PNE must think another fixture against the Railwaymen couldn’t come sooner, as they play them in FA Cup round three at Deepdale.
Away attendees will have fond memories of the emphatic result and a Davidson corker just 5 weeks ago when the whites beat them comfortably 2-0.
Our impressive 16 matches unbeaten record can take a back seat this Saturday, but our hard fought results have paid dividends to the fitness of our squad, particularly in the middle of the park.
McKenna, O’Neill and Nowland will be on the sidelines for sometime, whilst Jones has gone Dutch and Etuhu, after ‘that tackle’, has gone to Norwich for £450,000. So hopefully this gives Billy Davies time to bring new faces in whilst there is a break from The Championship, especially for the weak spot in centre midfield.
Crew haven't won a game in their last 8 and are rock bottom in The Championship, lying in 24th position. So boss Dario gradi will hope his players bring some excitement to their season with a good cup run!
The relegation battlers have shown some promising football at times, regardless of their position, and will be no push overs against a North End team that are blighted with injuries.
Gradi has insisted that there will be major changes from the side that got beaten 3-0 at Hillsborough. Top scorer Steve Jones pulled out of the Sheffield Wednesday game with a hamstring pull, and both Higson and Johnson are set to be on the sidelines. Ben Rix is cup-tied after playing against Haroogate at Scarborough, and Tonkin is struggling with a hamstring strain.
So it is set to be Lee Bell's first game for the Alex, Vaughan looks set to be back in the side after a match out, and it looks like it will be Luke Varney and Luke Rodgers upfront together for the first time.