Preston North End vs Sheffield United

vs

EFL Championship Matchweek 1 - Friday 9th August 2024 - 20:00 - Deepdale
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/preston-north-end-vs-sheffield-united.698/

Officials:

Referee: Robert Madley
Assistants: Blake Antrobus, Darren Williams
Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse

Coverage:

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Live TV Coverage:



SUTV (in Unsold Markets or Non-Televised in UK): https://www.sufc.co.uk/live/


Pre-Match Press Conference:

Preston v Blades - press conferences

Chris Wilder spoke to the media ahead of the season opene at Deepdale.

www.sufc.co.uk

​

 

[Sky Blues]

I have a feeling we may get off to a stuttering start, (much like Wilders first tenure) until things start to gel. Draw tonight for me.

Line up will be interesting for sure, I think he will go 5 at the back personally.

Davies

Gilchrist
Anel
Soutter
JLT
Burrows

Blaster
Souza
Hamer

O'Hare as the 10

Moore

COYRAWW

Confident of the win. Put a little interest bet on £20 at 7/5. Like taking candy off a baby

 

[Steve Mackan]

Confident of the win. Put a little interest bet on £20 at 7/5. Like taking candy off a baby

Really fancy us. Think some fans are too coloured by the experience of last season. It’s a v poor Championship, and a PNE a poor team within the league.

 

[The Crab]

Can only see this going one way. 1-3 Blades. Too much quality going forward against a side who have lost arguably their best player in Browne. A goal for Preston for two reasons. Not the strongest at the back yet and players will take time to get to know how each other prefer to play.

Win and you will be in the top 10. If there's enough draws which wouldn't be too much of a surprise you could well make it into the top 6.

I’ll take any win if I’m honest.

I’ve had an acca but god knows why because when the season starts it an absolute bun fight

 

[AnstonBlade1]

A point would be a good result, but can’t see us scoring, 2-0 defeat.

 

[The Crab]

Really fancy us. Think some fans are too coloured by the experience of last season. It’s a v poor Championship, and a PNE a poor team within the league.

I think for me it’s just the unknowns at the start of the season, always seem to get some weird results

 

[Shadota]

Finally, proper football is back. None of this shitty Euros nonsense, no more friendlies. It's time to show the Championship what we can do.

Really think we can get off to a strong start here. Preston have been tricky opposition for us at times in the past, but I feel like they have fallen a fair way from their better teams, and may not be able to handle our offensive threat tonight.

Wilder to keep up the 4231 we've been playing in pre-season;

Davies

Gilchrist Souttar JLT McCallum

Souza Blaster

Brooks O'Hare Hamer

Moore

Subs: Faxon, Anel, Seriki, Burrows, Brewster, Slimane, Peck, Marsh, Hampson

Hope to see us keep up the aggressive possession football. Lots of high pressing and forcing mistakes deep in their territory to try and punish. Keep up the combination play from the 3 behind Moore, as they will be the ones most responsible for creating/finding space. Full backs to contribute to offering width, as the 2 wide forwards will be dipping inside.

Squad may be short of depth at the moment, but if we can set a marker for the season tonight with a strong performance, it should help to encourage players to want to come. It's more enticing when a club is playing well, so should help Wilder to add to the expected pre-Wrexham good news.

COYRAWW

 

[Varkanoid]

We seem to generally do poor first match of the season when its on Sky. Here's hoping we break that hoodoo today.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

I think he goes with

Davies
Gilchrist Anel Robbo Burrows
Souza Blaser
Brooks Hamer Ohare
Moore

 

[Sky Blues]

I think for me it’s just the unknowns at the start of the season, always seem to get some weird results

Happens at the start of every season. Players not match fit. New players not always sure of their role and not used to hiw each other play.

You may not have strength in depth yet but you do have a strong 1st team. Preston have neither.

 

[Sky Blues]

I think he goes with

Davies
Gilchrist Anel Robbo Burrows
Souza Blaser
Brooks Hamer Ohare
Moore

Hamer CM. O'Hare AM in the middle. Easily their best positions. Anywhere else and you won't see the best out of them.

