Match Preview: Middlesbrough (H)

5 May 2022

Preston North End conclude the Championship season with a lunchtime kick-off at Deepdale against a Middlesbrough side looking to secure a Play-Off place.

Match Information
Venue: Deepdale
Date: Saturday 7^th May, 12.30pm kick-off
Competition: EFL Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 46/46)
Kit: Home kit – available to order in selected sizes here!

Supporter Information

Tickets for this fixture will remain on sale online from www.mypne.com, over the phone on 0344 856 1966 and in person from the ticket office right up until kick-off.

Home supporters can get in the pre-match mood by heading to our fan zone from 9.30am, with live music and refreshments on offer, and the fan zone will also reopen after the game, with last orders at 4pm.

If you are going to the game, make sure to stay in your seats following the full-time whistle, with a lap of thanks and the Player of the Year awards taking place on the pitch.

Match Coverage

Supporters in the UK and Ireland can listen to live commentary of this fixture with a £2.50 match pass, while those overseas can watch live for £10. Get your match pass here!

There will also be the usual coverage before, during and after the game right here on PNE.Com, as well as across our social media platforms.

PNE Team News

There's been a welcome return to training for Ryan Ledson this week at Euxton, and the midfielder could play for the first time since February after recovering from his knee operation.

Andrew Hughes and Mikey O'Neill are doubts for the weekend, with both struggling with foot injuries, while Ched Evans has returned to training.

Paul Huntington could get his first minutes of the season on Saturday as he says farewell to Preston North End after ten years at the club.

The Opposition

Middlesbrough arrive at Deepdale on Saturday still in with a chance of making the Play-Offs, sitting just two points behind fifth and sixth place.

That means they are reliant on results elsewhere going in their favour – and they need a victory themselves – but Chris Wilder, with experience of achieving promotion from the Championship with Sheffield United, will be hoping his side can do enough.

Wilder took over in November 2021 and helped turn Boro’s fortunes around, with the North Yorkshire side looking to reach the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Key Stats

Sepp van den Berg, PNE’s most used player this season, will make his 50^th appearance of the campaign in all competitions if selected.

Boro are unbeaten in their last five games away from home, taking nine points from a possible 15 in that period.

Based on results since Chris Wilder took over as Boro manager, Middlesbrough would be sat fifth in the Championship table, having accumulated 48 points from 28 matches.

Our Last Meeting

PNE came from behind at the Riverside in November, with late goals from Ched Evans and Emil Riis earning the Lilywhites all three points.

Man In The Middle

Tim Robinson will referee his fourth North End game of the season this weekend.

PNE have won, drawn and lost with Robinson as the main official this term, with the most recent outing being the 1-0 victory away to Peterborough United in February.

Robinson has taken charge of 36 fixtures this campaign, showing 156 yellow cards and six reds.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 4 Middlesbrough 1

7 May 2022

Preston North End brought their 2021/22 campaign to an end with a 4-1 victory at home to Middlesbrough.

The Lilywhites had a two-goal lead at half-time courtesy of Alan Browne’s opener and a Dael Fry own goal, after good work from Emil Riis.

Marcus Tavernier pulled one back for the visitors – who were in with a chance of securing a Play-Off spot – early in the second half, before Riis scored twice to confirm victory, while Boro went down to ten men just before the fourth goal when Paddy McNair saw red.

PNE were enjoying the early chances of the game, with Riis having the first meaningful attempt of the afternoon, but his deflected effort was tipped over the bar by Luke Daniels.

Browne came close on 20 minutes, seeing a left-footed shot go just wide, but he did get on the scoresheet soon after, as he controlled Potts’ cross and volleyed home into the far corner.

North End thought they’d made it two on 34 minutes when Daniel Johnson’s corner went straight into the back of the net, however the referee awarded a foul on goalkeeper Daniels.

Just a minute later, though, PNE did extend their advantage, as Riis did well to beat two men before sending the ball into the area, and a deflection from Fry sent it over the top of the diving ‘keeper.

The Lilywhites could have had a third before half-time, with both Ali McCann and Daniel Johnson coming close, but it was the visitors with the next goal of the game, as Tavernier met Dijksteel’s cross at the far post to head home.

North End soon restored their two-goal advantage, though, as five minutes later Archer found strike partner Riis and the Dane chipped the ball delightfully over Daniels for his first of the afternoon.

His fellow countryman Daniel Iversen was called into the action at the other end, getting his fingertips to Duncan Watmore’s flicked header, before then having to keep out a powerful strike from substitute Folarin Balogun.

Daniels then had to produce a top save of his own on 72 minutes, scurrying to his right-hand post to deny Ben Whiteman’s free-kick.

The goalkeeper was left helpless though when Riis tucked away a penalty a few minutes later, after Archer had seen his shot blocked on the line by the hand of McNair, who resultantly saw red.

There was then a lovely moment on 80 minutes, as Deepdale rose to its feet when Paul Huntington came on to make his 306^th and final appearance for the football club.

Liam Lindsay and Ali McCann came close to scoring before the end, while Huntington headed just over himself, as he captained the team to a 4-1 victory.

PNE line-up: Iversen; van den Berg, Diaby (Huntington, 80), Lindsay; Potts, Whiteman (Ledson, 86), Browne, McCann, Johnson; Archer, Riis (O’Neill, 82). Subs not used: Ripley, Cunningham, Evans, Maguire.

Middlesbrough line-up: Daniels; Dijksteel (Connolly, 66), McNair, Fry; Jones, Howson, Crooks, McGree, Tavernier; Sporar (Balogun, 62), Watmore (Coburn, 62). Subs not sued: Lumley, Peltier, Bamba, Bola.

Attendance: 17, 691 (5,688 away fans).

Referee: Mr T Robinson.

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