Preston North End v Hull City Match Preview

20 February 2020

Preston North End will be looking to maintain their position in the top six when they face a tough test at home to Hull City at the weekend.

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Hull City Home

20 February 2020

The Tigers, who inflicted a defeat on the Lilywhites back in November, have endured a tough period since losing star men Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki, as well as a debilitating injury list, but are coming out of the end of that dark tunnel.

They picked up an injury-time point in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Swansea City in front of the Sky Sports cameras last Friday night and will have been buoyed by Tom Eaves’ 94th minute effort.

Grant McCann has done a good job since his appointment at the KCOM Stadium and added a number of new recruits in January, including Mallik Wilks and Marcus Maddison, who will add a potency to their attack.

For North End boss Alex Neil, he will be looking to start another three-game week with a positive result, especially with two tough away games to follow, but knows his side will need to be at the top of their game to get the points.

For Your Information
Match Details: PNE v Hull City, Deepdale, Saturday 22nd February 2020, kick-off 3pm
Competition: EFL Championship (34/46)
PNE colours: Home kit, goalkeeper in green
Click here to buy a ticket

Here’s all the coverage accessible on PNE.Com in preview of the game…

Ticket Information: This weekend’s latest EFL Championship fixture sees the Lilywhites welcome Grant McCann’s Hill City to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon. Click here for more information.

Match Officials: For the fourth time this season Preston North End will have Steve Martin as the match official, when we face Hull City at Deepdale on Saturday. Click here for details of all the officials.

We’ve Met Before: Preston North End welcome Hull City to Deepdale for the 59th encounter between the two sides in league competition this weekend. Click here for more details of past battles.

How To Follow The Game: If you can’t make it to Deepdale for this weekend’s clash with Hull City, don’t worry, we will have full coverage on PNE.Com and iFollow PNE. Click here for details of how you can follow the match.

The One And Only Issue 21: Ben Davies admits he isn’t a good loser – and so the full focus is on finding the winning formula for the final 13 Championship games for PNE’s promotion charge. Click here for details of Ben’s interview in the weekend’s programme.

Team News: Preston North End manager hopes to be able to recall right back Darnell Fisher into his squad for the visit of the Tigers to Deepdale. Click here for details of the options.

Alex Neil On Hull Test: Preston North End manager Alex Neil believes that Saturday’s clash with Grant McCann’s Hull City at Deepdale will be a tough game for his side. Click here for the manager’s full interview.

Browne Ready For 13 Cup Finals: Alan Browne says Preston North End need to treat every game as a cup final until the end of the season as they prepare to take on Hull City at Deepdale on Saturday. Click here for more from Alan.

Match Reports

Preston North End 2 Hull City 1

22 February 2020

The Lilywhites produced a stirring comeback to pick up three vital points at Deepdale thanks to second half goals from Paul Gallagher and Alan Browne.

First Team News

Paul Gallagher Pleased With Team’s Bravery

22 February 2020

Mallik Wilks had put the visitors ahead with a close-range header five minutes before half-time, but after the interval Alex Neil’s side dominated proceedings and deservedly took the win.

The manager had made four changes prior to kick-off, Daniel Johnson absent with a knock, with Darnell Fisher, Gallagher, Josh Harrop and Sean Maguire coming in from the previous week.

For the second consecutive Saturday, the wind was swirling around the stadium in the first half, making conditions difficult, but the better of the chances still came to the side in white.

On 25 minutes Gallagher found space on the left to whip a cross in to around the penalty spot, where Maguire rose highest to flick a header that had George Long in the Tigers’ goal flat-footed, but the wind seemed to drag the ball just past the right-hand upright.

The Irishman turned provider for a great opportunity nine minutes later as he delivered from a similar position from which Gallagher had earlier done and Tom Barkhuizen brought a superb save from Long and when the ball came back to the No.29, he was unable to keep his shot down.

But the visitors from Humberside took the lead before half-time. They always looked a threat from set pieces with plenty of height in the side and George Honeyman cut a corner on the left back to Callum Edler whose ball in was met by Wilks in the six-yard box and he headed in from close range.

However, after the break, the Lilywhites were on the front from the off, with the fans also upping the ante.

They were unlucky not to be on level terms on 55 minutes when an excellent team move saw Barkhuizen get down the side of the penalty area, pull the ball back for Gallagher, who crossed deep from the left for Fisher, who took the ball on and put into the six-yard box for Maguire, but he was unable to get a full connection and Reece Burke made a superb block on the line.

