Preston North End 2 Charlton Athletic 1
Another single goal defeat, another two goals conceded. Is it time to get worried yet?
Disappointing to see the line-up with the bench not including Josh Cullen or Jake Forster Caskey, and in fact even missing a body. No Chris Solly either.
Yet we started really well, and got a great early goal. We passed the ball around from left to right and back to the left side with Sarr releasing Doughty who burst into the box, and put a delightful cross on a plate for Green to score.
After that we conceded a lot of possession but I didn’t feel that PNE threatened accept from outside of the box, and sure enough Harrop fired in a very good goal pretty much out of the blue and we were level. Then it was a matter of getting to the break for a half-time breather.
Once again we conceded early after the re-start with us leaving unmarked of all people Patrick Bauer who headed in a corner. Noticeably the big German didn’t celebrate.
After that we fell pretty short lacking quality in the final third, particularly when Williams was replaced although a change in formation did allow us to get forward more and Pratley headed over late.
We play again Wednesday but we are so short of bodies. The young lads are struggling for consistency, Pratley looks knackered, and we cannot stop letting goals in.
We need players and points. Soon.
Addicks at Deepdale:
Bow: “If you keep conceding two goals you aren’t going to win games.“
Elsewhere: Wigan lost to Swansea for whom Conor Gallagher set up the Swans‘ first goal. Huddersfield and Brentford was goalless, Barnsley lost at Bristol City and Derby beat Hull 1-0. The result of the day was at Hillsborough where Sheffield Wednesday lost 5-0 to Blackburn.
Photo: @K_AndrewsPhotos
Chicago Addick 
Two disappointing goals to concede – although Harrop’s was a worldie the defence stood off him and allowed him time and space to get a shot in, a few minutes earlier he had a sighter from a similar distance so it was no real surprise that he recalibrated his settings more successfully. Then Bauer’s late run and bullet header from the centre of the box, he did that for us a few times so we should have expected it. Other than that it seemed to be a professional game from Preston, they did enough to win and nailed the game down.
As you say we desperately need bodies in – I’m not worrying about relegation yet, that’s too early and our form isn’t that bad, what is concerning me is that the new owners have been in situ for three weeks and we’ve only added Andre Green. We know that a decent offer was made for Marcus Maddison (and some loon has apparently made death threats to him) but he knocked us back and Matt Southall has talked in the interviews that other teams are jacking up prices when we make enquiries. All I’m hearing are rumours – the latest being a double swoop for Jonson Clarke-Harris and Ollie Clarke from Brizzle Rovers.