ADVER Sport's guide to Swindon Town's next opponent Preston North End.
The Chalkboard
A SEASON to savour has left Preston on the cusp of securing automatic promotion back to the Championship.
The Lilywhites squad is full of quality, with Paul Gallagher adding creativity from midfield whilst experienced loanee Jermaine Beckford and League One Player of the Year Joe Garner – scorer of THAT stunning strike against Rotherham United in the play-offs last term – provide the goal threat up top.
Simon Grayson’s men are perfectly capable of patient, possession football but they can also mix it up and aren’t afraid to go long as they look to get Beckford and Garner in behind defences.
In recent weeks, Preston have fielded a lopsided front three, with Beckford playing down the right flank but mucking in defensively a lot less than Callum Robinson on the other flank.
Likely Line-up
The Treatment Room
LADY Luck is shining on the men from Deepdale at the business end of the season.
The Lilywhites have a clean bill of health ahead of the visit of Swindon, which could see them move another step closer to clinching promotion.
Back in March, Preston were left biting their fingernails after defender Paul Huntington was injured during their 1-1 draw at Fleetwood Town.
The 27-year-old was downed for eight minutes and required an oxygen mask and a stretcher after he was flattened between Fleetwood’s Nathan Pond and his own goalkeeper, on-loan Manchester United youngster Sam Johnstone.
But Hungtington has finally shaken off the back injury he picked up in the North West and is back in the heart of the defence.
Top-scorer Joe Garner and loan signing Jermaine Beckford have both had spells on the sidelines this term but North End’s two dangermen are back leading the line and both back causing headahces for defenders.
A Man In Form: Jermaine Beckford
Beckford in his Leeds days
HE MADE his name plundering goals in League One during his Leeds United days and now that he’s back in the third tier with Preston, Jermaine Beckford is in a rich vein of form once again.
After joining the Lilywhites on loan from Bolton Wanderers on November 20, the 31-year-old’s Preston career looked like it may have been curtailed by an ear infection that left the striker bed-ridden for the best part of the month.
Beckford claimed that the ordeal even made him consider hanging up his boots but the Preston man is back in rude health and his club are reaping the benefits.
The former Everton, Leicester City and Huddersfield Town forward, who worked with North End chief Simon Grayson at both Leeds’ Elland Road and Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium, has scored ten goals in his last 15 appearances in League One.
Form Guide
Mon, Apr 6
Skybet League 1
3-0 win v
Bradford City (A)
Sat, Apr 11
Skybet League 1
1-1 draw v
Bristol City (H)
Tue, Apr 14
Skybeat League 1
2-2 draw v
Gillingham (H)
Fri, Apr 17
Skybet League 1
2-2 Draw v
Port Vale (A)
Tue, Apr 21
Skybet League 1
3-1 win v
Notts County (a)
Goalscorers
Joe Garner: 22
Jermaine Beckford: 12
Paul Gallagher: 12
Discipline
Joe Garner: 8Y
Joe Welsh: 8Y
Paul Huntington: 7Y
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