Shortly after the North End boss made two changes that would ultimately have a huge effect on the outcome of the game, with Browne and Jayden Stockley replacing Scott Sinclair and Maguire.

The equaliser came at the half's mid-point. Browne looked to have been completely upended in the penalty area, but referee Steve Martin saw nothing wrong, only for within five seconds Fisher to burst back into the box and as he was squeezed out by two City players, the whistle went and a penalty was awarded.

Gallagher calmly undertook his usual routine with his back to goal, before turning and powering the spot kick past Long into the roof of the net.

And within five minutes the scoreline had been turned on its head, with the two substitutes combining superbly; Stockley breaking out to the left side of the penalty area, before curling a left-footed ball with pace into the area for the onrushing Browne to head the ball back across the goal into the top left corner, to give Long no chance and send the Deepdale faithful into raptures.

The game then saw the visitors having to come out, looking to use long throws and crosses into the box as the main threat, but this allowed PNE to use the pace and ability of Barkhuizen and Harrop on the break, with opportunities to stretch the game.

From one of those, in the middle of the seven and a half minutes added on, Harrop was horribly upended right on the edge of the penalty area and the former Manchester United midfielder picked himself up and curled a free kick over the wall, forcing Long to tip the ball over the bar at full-stretch.

The game management in those added on minutes was excellent from the home side, as they took the win, that tightened up the top six even more, with one point now covering the four sides occupying the Play-Off places.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Fisher, Hughes, Pearson, Bauer, Davies, Barkhuizen, Gallagher (c) (Potts, 89), Maguire (Browne, 58), Harrop, Sinclair (Stockley, 58). Subs not used: Ripley, Clarke, Rafferty, Nugent.

Hull City line-up: Long, De Wijs, Burke, Eaves (Toral, 64), Honeyman (Balogh, 77), Pennington, Elder Maddison, 90), Magennis, Irvine (c), Da Silva Lopes, Wilks. Subs not used: Ingram, Stewart, McKenzie, McLoughlin.

Attendance: 12,342 (721 Hull City fans)

Referee: Mr S Martin

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Hull City Home

20 February 2020

This weekend’s latest EFL Championship fixture sees the Lilywhites welcome Grant McCann’s Hill City to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon.

First Team News

Match Officials: Hull City Home

20 February 2020

Normal matchday prices apply for this game and you can click here for a full run down of the prices and concession categories on offer for league games at Deepdale.

Tickets are now on general sale from the ticket office at Deepdale, either to be loaded to your member card or via a paper ticket. For more information on member cards and their usage, click here.

This season we are also offering print at home tickets, so you can buy online and print out your ticket without needing to collect on the day, click here for more information.

For those still turning up and buying on the day, purchases can be made in person at both the Sir Tom Finney ticket office and also use the Invincibles Pavilion ticket office, which can be used to buy tickets for any part of the ground, not just the Pavilion. The Sir Tom Finney ticket office is open from 9am on a matchday and the Invincibles Pavilion ticket office is open from 1pm.

Tickets can be purchased at Deepdale from 9am until 5pm on Thursday, 9am until 6pm on Friday night, from 9am until kick-off on the day of the game, both in person and over the ticket hotline – 0344 856 1966.

First Team News

We’ve Met Before: Hull City Home

20 February 2020

Paper and print at home tickets can be purchased online at MyPNE.Com 24/7 right up until two hours before kick-off, with collections available from the Sir Tom Finney Stand collections windows, to the left of the ticket office. The online service is now fully responsive on both mobile and tablet. Or, if you have a member card, you can buy right up until kick-off on MyPNE.Com and load your ticket straight to your card!

For Tigers fans, tickets are available on the day, there will be no increases for matchday purchases and tickets are available for visiting supporters from the away ticket office next to the Bill Shankly Kop on Lowthorpe Road, with cash and card payments accepted, which will open from 1.30pm.

For home fans travelling to the game, the Leyland shuttle bus will be in operation, pick up points and times are as follows: 1.20pm, Leyland Tesco; 1.30pm, Railway Pub Leyland; 1.40pm, Beam and Brycg Pub Bamber Bridge; arrive Deepdale, 2.10pm. Tickets are £3 for a single or £4 return.

Standings

Ticket Information: Hull City Home

Paul Gallagher Pleased With Team’s Bravery

Match Officials: Hull City Home

We’ve Met Before: Hull City Home

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