Management thoughts on Preston tomorrow.

Posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009

Mike says -

“Less than a month ago we travelled down to Prestonpans on league duty and managed to pick up all three points. Stevie might have said “stole all three points” after the game as our late winner came in the last minute and against the run of play. Since that game I managed to watch Preston defeat Coldstream last Tuesday to go above us in the table and once again they played very well.

Do Preston have anything to prove tomorrow? I think not. We concede we were fortunate to come away with a win on the twenty second of August and they know we respect them as a team. They have a good shape and build to their side and despite having an aerial threat, they like to get the ball down and play football especially at the Pennypit.  Stevie and his players will be looking for the rub of the green tomorrow and a wee bit of revenge.

For our part Sam and I may have confounded the critics by starting the same eleven who played so well at Coldstream last weekend. We have however had injuries and illness to contend with this week. Stewart Fowlie and Keith McLeod missed training with a bug and Alex King surprised us all by training this week after his ankle was the size of a grapefruit on coming off at Home Park last Saturday. It’s now not his favourite colour and Sam and I have to decide whether to take a chance with the wee man (who is desperate to play).

Also on the doubtful list is ex Preston player Sean McAuley who after complaining of a sore back on Tuesday had to go to the hospital the next day with a stomach complaint. Some sort of viral infection was diagnosed (I hope it wasn’t Dr Seeley) and we are waiting to see if the problem responds to the medicine he’s been given.

Whoever Sam and I have available to pick tomorrow we have confidence in the squad as a whole and are happy to hand a starting jersey to any of our boys.

As a team we didn’t do well in the “local” cups last season and that is something we hope to rectify this time round starting tomorrow. Stevie Myatt and his team no doubt have other ideas.”

 Mike