PRESTON go into probably the biggest game of the season so far desperate for
a goal.
North End, who occupy the final play-off spot, welcome the team just below
them Nottingham Forest to Deepdale tomorrow in a real six-pointer.
David Platts side currently trail Preston by two points and victory for the
home side would give them a five point cushion over Forest with a game in
hand.
But North End have gone more than five hours without a goal and manager
David Moyes knows his side need to find their scoring boots if they are to
continue their push for a top six spot.
I think everybody is aware of what this game means or what it could mean,
said the Deepdale boss. That alone should give the game an edge tomorrow.
Whether it is the biggest game we will have to see, there may be bigger
games before the end of the season.
But I do not think there will be nerves or anxiety. There is a little bit
of pressure as we want to stay in the top half of the table where we have
been all season but real pressure is when you are fighting against
relegation. Whatever happens we have achieved a lot in a short space of time to be in
this position and I think it is an excellent achievement.
Moyes dropped top scorer Jon Macken to the bench for Tuesdays goalless
encounter with Huddersfield, leaving David Healy and Richard Cresswell to
hunt for that elusive goal.
Jon was fine with that. He knows he has been off colour of late and there
were strikers, good ones, waiting for an opportunity.
Whether he sticks with the same attacking formation will wait until tomorrow
but Preston could be boosted in defence by the return of defender Michael
Jackson.
Jackson has missed the last two games with a back injury but Moyes is hoping
an injection will reduce the swelling and give the former Bury man a chance
of starting against Forest.
And Moyes will be keen to keep all his players on the pitch tomorrow after
the incidents at the City Ground earlier in the season.
Preston lost 3-1 but both defenders Colin Murdock and Graham Alexander were
sent off while Moyes raced into the stands after the game to approach the
referees assessor.
The first game was to do with the referee not anything else. The tempers
frayed because of the performance of the referee. I am hoping we have a
referee better than Barry Knight for this game, added Moyes. And Preston then make the trip to in-form Barnsley on Monday as the charge
for the final play-off places hots up.
The Tykes have won four of their last five games and Nigel Spackman is
looking for a top half of the table finish after a disappointing season.
Barnsley missed out on a return to the Premiership last season by just 90
minutes after losing to Ipswich at Wembley but an indifferent start led to
the parting of ways with Dave Bassett before Spackman took over in January.
They have come good and so it will be another tough game for us, said
Moyes.
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