PLAYER WATCH v Preston North End

[tonyoz]

PLAYER WATCH v Preston North End

Each incident in the match was rated on the following scale: 

+5 GOAL 

+4 Excellent play 

+3 Very good play 

+2 Pleasing/good play 

+1 Decent play 

  0 Routine stuff 

 -1 Sloppy play 

 -2 Disappointing/poor play 

 -3 Very poor play 

 -4 Terrible play 

 -5 Own goal 

The ratings for each player were then combined to produce a measure of the players overall contribution to the match. 

 
Ratings       

Key incidents per player = coloured stars              Overall contribution = numbers

Pears                            **  *     3                                  

Nyambe                       **********  ****     13 

Lenihan                        *****************************   *******     39 

Wharton                       **********************  *****     29 

van Hecke                    ******************  ****     24 

Pickering                      **********  **     16  

Travis                             **************  *****    16 

Buckley (65)                ***********  *******    10     

Rothwell (84)               *************  ****    12   

Khadra (75)                  *********  ****     7 

Diaz                                 **************  **    24 

  

Johnson(65)                 **********  *     17 

Dolan (75)                      *     1    

Edun (84)                  *  *     0

                                                                        

Highlights and Lowlights 

(A justification for the main ratings given above) 

Absolutely atrocious weather at Ewood today; the rain has been falling for hours and is still lashing down. The pitch is pretty much water-logged and every bounce of the ball causes a highly visible splash. Every pass is in danger of falling short as the ball is held up by the soggy surface.

 

00 First long throw from Riis into the Rovers box. An attacker beats Travis and Lenihan to the ball but his header loops high and safely into Pears’ hands. These long throws could be dangerous in these conditions.

03 Great ball behind the Rovers defence from Evans on the Preston right wing puts Browne clear just outside the D. Fortunately the pitch holds the ball slightly and Lenihan and Nyambe manage to get back. Browne avoids them and is still in control but his shot is scuffed wide and rolls harmlessly by the left post.

04 It’s noisy down at Ewood. For the second time, Khadra tries to be too fancy and is dispossessed. It’s not the game for that kind of stuff!

08 Lenihan rushes to take a free kick near the half-way line but it’s blocked by Browne who hasn’t retreated 10m. Wharton tries to clear up but heads the ball back to Browne’s feet. It’s dangerous but van Hecke intercepts the attempted through ball and clears downfield.

11 Preston’s long ball game is causing Rovers problems. Evans puts Lenihan under pressure but again van Hecke tidies up.

12 Rothwell, who’s been very quiet, robs an opponent midway in the Preston half and he’s haring towards the left side of the box. He checks his run, the full-back slips and Rothwell slides the ball to Travis in the D. He is slow to react and a defender comes in to challenge making Travis scuff his shot badly. That was a chance but probably the water held up the ball more than Travis anticipated?

13 I think this is the first time Pickering has touched the ball with purpose! He’s far upfield supporting Khadra with determination and blocks the ball out for a throw-in.

A Preston pass holds up in the water near half-way and Diaz is on to it. He beats Cunningham and runs into the right side of the box. He attempts to square the ball across the 6 yard box but it’s deflected and Buckley picks it up near the byline on the left. This time Cunningham outjumps Diaz as Buckley’s cross comes in and Preston clear. Lenihan applies an unnecessary agricultural challenge to Browne on the Preston left and gets a yellow card.

19 Most of the recent play has been in Rovers half. We can’t launch any decent attacks and Preston keep to their successful long ball strategy.

20 Wharton wins his aerial challenge and Khadra just leaves Buckley a bit short with his touch but Buckley slides into the challenge and wins the ball. Rothwell picks it up and fires a nice long low pass out to the jet-shoed Khadra to chase on the wing, 10m out. Khadra beats his man and puts in a good cross but the defender gets in front of Diaz and heads to Buckley on the penalty spot. He can’t control it first time but recovers, does a drag back, creates space and fires towards goal…….Commentator Warren Lucy’s groan can be heard on Bolton Road as Buckley’s left -footed effort is well and truly scuffed along the floor gently to the keeper.

22 The rain’s slackened apparently but Rovers are playing too much intricate stuff. This time van Hecke leaves his pass short and Preston re-gather.

Eventually Preston press forward and a ball into the box is intercepted by van Hecke but he simply passes to McCann just outside the box. Happily his shot is well off-target.

28 For the third time in as many minutes, Lenihan intercepts decisively and fires the ball forward and we end up with a throw-in deep in Preston territory.

29 He’s there again, 3 headers in ten seconds!

More sustained Preston pressure. We just can’t exert any control, losing most of the second ball contests. Another Riis long throw. It bounces around in the box until Rothwell blocks and it’s a corner! And here’s a training ground move as the corner is hit low to the near post for Evans to flick a shot in. Great reaction save from Pears as he dives low to his left and  manages to gather the loose ball before anyone else can react. Good save!

