Preston North End Vs Leeds United Match Preview
Pre-season Friendly Saturday 4th August 2012
Venue: Deepdale, Preston
Kick-off: 3:00PM
Tuesday’s trip to Kingston-Upon-Thames saw Graham Westley’s side comprehensively displace AFC Wimbledon and, subsequently, gave the Lilywhites back-to-back wins for the first time since last September.
However, it would be consider a tall order for North End to make it three wins on the spin given who their next opponents are: Leeds United.
The West Yorkshire-outfit will be looking to embark on their Championship promotion push at full tilt, carrying momentum from their pre-season run outs into the proper season.
And with just two weeks to go until the opening league weekend, now is the time for both teams to build up such momentum and develop a habit of winning.
Previous Meetings
Who could forget the incredible 6-4 win at Elland Road in September 2010?
North End went 1-0 up early on thanks to a goal from Yorkshire-born Jon Parkin only to see the lead lost and North End behind by four goals to one heading into the closing moments of the first half.
The Beast pulled one back to half the deficit sending the yellow-clad North End in at the break with a glimmer of hope.
Whatever Darren Ferguson said to his players during the interval seemed to do the trick as North End ran riot during the second half at Elland Road.
Keith Treacy made it 4-3 by scoring directly from a corner before Callum Davidson made it 4-4 from the penalty spot thanks to a Paul Coutts tumble.
Jon Parkin made it 5-4 with his hat-trick before Iain Hume nodded in a long Billy Jones cross to seal an incredible comeback and an unlikely win.
However, the last time Leeds visited Deepdale it was the visitors who left with the points, albeit not in the same fashion as the aforementioned 10-goal thriller, however.
Goals from Neil Kilkenny and rumoured transfer target Billy Paynter gave Leeds a 2-0 lead just shy of the hour mark.
Iain Hume pulled one back but proved to be scant consolation.
Team News
Akpo Sodje will be looking for more game time to impress and earn a contract after his brace against the Dons on Tuesday night.
In a similar vein, Graham Westley will continue to run the rule over his other trialists with the goalkeeping department also in need of attention.
Jose Moreira seems to be the preferred choice out of the many that have auditioned for the supporting role whilst striker Chris Beardlsey awaits his fate also.
John Welsh and David Amoo both sat out the trip to Wimbledon on Tuesday but could feature against Neil Warnock’s Leeds United.