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Reign of Alan Irvine - Part One

Last updated : 30 December 2009 By @pnemad

Alan Irvine had a PNE record of 111 matches with 45 victories, 26 draws and 40 defeats and is tenth in the all-time list of managers with an average of 1.45 points per game.

 

He arrived on 20 November 2007, ten days after the 3-0 defeat at Hull and the departure of Paul Simpson with PNE in 21st spot with 15 points from 16 matches. Irvine’s first game in charge was a 2-0 home defeat to Charlton on 24 November.

 

He had a difficult start playing Saturday, Tuesday and only won three of his first ten games; his first win was a 3-0 home win over Hull on 4 December with two away victories at Burnley and Southampton coming later in the month.

 

The defeat on New Years Day at Hillsborough led to PNE dropping to 24th. But with new signings saw a vast improvement with 9 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats and finishing in 15th position on 56 points. A 4-1 victory at Premier League Derby saw PNE reach the 5th round but were beaten by a last minute own goal against Portsmouth.

 

The 2008/09 season started with a victory at Ipswich and was third after six matches, but a run of 6 defeats in 7 matches in September/ October saw the club drop to 15th with 17 points from 13 matches. Eight victories in the next 14 matches, including a 3-1 win at Blackpool saw PNE start 2009 in 7th position.

 

A poor start to the New Year with just 3 wins from 14 matches, including another 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool saw PNE 7 points from a play-off position with just four to play. But wins in the last four matches including a crucial 6-0 win at home to Cardiff which pipped the Bluebirds to sixth spot. Unfortunately there was disappointment again as North End lost 2-1 on aggregate against Sheffield United in the Semi Final.

 

The 2009/10 saw PNE start brightly with just one defeat from the first nine matches with the Lilywhites in third spot behind two clubs who had been relegated from the Premier League namely Newcastle and West Brom.  

 

But with St.Ledger going on loan to Middlesbrough, the strikers not scoring and the disappearance of the usual strong home record, PNE recorded just 2 wins from the next 14 matches, his last game in charge was the 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on 28 December which saw PNE drop to 16th position and was dismissed the following day.