United – Phew. It was more relief than anything. Course I was delighted to win and does not matter how it happens but after throwing it away to go away without winning that one would have been tough to take. We were much better than the game against Birmingham but still not outstanding. It was a bit quicker tempo, we were more on the front foot and had more up front with McGoldrick in particular looking impressive and a threat throughout. Norwood was more at it and Duffy also looked more threatening. We did not create tons but had all of the ball against a really poor Preston side. They never even tried to attack and you could see their confidence was rock bottom as even at 1-0 they never came out. After Sharp scored, United continued to control things and whilst we were not blowing them apart and was a way from the Villa game; it was a relatively controlled performance. The only chances they had were long range although Bash errored twice first half and Egan had to get him out of the cart. 1-0 at half time was about a fair scored.
2nd half we got a great goal with a tremendous delivery from a free kick (total contrast to the other night) and a super flicked header from Basham. That seemed it and even for the next 10-15 minutes we had more of the ball and if McGoldrick scores; it is game over. Still they started to edge back into it and we started to lose midfield and give it away more. We became a bit complacent and the subs for them helped them; whilst for us it hindered us. I could see why he took Sharp off but he should have kept 2 up top and by changing the formation. It seemed to be with Duffy just up the front and an odd midfield shape and we seemed to go 4 at the back. I might be wrong and it may have been different to 4-5-1. Basham certainly came into a midfield area and Duffy was just off McGoldrick. It was just strange and we lost the control. It all got a bit confused and they find little gaps and nearly got in but were just wasteful when they had it. I actually felt despite the formation changes and sub not helping; not sure I thought they were going to score and then they score two! They ran through us too easy and like Swansea at home got unopposed crosses in and then we were all over the place in the middle and they scored two dreadful goals from our point of view. After this I thought we may go on and lose. We seemed stunned but we then with brilliant work from Stevens; got the winner. Really pleased McGoldrick got the winner as his hard work and play merited it. Still not exactly comfortable after this and they chucked men forward and the extra time did not help the comfort! We got there in the end. It ended up being an exciting end and a late goal at the Kop end to win a game for the second game this season. It should have been a straight forward win but ended up being a real relief to get those three points.
Collectively we were ok for the most part. I felt playing an awful Preston team helped as they let us have it and still at times we took too long to move it and did not create lots. The keeper did not many saves if any all game really. We had a few headers and half chances but until we scored did we create enough for the amount of play we had? After we got the 2nd you felt that would be it but it became a bit ragged. Against Villa they had more of the ball but we made them go side to side and they did not get into the last third much. In this game gradually, Preston got into little gaps and went through us in the middle more. We became more stretched but did they have any clear efforts? Then it was just two quick goals out of nowhere. It happens. You can nit pick individual mistakes; both wing backs did not get tight but even before this the midfield let players carry the ball and then when the ball came in; we were not picking men up and they got in to score from not far out. There was a touch of luck on the equaliser but after they got one you felt they could get another but maybe not as quick. The winning goal was a really well-made goal.
Overall, we definitely deserved the win. Preston were negative and unambitious throughout. You can see why they have struggled but we made a game we should have just coasted to a 2 or 3-0 win into a dramatic and exciting win at the death! Still we have to try and not concentrate solely on that spell of madness but maybe think about the majority of the game where we played quite well. Not exceptional but solid enough and a 2-0 win would have been about right. We have to ensure we do not switch off and Wilder maybe needs to stick with what is working. Not sure it needed the tactical change. We ironically seemed to switch back to our more familiar shape straight after we scored.
Individually felt the wing backs did well; Basham made some real errors but got better and better. The other two centre backs were fine too until that mad spell. I felt Norwood got back towards his more normal self. Still made a few mistakes but he showed his quality. Duffy also first half was able to get on the ball more and make more things happen but as he usually does faded. Thought Fleck for the most part was off again other than a few bits and pieces and Sharp actually did not do much other than his goal really. McGoldrick was excellent and led the line superbly. He is now clearly the number one striker on current form and Sharp and the out of sorts Clarke will have to fight it out for the other spot.
Crucial to get the win. If we had now got the win we would have been around mid-table or just above. This win keeps us right in the top 6 and 4th sees us having an excellent start. Two tough away trips with an out of sorts Millwall sure to be fired up and desperate to kick start their season at a ground that has not bee a happy hunting ground. Then Blackburn who have been doing superbly. We need to look to see if we can try and put another run together and not be that win-draw-lose sort of side we have seen this week.
Today was more of a 7/10 performance for me – it was not brilliant but was decent-good and would have been desperately disappointing to have undone all that 80 mins of play and get just a point. As I say a deserved win; if a little bizarre how we got it.
Preston North End – I thought they were the poorest team I have seen down here. They defended with numbers and never really tried to even attack. The keeper was timewasting from the start and repeated this several times. They left for me their most creative player in Johnson on the bench and had one up top. They just sat deep and we had to try and pick our way thought them. This made it hard and they will say we did not create too much but reality was by sitting back so much; there were going to be chances and we may score and it happened. After we got the first they still were not going forward and even at 2-0 they did not change things too much although Johnson came on and started to get on the ball. I did not think they did much; they were not pinning us back but got in little areas and we started to switch off.
They will say they got wide and put in two good balls and converted two chances but I barely recall an effort of note other than a few long-range speculative ones and they were very fortunate to get level in a game they had never really been in. After this though they then seemed to sat back a bit again and think maybe a point will do. Also, maybe the fact we just went and scored after they got back showed how bad they were! Last season they were a real surprise packet and did really well to finish in the top half and have some underrated players. They have started this campaign poorly and seem to be in a rut.
They of course sold a few players but have not really replaced them and got a few injuries to key men (Maguire and Bodin) and have not really spent money to properly replaced some of these. Winning breeds confidence and they just seem to be struggling to get anything and now sit bottom. I do not think they will go down but have to improve and today was another real blow to them after fighting back. They have to change their approach for me. They were just so negative in how they approached things and their tactics and way they set out meant they deserved what they got; nothing.
Opponent man of the match – Robinson was the liveliest attacker (only attacker) and he scored and at least looked to try and carry the ball. Browne is a player I like but had a poor first half but then improved and was one of their key men as they had more of the ball after the break. It may well be that Johnson was their 2nd best player and he only played half an hour. Scored and gave them a lift overall but looking like he wanted to send them forward and actually started to probe and find gaps. Cannot understand why he did not start.
Weak link – Former Blade Paul Gallagher has been a threat against us before but he was shocking today and never got in the game. Even his free kicks were atrocious. The big lads at the back looked clumsy too. Clarke and Huntingdon are quite immobile for me and can be turned easily and so it proved today. Ledson did well for Oxford but he was not really in the game today. Barkhuizen has got a few goals and seen him go on some good runs when I have seen PNE but he was quiet.