Match Preview: Watford (A)

2 March 2023

Preston North End will look to make it five unbeaten this weekend as they head to Vicarage Road to take on Watford.

Match Information
Venue: Vicarage Road
Date: Saturday 4^th March, 3pm kick-off
Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 35/46)
Kit: Home kit – 30% off in-store and online!

Supporter Information

Tickets for this fixture will remain on sale until 1pm online from www.mypne.com, while sales will continue in person from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966 until 5pm.

Watford have confirmed there will be tickets available to buy from the away ticket office from midday on Saturday, but please note only cash payments will be accepted.

Any supporters looking to collect duplicate tickets can do so from midday, while pre-paid tickets can be collected once the club's supporter coaches arrive, which is expected to be between 1.30pm and 2pm.

How To Follow The Game

Supporters in the UK and Ireland can listen to the game live on iFollow PNE, with commentary coming from Guy Clarke and Paul Sparrow.

Those overseas will be able to watch the game with a £10 match pass, which can be purchased here.

There will also be plenty of coverage throughout the day across the club’s social media channels and here on PNE.Com.

In The Dressing Room

Both Ben Whiteman and Robbie Brady will be back available after serving their respective suspensions.

Manager Ryan Lowe also confirmed Greg Cunningham will be in contention, having missed the midweek draw against Coventry City with a knock.

Andrew Hughes is on the grass following his injury, but he is unlikely to feature, with the manager keen on not rushing the defender back to action.

A Look At Our Hosts

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, Watford have been in and around the Play-Off spots for the majority of the current campaign.

They sit just outside of the top six as things stand – four points behind Luton Town in sixth – but they’ve had a tricky run of late, facing top two Burnley and Sheffield United within the last fortnight.

With Slaven Bilić in charge, the Hornets have a man who has already tasted promotion to the top flight previously with West Bromwich Albion, and he’ll be hoping to add another to his CV come the end of the campaign.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 45
PNE wins: 18
Draws: 14
Watford wins: 13
Last victory: PNE 1-0 Watford, 25^th August 2015

One To Watch

It was perhaps surprising to see Watford manage to hold on to Ismaïla Sarr following their relegation from the Premier League last season, after his impressive displays for club and country.

He’s turned out to be a key man for the Hornets this season, proving to once again be a regular source of goals, while his skill and creativity on the wing is also hugely important to the side from Hertfordshire.

Sarr’s contract at Vicarage Road is actually up at the end of the season, so there’s a decision to be made there between club and player, but he’ll be hoping to end the campaign strongly, whether it’s his last in a Watford shirt or not.

Match Officials

Gavin Ward will take charge of his second Preston North End fixture of the season this weekend.

Ward previously officiated PNE’s 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at the end of October, while he has plenty of other experience officiating North End over the years.

So far this campaign, Ward has refereed 30 games in total, showing 105 yellow cards and two reds in that period.

Match Reports

Match Report: Watford 0 PNE 0

4 March 2023

Preston North End kept a 15th clean sheet of the season as they earned a point on the road against Watford.

PNE were the side on top in the first half, with the likes of Álvaro Fernández and Ched Evans coming close, while restricting Watford at the other end.

The Hornets enjoyed some opportunities in the second period, though, with Keinan Davis having the best chance, but Freddie Woodman wasn’t beaten and he added another shutout to his tally on his birthday.

PNE made three changes to the side which took a point against Coventry City during the week, with Ben Whiteman and Greg Cunningham returning from suspension and injury respectively, while Troy Parrott also came into the starting XI.

The hosts created the first opportunity of the day as Craig Cathcart crossed from the right for João Pedro to head goalwards eight minutes in, but his effort was comfortably saved by Woodman.

Evans then tried his luck twice within a minute at the other end, firstly heading wide before seeing a 25-yard effort saved by Daniel Bachmann.

Álvaro Fernández had a couple of long distance strikes himself – one of which had to be kept out by the goalkeeper – and he looked to turn provider for Evans just after the half-hour mark, but his cross was intercepted.

North End were playing some good stuff and certainly ended the half as the side on top, with the last opportunity belonging to skipper Alan Browne, who sent a long-range free-kick over the bar.

PNE almost took the lead just five minutes into the second half as Parrott’s cross from the left was directed goalwards by Watford forward Davis, but Bachmann just about managed to keep it out under pressure from Browne.

Parrott then looked to break through on goal short of ten minutes later after some fantastic work from Whiteman, and the Spurs loanee appeared to be brought down by the last defender, but referee Gavin Ward waved away the appeals.

At the other end, Woodman had to come up with a big save in the 68^th minute to deny Davis who had broken into the area, and he was no doubt relieved a few moments later to see Ismaïla Sarr’s volley land just wide of goal.

That was where the goalmouth action ended for either side and the points were shared at Vicarage Road.

Watford line-up: Bachmann; Cathcart (Gaspar, 72), Poteous, Hoedt, Morris (Asprilla, 45); Louza, Choudhury; Sarr (Assombalonga, 88), Pedro, Sema; Araújo (Davis, 45). Subs not used: Hamer, Kone, Kabasele.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Diaby, Cunningham; Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Johnson (Woodburn, 76), Fernández; Parrott (Cannon, 70), Evans (Ledson, 87). Subs not used: Cornell, Bauer, Delap.

Attendance: 19,244 (1,130 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr G Ward.

Ticket News

Tickets Remain On Sale For Watford Trip

1 March 2023

Tickets for our away game against Watford on Saturday 4th March remain on sale.

Preston North End will head to Vicarage Road for a 3pm kick-off, and the club have been allocated around 2,000 tickets for this fixture.

Tickets will be available to buy online from www.mypne.com until 1pm on Friday, while sales will continue in person from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966 until 5pm.

Watford have also confirmed there will be tickets available to buy from the away ticket office from midday on Saturday, but please note only cash payments will be accepted.

Ticket Prices

Adults £20
Seniors (65+) £10
U19s £5

Supporters under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18, while children aged three and under can sit on the lap of their parent or guardian and do not require a ticket.

Ambulant disabled supporters will pay as per their relevant age band as listed above, with a carer ticket provided free of charge if required.

Wheelchair Users

Tickets for wheelchair users are priced as per above, with a complimentary carer ticket provided if required. There are also tickets available at a cheaper price in a restricted view area, with pricing below.

Restricted View
Adults £17
Seniors (65+) £7
U19s £5

Travel

Coach travel is available for this fixture from both Deepdale and Leyland, priced at £28 per Ambassador and £30 per non-Ambassador. Coaches will depart both locations at 8.30am.

Please be aware that there will be disruption to train services on the day of this game, with the West Coast Main Line closed between Wigan North Western and Lancaster, meaning no trains will run through Preston Station on both Saturday 4^th and Sunday 5^th March.

Car Parking

Five off-site car parking passes are available for ambulant supporters and wheelchair users to buy, priced at £12 per space. Supporters can purchase a space either over the phone on 0344 856 1966 or in person from the ticket office. The car park (Laurence Haines School, WD18 0DD) is approximately seven minutes away from the stadium, and a shuttle bus service will operate between the school and the stadium.

General car parking spaces in the vicinity of Vicarage Road can be purchased here via Watford's Parking Partner.

Soccer Sight Headsets

Supporters who are visually impaired can request a soccer sight headset to listen to live commentary provided by volunteers from the Watford Hospital Radio team. These can be requested by emailing lucy@pne.com, or by calling or visiting the ticket office.

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