PLAY-OFFS 2015: OPPOSITION REPORT - Swindon Town v Preston

LIKELY LINE-UP

THE CHALKBOARD

SIMON Grayson is more than happy to let the opposition have the ball and have his side cause problems on the break.

They showed that last month in the 3-0 win against Town at Deepdale with the third goal. Jermaine Beckford springing a scything break for strike partner Joe Garner to score at the back post.

They also showed an ability to press high, disrupting Town’s attempts to play out.

Preston can switch between a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2 at ease. Having enjoyed such success with the former formation against Town last month, more than likely, Grayson will go with a back four at Wembley.

In the semi-finals the Lilywhites showed again how adept their defence is at soaking up pressure. Surrendering the ball to Chesterfield for swathes of the game. In Tom Clarke they have one of League One’s best and most rugged defenders.

Tom Clarke (right)

A MAN IN FORM: JERMAINE BECKFORD

AFTER recovering from an ear infection prior to Preston’s trip to Oldham back in February Jermaine Beckford has notched 12 times in 17 games.

That run significantly added to his total, which now reads 15 goals since joining the club on loan from Bolton at the end of November.

It was announced last week that Beckford had been released from his contract with the Terriers. Wembley makes quite a shop window for a striker in need of a new club, though whether or not he fires the Lilywhites into the Championship Simon Grayson remains keen on retaining the 31-year-old former Premier League striker.

In the play-off semi-final against Chesterfield Beckford was in sparkling form. He scored three times over the two legs, including a 40-yard lob over poor Spireites’ loan keeper Joe Murphy. Wes Foderingham had best beware.

Jermaine Beckford

TREATMENT ROOM

PAUL Gallagher was the only Preston man carrying any injury doubts ahead of Sunday’s play-off final, but he has now declared himself fit.

The midfielder feared he had broken a foot in the semi-final second leg clash with Chesterfield after being victim to an innocuous stamp from an opponent.

After spending the last week watching training from the sidelines, the 30-year-old will now be involved for the final preparations with Simon Grayson’s squad.

The all clear comes as a relief to the Scot, who has spent the last week ‘sweating’ on his fitness.

He said: “I managed to get in an interception in the box and their lad just stamped right down on my foot. “I felt something go in my foot straight away, it didn’t feel right at all.

“I’ve got to admit that going for the X-ray was a bit scary because I was fearing what they might find.

“I had a bit of a sweat on and really I didn’t want to go. In the end it was fine.”

Paul Gallagher (right)

FORM GUIDE

Tue, Apr 21 – Skybet League 1 – 3-1 win v Notts County (A)

Sat, Apr 25 – Skybet League 1 – 3-0 win v Swindon (H)

Sun, May 3 – Skybet League 1 – 1-0 defeat v Colchester (A)

Thu, May 7 – Skybet League1 play-off first leg – 1-0 win v Chesterfield (A)

Sat, Apr 3 – Skybet League 1 play-off second leg – 3-0 (4-0 AGG) win v Chesterfield (H)

GOALSCORERS

Joe Garner: 26

Jermaine Beckford: 15

Paul Gallagher: 12

DISCIPLINE

Jordan Hugill: 1R

Joe Garner: 9Y

John Welsh: 9Y

THE STAT

THERE has not been a goalless draw between Town and Preston for more than 30 years. Jimmy Allan keeping a clean sheet in front of 5,000 people in a Division Three clash at Deepdale in 1982.

THEY’VE GOT PREVIOUS

Sat, Apr 25 – Skybet League 1 – Preston 3 (Garner 2, 45, 51) Swindon 0

A MUCH changed Swindon Town side took to the field at Deepdale with Mark Cooper making his priorities for the season clear, he was focusing on the play-offs.

Without nine of their first XI it was little surprised that Preston, still firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion, easily shrugged aside Swindon’s youngsters.

Joe Garner scored all three goals for the Lilywhites, the first after barely a minute, in a demonstration of why he was one of the division’s most-feared strikers.

To their credit, Town’s team of kids and second-stringers held their own when they easily could have been overawed by the occasion and their hosts’ fast start. Full debutant Lee Marshall showed why he is being tipped for a future starring role in the Robins’ midfield.

Tue, Nov 4 – Skybet League 1 – Swindon 1 (Williams 84) Preston 0

WHEN the Preston North End team bus rolled into Swindon way back in November they were visiting a team about to embark on their most testing run of the season.

Coming in off the back of a hard-fought defeat at MK Dons, Swindon’s evening clash with Preston saw them complete the middle leg of a trio of games where they would play the rest of the teams who would ultimately make up the league’s top four.

It would prove to be one of their most complete performances of the season. The back three effectively shackled North End’s hot-shot striker Joe Garner and showed great patience to keep the visitors at arm’s length by dominating possession.

Town had to wait for their winner, but it did come through a late Andy Williams header, sending the County Ground into raptures.