Preston North End Vs Chesterfield Match Preview
Npower League One Tuesday 6th March 2012
Venue: Deepdale
Kick Off: 19:45
Referee: Mark Heywood (for referee stats click here)
Form
Preston North End: DLWLDL
Chesterfield: LDWLLW
Saturday’s defeat to Colchester leaves North End in the precarious position of being just seven points between them and the dreaded relegation zone.
And, with just one win in their last six, the Lilywhites are 12 points away from the top six.
Thus, dispelling any notion of a late playoff push meaning the remainder of the season is very much about consolidation.
Tuesday’s game with Chesterfield kicks off two must-win games in the space of four days, both of which are in front of the Deepdale crowd.
Anything less than four points from a possible six would be unthinkable.
The Spirites occupy one of the relegation places, four points away from safety. On paper, at least, Tuesday’s game could be considered as a home banker.
Previous Meetings (for head-to-head stats click here)
The reverse fixture came back in August when North End put on a professional performance to come away from the B2Net Stadium with a respectable 2-0 win.
Said victory was North End’s first in the league this season and sparked a run of seven wins in a row, a similar feat would delight the Deepdale faithful, not to mention ensure of a strong end to the campaign.
The last time Chesterfield visited Deepdale was only a couple of years ago when the Spirites were North End’s opponents on the first round of the League Cup.
A Neil Mellor brace, with a goal in each half, saw North End advance.
The last league game between these two sides at Deepdale was back in September 1999 where the visitors notched up a 2-0 win.
The goals came from Roger Willis and former North Ender David Reeves in the second half.
Team News
Local boy George Miller could make his home debut for North End after impressing in Saturday’s defeat to The U’s.
Fellow youth team graduate Danny Mayor is set to return after sitting out the trip to Essex with illness.
Strike duo Iain Hume and Jamie Proctor could start after coming off the bench against Colchester.
For the visitors, Drew Talbot and Danny Whitaker are back in contention after the pair recovered from their respective injuries.
Played for Both, click here