Preston North End 2-1 Rochdale

Match pictures here - thanks Mike!

" Managers comments "

Switching wide players to take free kicks saw Preston through in this tense and hard fought Cup tie at Springfield’s this morning. This set piece routine work out on the training ground paid off as Ash in swinging free Kick took a wicked defection off the unfortunate Rochdale defender and flew into the bottom corner of the net leaving the Rochdale keeper helpless to do anything about it.

The game it's self was not a great spectacle as Rochdale "route one" game plan completely destroyed any chance the Preston team had of getting any momentum going. But to Preston credit they true to their principles and when they did have the chance to play the ball around they took it. The first goal for Preston was them at their best as a driven in cross form the left hand was taken in his stride by man of the match Chris Chambers who turned and drove home is shot. A great goal by a lad who's on fire at the moment.

1-0 half time and the second half continued in much the same fashion but in football you can never let your guard down and that’s exactly what we did to enable Rochdale to get back in the game. It was a poor goal all round for Preston. A throw in deep in the Rochdale off for Preston was given away by some sloppy passing the long ball was duly dispatched by the Rochdale players and a quick one two by the Rochdale front two saw them get round the back of us and bingo it's 1-1. We were warned about that but they still let them get away with it.

Substitutions were on the mind of the Preston manager when a kick out from a Preston player more in frustration than anything else saw him dispatched to the changing rooms leaving Preston to carry on for the remaining 20 mins with 10 men.

Andy Dodwell was drop back to play left side midfield and Ash went over to play wide right leaving Preston with a 4-4-1 formation. But the sending off seem to gel the lads and they battled on to secure another famous victory against a strong and resolute Rochdale side.

It was not one of Preston best performances who seem to be a very tense for most of the first half but considering the opposition and the occasion you can't ask for more than to come away with a victory. To win 2-1 with 10 men against a team that as remained undefeated for over 12 months is one hell of a victory

" Atky's comments "

Our first goal was pure quality! It was one of those "Five passes" goals.

Steve fed the ball onto Jason who had his back to play. Somehow he shielded the defender to find some space. Jason switched play with a cracking pass to Mike. Mike played a quality ball down the left flank to Andy. Andy then did what he does best and ran at the defender.

Andy got towards the by-line before sending the ball across goal. Chris Chambers was perfectly placed to collect the ball. Chris's first touch was pure class as he took the defender totally out of the game.

Chris made no mistake by slotting the ball home, what a move from the North End side! Rochdale didn't really offer anything, their long ball game brought back some horrible days of John Beck.

I think one out of fifty attempts of the long ball came off as they levelled the score line at 1-1. Jason was harshly sent off after picking two yellow cards up. North End battled hard and played right to the end. Preston's persistence paid off when Ash's free kick somehow founds itself in the back of the net.

Steve Cowell's boys hung on for what will be one of the most hard thought victories of the season. North End now await the second round of the defence of the IFA Cup.