 

[BigBed]

Just in case anyone hasn't yet been to Preston (A)

Still, 4 pubs for over 4000 Blades, bogs will be a disgrace.

COYRAWW!!!!

 

[Shadota]

Hope anyone going tonight enjoys themselves. Only been to PNE once - 2008, we lost 3-1, Neil Mellor scored twice for them.

I've never truly shaken off the belief that Preston is a dump after that. Strange how it happens every away ground I see us lose at.

 

[ancientblade]

dont see a defeat tonight more than likely a draw but if anybody gets the 3 points think it will be us

 

[Not_a_Cheat]

What odds on both teams to lose ??!

I think they are similar. You can't combine such a bet though.

 

[Harry's Game]

I would 100% take a point as we are going in to the season seriously undercooked (again!) and have Either a League 1 / League 2 standard keeper in Davies or a Subbuteo keeper in Grbic to choose from.

Heart says 1-1

Head say 1-3 loss.

​

 

[Pollingtonblade]

We are gonna smash these 3 nil they are shit

 

[Not_a_Cheat]

We seem to generally do poor first match of the season when its on Sky. Here's hoping we break that hoodoo today.

Aren't all matches on sky for this season and many to come?

 

[Steve Mackan]

I think for me it’s just the unknowns at the start of the season, always seem to get some weird results

Don't get me wrong. We could lose. But if we don't go into the game thinking we can against PNE, then when can we think it?

 

[Shadota]

Aren't all matches on sky for this season and many to come?

Not every game. All League Cup matches are, and clubs (at least Championship clubs) are guaranteed 20 live televised fixtures via Sky Sports Plus, along with additional matches for regular broadcast to bump that number further.

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

My 2 fears going into the game are the not so water tight defence and Morre as our prime striker. The new acquisitions of Gilchrist and Souttar will eventually help make the defense stronger. However, with the preseason formation with Moore alone is worrisome. As good as Moore is, he is not a goal machine. I would like to see him play alongside Brewster or Campbell (if he joins) and he'll create more goals than I think he is capable of scoring. I hope I'm wrong and he bags 30 this season, but we certainly can't rely on that.
Luckily, I'm certain we will not be overrun in midfield like the last few seasons and thus goals will surely come from there more than the last promotion year. Excited to watch O'Hare, Arblaster, Hamer and Souza ( for now) tearing apart Championship midfield and defences. Make a nice change.
Blades 3-1

 

[Flumps]

I can understand the pessimism from our fans but the squad and staff (that are left over) have to be going in to this with nothing other than 3 points in their sights.

It's clear from the view from we're going to be seen as a team this season with the bigger squad and one of the teams you need to be careful around. They really need to capitalise on that. If we hit alot of teams early this season I think alot of them will lose hope to be honest.

 

[NuddysGloves]

Been speaking to my mate who is a Preston fan and he has assured me that they will just try and play football in their own half and will absolutely not have a shot on goal.

If that's true and they don't take any shots then I think Grbic may have a good game and only concede one or two.......

 

[Varkanoid]

Aren't all matches on sky for this season and many to come?

No the 3pm ones arent but there are loads more than last season. Doesnt bode well does it.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Been speaking to my mate who is a Preston fan and he has assured me that they will just try and play football in their own half and will absolutely not have a shot on goal.

If that's true and they don't take any shots then I think Grbic may have a good game and only concede one or two.......

Many a true word spoken in jest. I seem to recall conceding two goals against Luton last season during a period of the game in which they didn’t have an effort on target....

Hopefully those dark days are behind us now, and we can look forward to matches again this season. COYRAWW!

 

[Snowflake]

Anyone remember the last time we won an opening day match ?

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Anyone remember the last time we won an opening day match ?

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Anyone remember the last time we won an opening day match ?

 

[NerdyBlade]

I've put a small bet on which needs us to win

So apologies lads, it'll be a 2-1 loss

 

[Matlock Blade]

I'm going for a 2-1 to the Blades. We need to get off to a good start with an excellent first eleven before the injuries start. I reckon Brewster with the first after 20 minutes.

 

[Matlock Blade]

Injury