35 Preston attack from a free-kick on their right and Pickering can’t stop Evans crossing into the box but it’s too long and the attack fizzles out.

37 Travis commits a foul in the middle of Rover’s half. The free-kick comes in and Nyambe is beaten in the air. The header drops near the penalty spot and Travis rushes to clear but again Preston are first to the loose ball. Eventually another cross comes and Evans gets there before van Hecke but he can’t get good contact and it’s well wide and a  goal kick.

42 We earn a free-kick near halfway on the right. At last we send up the big guns…….Lenihan and van Hecke but Rothwell sends a low flat ball down the wing for Diaz but it all falls to pieces as Preston easily clear the poorly directed ball. What a waste! To make matters worse, Buckley passes straight into touch! Lenihan and van Hecke splash back dejectedly to our half.

43 Stranger and stranger! Van Hecke wins another aerial challenge but before Rothwell can collect, he’s obstructed by the ref who stops play. He then decides to give the drop ball to PNE with no obligation to return the ball to Rovers. Mowbray is apoplectic and is shown a yellow card! Amazing stuff! The crowd are fully awake!

Another free-kick presents Earl with a shooting chance from the edge of the box but it’s high.

46 Half time: A barrage of high balls has kept our 3 centre-halves on their toes. Fortunately they’ve coped well so far but Preston are on top and we have to find some answers second half! 60% possession to PNE!

 

45 Well, this is better immediately! Van Hecke to Nyambe to Buckley to Diaz down the right wing. Diaz gets a cross in but the defender heads clear.

More nice stuff as Buckley wins his challenge and slips a delightful ball through to Khadra at the left corner of the box. He beats the first man but not the second. Disappointing end - he tried to do too much again.

48 Pears puts a free-kick straight into touch!

49 Another long throw from Riis and van Hecke heads away but only as far as McCann - his shot is blocked away. Earl returns but Pickering gets in a nice interception, Buckley flicks a lovely ball down the wing for Khadra who races forward but is challenged and has to settle for a throw. Unfortunately it all comes to nothing in the end with a poor Lenihan cross straight into the goalie’s hands.

52 Pickering takes a throw to Buckley near the left corner flag. He’s closely marshalled by 2 defenders but manages to scoop the ball past them to Khadra who immediately crosses to find Diaz on the left corner of the 6 yard box. Ben’s glancing header is of the highest quality and the ball whistles into the net near the right post. Pure quality from start to finish!  The crowd are on their feet. EIEIEIO!

55 Wharton fouls a Preston man midway in the Rovers half on their right. Whiteman delivers a wicked cross behind everyone and it’s a relief to see the ball go out of play for a goal kick.

57 Lots of half challenges around the Rovers box until Pickering finally gets in the important challenge to end the messing about….goal-kick. Good stuff from Harry!

58 More nice work from Evans sets Riis free on the left wing. He turns Lenihan inside out before delivering a quality cross into the 6 yard box but Pickering is there again to make the crucial intervention. Finally we get a goal-kick.

63 Lenihan wins a couple of headers but Evans takes him out on the second one. Rovers players charge in to protest. Van Hecke gets pushed over and as he jumps to his feet seems to catch Cunningham accidentally with his head. Now he falls to the ground! Oh dear! Van Hecke can’t believe he’s being booked!

65 Buckley off, Johnson on. It’s not been ideal conditions for John but he’s getting a great ovation.

Johnson is in immediate action as he wins two robust aerial challenges. I like it. We get a throw in.

68 Nyambe holds off 2 defenders and runs to the box where he is scythed down….no foul!! Then Travis commits an innocuous foul and is booked! Go figure!

Another Riis long throw, Johnson gets up and Lenihan clears with a bicycle kick. A cross comes in from Riis and this time Wharton plants his body between the goal and Evans…Evans falls over and claims a penalty….dream on!

70 Nice interplay on the left wing between Rothwell, Pickering and Khadra and Harry wins a throw near the corner flag.

71 Khadra wins a corner. Rothwell delivers and Johnson’s header is blocked but Johnson recovers the ball and passes back to Rothwell who puts his head down and…..runs the ball out of play!

Johnson has made a real difference since he came on with his physicality and energy (yes really!) here his sliding tackle forces an error. Pickering is much more involved too. A bit of sustained pressure from Rovers.

75 Diaz wins a corner. Khadra off, Dolan on. A huge cheer for Dolan.

82 A bit of Preston pressure around our box. Earl on the left plays the ball against Nyambe’s outstretched arm………..big claims for a penalty but thankfully they are ignored! Evans is booked! Huge let off!

