Old Boys Weekend Round-Up
As Preston North End topple, making it two straight defeats on the road, we shall take a look at those former Preston players and staff to see if they had better luck for their respective clubs.
David Moyes' Everton managed to hold Manchester United to a draw at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. Darren Fletcher put Manchester United ahead before Belgian international Marouane Fellaini equalised just after the hour mark. Carlo Nash was on the substitute's bench for the Toffee's who currently occupy 14th place in the Premier League table.
Ricardo Fuller was in the Stoke side that were sunk by a brilliant hat-trick from Manchester City's Robinho. Richard Cresswell again came on as a second half substitute but was unable to provide any sort of attacking threat for the Potters.
Elsewhere in the Premiership, Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane was an unused substitute and watched on as Wigan were emphatically beaten 4-0 by a very convincing looking Aston Villa at the JJB.
In the Championship, Simon Davey's Barnsley drew a blank against Bristol City in a 0-0 draw at Oakwell. Rob Kozluk was in from the start for the Tykes and was later booked for his endeavours whilst Jon Macken was taken off after 75 minutes to be replaced by Odejayi. The point see's Barnsley with their heads above water but only on goal difference as they occupy 21st place.
Preston's bitter rivals Blackpool managed to salvage a point from their game with Crystal Palace on Saturday. Craig Beattie had put the Eagles ahead just one minute after Ben Burgess had equalised for the Seasiders only to see Evatt to peg Palace back after 65 minutes. Beattie has so far netted twice since his loan move from West Brom.
Graham Alexander played the full ninety minutes for Burnley in their 1-1 draw with Charlton. Burnley were one goal ahead heading into the last 15 minutes of the match but Todorov, the former Portsmouth striker, salvaged a point for the Addicks.
Brian Stock looked like he had earned a point for Doncaster Rovers as he netted a 77th minute penalty for the Yorkshire outfit only to see on-loan Reading striker, Leroy Lita net a 93rd minute winner.
Centre half Kelvin Wilson was taken off with just 7 minutes of the second half played during Nottingham Forest's 1-0 defeat to Cardiff City. Forest have struggled so far this season and find themselves propping up the Championship table.
Plymouth failed to build in their two straight wins by losing to Ipswich at Home Park on Saturday. Paul Gallagher was in from the start up alongside Rory Fallon in the Pilgrims attack but was unable to pose any sort of attacking threat as Ipswich ran out 3-1 winners. Tommy Miller came on as a substitute in the second half for Ipswich.
Gareth Ainsworth took charge of QPR for the first time as caretaker manager following Iain Dowie's departure this week. Rangers managed to hold Reading to a draw at the Madejski with both teams drawing a blank. Patrick Agyemang was not even in sixteen man squad.
Midfielder David Jones got himself on the score sheet for Wolves as they saw off Watford in a close encounter at Vicarage Road. Jones netted Wolves' second of the afternoon on forty minutes, momentarily putting the visitors ahead. Watford pulled one back through John-Joe O'Toole before Michael Gray, the former Sunderland full back netted the winner.
In League One, Alan McCormack started in the centre of midfield for Southend as they were overran by, what was seemingly, the Ricky Lambert show. The former Rochdale man netted four times for Bristol City in the 4-2 win over the Essex side. McCormack was substituted just after the hour mark with the score at 4-0 to City.
Another former Preston midfielder was on the receiving end of a drubbing this weekend as Jeff Smith and his Carlisle teammates were handsomely beaten 5-0 by a rampant Colchester United side. Smith came on at half time with the score at 3-0 with a view to inject some pace and guile into the Carlisle side, sadly for the Cumbrians it wasn't to be.
There wasn't much luck for Joe Anyinsah either as the on-loan Preston winger played the full ninety minutes for Brighton in their 1-0 defeat to Hartlepool on Saturday.
Michael Ricketts was in the Walsall starting eleven but was unable to carry on his recent run of goal scoring as the Saddlers drew a blank against Leeds United. United ran out 3-0 winners with David Lucas left out and nowhere to be seen.
Karl Hawley continued at the spearhead of Northampton Town's attack but was unable to get himself on the score sheet. The game ended in a 0-0 and consequently, held promotion favourites Leicester to a draw.
It seems to be an all round poor day for former Preston players in League One this week as Chris Lucketti was dismissed for Huddersfield during their 4-0 defeat to Peterborough. Lucketti had only just got himself back into the Huddersfield side following his last suspension meaning that it may prove difficult for him to force his way back in this time round.
To conclude our round up of League One, Brett Ormerod was involved in Oldham's 2-0 defeat to Wiltshire outfit Swindon Town. Ormerod got himself booked in the process with former skipper Sean Gregan was at the heart of the Oldham defence. The former Leeds and West Brom man was unable to thwart the Swindon attacking line in their tracks.
In League Two, Colin Murdock was dropped to the bench for Accrington Stanley's fixture with Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday. John Mullin however did start as Stanley were beaten 1-0.
Michael Jackson was the only former Preston player in from the start for Paul Simpson's Shrewsbury Town this weekend as the Shrews drew 1-1 with Brentford. John Halls, who spent a month on loan at North End last season, started at right back for Brentford with Kelvin Langmead on the bench for Shrewsbury.
There was at least one former Preston player in the lower divisions who got a result this weekend. Marcus Stewart played the full ninety minutes for Exeter City's 1-0 away at Barnet on Saturday. Steve Basham was an unused substitute.
Brian Barry-Murphy was part of the Bury side that took on a Kevin Nicholls-less Luton Town on Saturday. Despite being without their skipper, Luton managed to claim all three points in a 2-1 win for the cash strapped club.
Friday's game saw Omar Daley and his Bradford teammates take on Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. Daley continued his run of scoring form by getting Bradford's first goal of the evening in a 3-1 win.