good chances.

"We knew it would be difficult and know how good Wigan are - so I can't ask any more from the players.

"We've still got a job to do and look forward to the remaining games - I'm delighted with the effort."

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Wigan manager Paul Jewell:

"It's up to us now and that's all I can ask for. We don't have to rely on Ipswich, although it would be nice if Crewe could win.

"Reading will need to win next week so it will be a full-on game."

"We got ourselves in front against the run of play and conceded a goal from a set-piece, which I was disappointed with. We were nowhere near our best but we've dug in and nicked a point."

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Preston: Nash, Alexander, Lucketti, Mawene, Hill, Sedgwick, O'Neil (Mears 87), McKenna, Davidson (Etuhu 63), Nugent (Agyemang 83), Cresswell. Subs Not Used: Ward, Davis.

Booked: Sedgwick.

Goals: O'Neil 41.

Wigan: Filan, Eaden, Jackson, Breckin, McMillan, Teale (Jarrett 63), Kavanagh, Bullard (Mahon 81), McCulloch, Roberts, Ellington (Graham 75). Subs Not Used: Walsh, Wright.

Booked: McCulloch.

Goals: McCulloch 24.

Att: 20,221

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).