84 Rothwell off, Edun on.

87 Another aerial challenge won by Lenihan, Pickering chases it and lofts a long ball to Diaz on the left wing. Diaz uses his strength and controls well, he beats his man brilliantly and storms towards goal. With the inside of his right boot, he tries to bend a shot from the edge of the 6 yard box but the keeper goes down at the near post to save. Dolan can’t quite get there but it falls to the unmarked Travis on the edge of the box. He has plenty of time but his shot is awful and flies high and wide!

90 Panic ping pong in the box until Pears falls on the ball. Van Hecke claps him on the back and Travis slaps his hand! Prepare for more nervous nineties! (5 minutes).

91 Edun gives away a free-kick on our left wing. The high ball comes in and van Hecke is beaten in the air, more ping pong, it’s off Lenihan’s knee then finally Nyambe clears acrobatically from the edge of the box. Diaz sprints to apply some pressure on the Preston man who is forced to pass back to his keeper. More seconds consumed!

94 Rovers throw and Johnson lobs a long ball for Diaz to chase. He’s offside but he keeps chasing the ball and a lot of time is run down!

95 Preston fire one last chance into the box and Johnson heads clear. He’s been a really effective sub today….The whistle goes and the players embrace. Big lap of honour.

It’s been a hard match to assess. Too many disjointed incidents and not a lot of quality due to the conditions. I did my best.

Edited December 6, 2021 by tonyoz

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Thanks as usual Tony. That must be our quietest goalkeeping performance ever. It’s easy to see from those stats where our strengths are at the moment. The much derided ( by me as well as others ) 3 centre half system is finally turning out to be a plus and not a minus.

[Bigdoggsteel]

As noted I think Johnson was a great addition when he came on, it was exactly what we needed, when we needed it. It might have slipped under the radar with some fans 

[StubbsUK]

The BRFCS.com Man of the Match award, supported by RoversTrust goes to ... Darragh Lenihan. Forum voters agreed with the analysis above and he won the award with their votes.

[tonyoz]

3 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Thanks as usual Tony. That must be our quietest goalkeeping performance ever. It’s easy to see from those stats where our strengths are at the moment. The much derided ( by me as well as others ) 3 centre half system is finally turning out to be a plus and not a minus.

The conditions called for big, committed guys at the back and happily we had those today. I like watching them.

 

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

As noted I think Johnson was a great addition when he came on, it was exactly what we needed, when we needed it. It might have slipped under the radar with some fans 

I must admit I haven’t always been his biggest fan but he was good today. I was particularly impressed that he used his aggression right from the off. Like you say…..just what we needed.

[Wheelton Blue]

@tonyoz

Fantastic job yet again. Really interesting!!!!!

Do you have a league table for the season thus far?

[Herbie6590]

I love this…really shows how the 3 at the back kept it solid 

[Darrenbot]

Shows how much Johnson did on the pitch in the time he was on compared to the other midfielders.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Howard Kendall’s promotion team won 12 league and cup games 1-0. Just saying.

[tonyoz]

3 hours ago, Wheelton Blue said:

@tonyoz

Fantastic job yet again. Really interesting!!!!!

Do you have a league table for the season thus far?

This is my running model. Just a reminder that for any given match, a player must be on the pitch for 60 minutes to be included. Part games are scaled up to 90 minutes.

Swansea and WBA not included as I don’t have access to the videos.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

7 minutes ago, Darrenbot said:

Shows how much Johnson did on the pitch in the time he was on compared to the other midfielders.

That was a good sub to bring on when everybody else has been running around on a very heavy pitch for an hour.

[had.e.nuff]

49 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Howard Kendall’s promotion team won 12 league and cup games 1-0. Just saying.

remember it well Crawford 1-0 and that was match won

[dingles staying down 4ever]

18 hours ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

As noted I think Johnson was a great addition when he came on, it was exactly what we needed, when we needed it. It might have slipped under the radar with some fans 

Only citicism is that possibly the change maybe could of been made earlier

[BigUts]

Agree on the Johnson comments. 

His experience was vital. There was one challenge in particular which probably would have given him negative points on the above scoring mechanism as he gave away a foul, but it meant that the PNE defender was completely unable to turn and get the ball up the pitch quickly. Johnson simply put his knee in to the back of the full back's knee making him fall on his face.

U SMART BRO, U SMART!

[Bigdoggsteel]

1 hour ago, BigUts said:

Agree on the Johnson comments. 

His experience was vital. There was one challenge in particular which probably would have given him negative points on the above scoring mechanism as he gave away a foul, but it meant that the PNE defender was completely unable to turn and get the ball up the pitch quickly. Johnson simply put his knee in to the back of the full back's knee making him fall on his face.

U SMART BRO, U SMART!

Yep, the dark arts. Ayala is good at them too.