Old Boys Midweek Round-Up Part One
No one will need reminding of the score-line which the Lilywhites suffered at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday but could the Deepdale faithful can take some solace from any healthy results from a handful of former North Enders who were in action tonight?
This was not to be for one former Preston striker who, despite been handed a run in the side of late, had to make do with a place on the bench. David Nugent was an unused substitute for Portsmouth's 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa. Emile Heskey's goal capped off a dream debut for the former Liverpool striker.
There was even more misery for former Preston North End personnel, this time at White Hart Lane where Spurs welcomed the visit of fellow relegation rivals, Stoke. Richard Cresswell played the full ninety minutes for the Potters but neither him nor fellow striker Ricardo Fuller could find the net. Cresswell was booked for his endeavours whilst Danny Pugh watched on as an unused substitute. James Beattie pulled one back but proved to be scant consolation.
At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland recorded a massive 1-0 win over Fulham in their bid to avoid the drop again this season. Although David Healy was an unused substitute for the Black Cats, Dickson Etuhu faced his former teammates for the first time by making it into the starting eleven for the Cottagers. Etuhu was substituted after 83 minutes and replaced by Erik Nevland with Roy Hodgson's mindset on finding an equaliser.
Did the results get any better in the Championship for former Lilywhites? Not at Oakwell it didn't where Simon Davey's Barnsley found themselves 2-0 down after just ten minutes. Two goals from Jon Stead had the game more-or-less wrapped up inside the first ten minutes before Bodganovic pulled one back just after half-time. Jon Macken played the full ninety minutes for the Tykes as did Tommy Miller for the Tractor Boys.
Billy Davies' Nottingham Forest's good form continued on Tuesday night with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the City Ground. Kelvin Wilson played the full ninety minutes at centre-back for Forest who now find themselves in 17th.
Paul Gallagher made a second-half substitute appearance for Plymouth's 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City. The on-loan Blackburn Rovers striker replaced MacLean with 68 minutes played in hope of finding an equaliser. Liam Fontaine killed the game off with four minutes to go, ending all hope of a Plymouth revival.
Defender Matthew Hill watched on from the substitute's bench to see his Wolves teammates lose ground in the race for promotion by losing to fellow high-fliers Reading. An own goal from Neil Collins in the second minute was enough to seal the victory for the Royals.
Brian Stock and his Doncaster Rovers teammates did North End a favour by beating their next opponents Sheffield United. The Blades are currently on the same points as North End meaning that, couple with the defeat to Swansea, United would have put daylight between the two sides if they were able to beat Doncaster. A goal from James O'Connor after 50 minutes proved to be enough for Rovers.
One result that North End fans can smile about is knowing that a former Lilywhite put two past rivals Burnley on Tuesday night. Tamas Priskin, who ironically was on target against Burnley when on-loan at Deepdale last season, netted in the 78th and 94th minute to add to Jobi McAnuff's 2nd minute opener to seal an impressive 3-0 win for the Hornets.
In League One, Joe Anyinsah was back in the Carlisle starting line-up for the trip across to Hartlepool. Carlisle threw away a two goal lead after Bridge-Wilkinson and Taylor had them two up five minutes before the interval. Monkhouse and Porter, five minutes from time, scored to salvage a point for 'Pool.
Jason Jarrett is a new addition to our old boys round-up after sealing a permanent move to Brighton & Hove Albion this week. The former Wigan midfielder made his debut against another former club of his, Leicester. Neither side were able to pose any sort of attacking threat and so a 0-0 draw seemed a fair result.
Sean Gregan won't have been pleased with Oldham's performance against Scunthorpe on Tuesday. Oldham shipped two more goals after McCann and Hooper netted in the first-half to seal an important win for Scunthorpe.
Meanwhile, a former teammate of Gregan's, namely David Lucas, was an unused substitute for Leeds United's 2-0 home win against Southend on Tuesday night which concludes our round-up for League One.
In League Two, Colin Murdock was part of an Accrington Stanley defence which kept a clean sheet against fellow Lancastrians Morecambe. Jimmy Ryan's 57th minute strike was enough to seal a 1-0 win for Stanley who move up to 18th in the table.
Paul Simpson's Shrewsbury Town drew a blank against Barnet at the Underhill Stadium on Tuesday night. Kelvin Langmead started for the Shrews whilst David Hibbert had to make do with a place on the bench for the 0-0 stalemate.
After successfully making his comeback from injury at the weekend, Kevin Nicholls was back in the starting line-up for Luton Town on Tuesday night. Nicholls managed to get himself booked for the Hatters during their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
After spending some time out of the side, John Halls was handed a rare start for Brentford during their 3-0 win over Aldershot. Halls didn't quite manage to complete the full ninety minutes as he was replaced by Osborne with eight minutes to go.
Bury made it two wins in a week after seeing off Bradford City at home on Tuesday evening. Brian Barry-Murphy continued in midfield for the Shakers whilst Omar Daley started for the Bantams but was later replaced by Michael Boulding. A goal from former Blackpool striker Andy Morrell was enough to seal the win for Bury.
To wrap up League Two, Adam Nowland was part of the Notts County side for the duration of the 3-0 defeat to Rochdale. Nowland was booked for his endeavours.
In the conference, Chris Day was between the sticks for Stevenage Borough's 2-1 win over Kettering whilst both Gavin Ward and on-loan Nathan Fairhurst both started for Wrexham's 3-3 draw with Northwich Victoria.
In Part Two of this week's Old Boy's Midweek round-up we see how David Moyes' Everton get on at home to Arsenal whilst Kevin Kilbane and Hull travel to Upton Park. Andy Carroll will be hoping he can force his way into the Newcastle side for the Magpie's trip to Eastlands.