Stevenage Borough Vs Preston North End Match Preview
Npower League One Monday 9th April 2012
Venue: Broadhall Way
Kick Off: 15:00
Referee: Dean Whitestone (click here for referee stats)
Form:
Stevenage Borough: DDDDDL
Preston North End: WDDLLD
Thanks to Bailey Wright’s 90th minute equaliser and indeed first senior goal, the Lilywhites managed to snatch a draw against the MK Dons on the weekend of Sir Tom Finney’s 90th birthday - it was almost fait, certainly symmetrical.
The result now means that the Lilywhites are, in theory, just two points away from the safety net of 50 points needed to avoid a second successive relegation.
On Monday, North End travel down to Hertfordshire to take on Stevenage for only the second time in their long history with the objective being to come away with a positive result and, potentially, League One survival.
The Boro, despite their lofty league position, are on a dismal run of form at present that has seen Gary Smith’s side without victory in their last six outings, picking up a total of just five points from a possible 18 in the process.
With his predecessor swapping the white of Stevenage for the white of Preston in January, the headlines heading into the bank holiday Monday clash will be surrounding the much anticipated return of Graham Westley to Broadhill Way.
Having built the team North End will face, Westley is surely the ideal man to topple the beast he once created.
Previous Meetings (Click here for head-to-head statistics)
The only previous meeting between these two sides came earlier in the currently campaign where North End and their Hertfordshire counterparts played out a 0-0 draw.
Chuks Aneke played in that fixture for Graham Westley’s Stevenage.
Team News
Having failed a fitness test prior to the MK Dons clash at the weekend, Welsh international centre back Craig Morgan could be in line for a return.
However with Bailey Wright impressing alongside the rock-steady Chris Robertson, the former Peterborough man may have to be content with a place amongst the substitutes.
Aaron Brown, Adam Barton and Barry Nicholson are all ruled out whilst Neil Mellor remains a doubt.
The Boro are likely to be without central defender Darius Charles who, according to their official website, will definitely miss the rest of the season.
Striker Chris Beardsley is a major doubt as is John Mousinho.
Played for Both, click here