Match Preview: Rotherham United (H)

28 March 2024

Preston North End’s end-of-season run-in begins on Good Friday when Rotherham United visit Deepdale.

Match Details

Date: Friday 29^th March, 3pm kick-off
Venue: Deepdale
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Home kit

Supporter Information

Tickets for this fixture will be available to buy up until kick-off in person from the ticket office, over the phone on 0344 856 1966, and online.

PNE fans can head to The Gentry Bar from 11am for drinks and live entertainment ahead of kick-off, and there is also a brand-new pop-up bar, The Bowler Hat, opening for the very first time on Friday.

Supporters can use the matchday shuttle bus to get to and from the stadium, with the service running from Leyland through Bamber Bridge on its way to Deepdale. Return tickets cost £6 on-board and timings are as follows:

Leyland Tesco (Stop A – Car Park) – 1.20pm
The Railway Pub, Leyland – 1.30pm
Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge – 1.35pm
Beam and Brycg Pub, Bamber Bridge – 1.40pm
Arrive at Deepdale, Lowthorpe Road – 2pm

Supporters are reminded that the club has a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviours such as abuse, discrimination, anti-social behaviour and pitch encroachment, and these can lead to serious sanctions.

Who’s Available?

After limping off through injury and missing international duty as a result, Milutin Osmajić is expected to be fit and available for Friday’s fixture.

Brad Potts, however, will be absent after picking up another hamstring injury in that same Plymouth Argyle match.

Alan Browne, who missed that game, will be back involved, while there could be a space in the matchday squad for 16-year-old Theo Mawene, who has impressed in training with the first team during the international break.

Opposition Focus

Following a positive first season back in the Sky Bet Championship last term, they've got a job on their hands this time around, as they sit 19 points away from safety with just eight matches still to play.

The Millers have won once in their previous 27 matches – a 1-0 victory at home to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day – and they’ll be looking to extend their recent unbeaten record at Deepdale to five matches.

Former North End striker Jordan Hugill will be back in familiar territory on Friday, having netted against PNE in the reverse fixture, while fellow ex-Lilywhite Andre Green is also on the Millers’ books, but he suffered a serious Achilles injury in October which will leave him sidelined for around a year.

A Recent Clash

Liam Lindsay’s header in first-half stoppage-time earned PNE a point in the reverse fixture against the Millers.

Follow The Action

Supporters all around the world are able to watch live on iFollow. Match passes are available for £10 here.

Live commentary is also available from Jonathan Breeze and David Buchanan, with both match and monthly passes on sale.

Coverage of the fixture can also be found here on the website and across the club's social media channels.

Match Officials

Referee: Steve Martin
Assistant Referees: Mark Dwyer and Robert Merchant
Fourth Official: Martin Coy

Steve Martin will referee a PNE match for the first time this campaign on Friday, with the experienced official having last done so in the defeat at Bramall Lane in April 2023.

So far this campaign, Martin has officiated 18 matches, showing 91 yellow cards and two reds within that period.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 3 Rotherham United 0

29 March 2024

Preston North End began the Easter weekend with a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Rotherham United on Good Friday.

Duane Holmes got his side going on his return to the starting XI in the 22^nd minute, before an Emil Riis brace sent North End into half-time well on top.

PNE were dominant in the second half too and cruised to a win which kept the Play-Offs within touching distance.

The opening to the game in torrential conditions didn’t see much in the way of opportunities at either end, but the first shot on goal midway through the opening half was to result in the deadlock being broken.

Robbie Brady – who had offered PNE’s most positive signs early on – slammed a low ball across the box and into a dangerous area where Holmes was waiting at the far post to find the back of the net.

The American, who was lining up at right wing-back, almost repaid the favour to the Republic of Ireland international on the opposite side, however North End’s No.11 couldn’t quite jump high enough to get the required contact.

Rotherham United had their first real foray forward of the afternoon on the half-hour mark and Freddie Woodman was called into making a fairly comfortable stop by Cafú.

North End were knocking the ball around well and had a second to show for their dominance in the 37^th minute when a strong Ali McCann challenge sent the ball out to Mads Frøkjær. He then sent it right for fellow Dane Riis who took a touch before firing into the far corner.

PNE’s No.19 had his second of the day five minutes later as the lively Holmes again did well down the right to find Will Keane, and his pullback was loose in the area where Riis was able to turn around and slam beyond Viktor Johansson.

Ali McCann almost scored his first goal since August 2022 in the second minute of stoppage-time as he got on the end of Frøkjær’s cross, only to see Johansson’s outstretched arm keep it out.

Into the second half, the Lilywhites were still the side with all the ball and creating chances. Skipper Alan Browne threaded a pass though for Riis to get on the end of just before the hour, and his cross from the touchline so nearly found Keane on the six-yard box, but he couldn’t quite reach it.

Holmes tried his luck with a side-footed effort which fell just wide in the 63th minute and there were other opportunities for the likes of McCann and Frøkjær, as PNE stayed patient in creating openings.

With the game seemingly out of sight, chances were given to youngsters Kian Best, Noah Mawene and Josh Seary, and PNE maintained a fourth clean sheet in five.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey (Whatmough, 61), Lindsay, Hughes; Holmes (Seary, 85), McCann (N.Mawene, 77), Browne, Brady (Best, 61); Frøkjær; Keane (Stewart, 77), Riis. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Woodburn, Osmajić.

Rotherham United line-up: Johansson; Peltier (Ferguson, 79), Odoffin, Humphreys, Revan (Seriki, 86); Lindsay, Clucas, Rathbone (Rinomhota, 69); Nombe, Wyke (Eaves, 69), Cafú (Bramall, 45). Subs not used: Phillips, Appiah, Hatton.

Attendance: 15,470 (434 Rotherham United fans).

Referee: Mr S Martin.

Ticket News

Good Friday Clash On Sale

28 February 2024

Tickets for North End's Good Friday clash with Rotherham United are now on sale.

PNE will face the Millers in the first game back following the March international break, for a 3pm kick-off on Friday 29th March.

Tickets are available to buy in person from the ticket office, over the phone on 0344 856 1966, and online.

Tickets are also on sale for North End's upcoming home matches against Hull City and Stoke City from the same places.

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