PRESTON North End made it four wins from four, coming from a goal down to beat Oxford United 2-1 in a closely fought encounter at Deepdale on Saturday. This victory continued a run of five league games unbeaten for Preston, proving them to be the dark horses and title challengers this term. Jordan Storey and Daniel Jebbison were the goal scorers who registered for Preston. On the flip side, Oxford only succeeded in scoring against the defense once, courtesy of Harrison Armstrong.
In fact, Preston controlled possession and shots on goal for the entire match. They were met by a resolute test from Oxford, who were without their manager, Paul Heckingbottom, serving a touchline ban. Assistants Stuart McCall and his crew bustled to and fro, doing everything they could from the benches. Sadly, they were unable to guide the club to a more favorable outcome.
Match Highlights
In the 32nd minute, Thierry Small’s pinpoint cross found Jordan Storey, whose header was too powerful for Jaakkola. He coolly slotted it home, enabling Preston to take a first-half lead. Yet the defender’s goal came only after the home side kept up a stunning amount of pressure. They thoroughly controlled the game with 24 shots, putting eight on goal. Storey’s strike quickly went on to define a very assured performance from Preston.
Just four minutes into the second half, Daniel Jebbison doubled Preston’s lead with a well-placed shot following a cutback from Alfie Devine. Not only did this goal bring Jebbison his fifth of the season, but it hinted at his rising impact on the club. The young forward’s ability to find space and finish clinically has made him a key asset for Preston this season.
Despite their dominance, Preston were up against a strong Oxford side who by no means rolled over. Harrison Armstrong’s header found the net just minutes after Jebbison’s goal, reducing the deficit to one. But it was Oxford who found it difficult to make obvious chances, with just two shots on goal in the entire game.
“Today the result was better than the performance.” – Stuart McCall
Defensive Challenges
As much as Preston’s attacking prowess shone through, their defense was tested on numerous occasions. Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen made notable saves to keep Oxford at bay, particularly when they threatened to equalize late in the game. The visitors’ efforts were led by an excellent, powerful header from Armstrong that went just wide.
Boss Gary Rowett was fuming at defensive mistakes that resulted in Oford’s goal. He noted that giving up bad goals is the number one killer for any squad. He underlined the need for better defensive organisation to counteract this trend.
“When you concede poor goals, it makes it so difficult. Teams don’t need a helping hand. They get a free header back post for the first one. The second goal is just a little bit of movement around the box from wide players which we just need to deal with.” – Gary Rowett
Looking Ahead
While Preston North End is still rejoicing in this remarkable victory, they will look to expand on their unbeaten run in the next matches. Whether it’s their chances created or percentage of chances created that have gone in, converting chances to goals has proven key to the squad’s recent success. With Jebbison continuing to find the net and Iversen showcasing solid performances in goal, Preston looks poised for a strong season.
The loss provides Oxford United an opportunity to narrow down their mistakes. Now they’re looking to recover, sort out their defensive lapses, and look towards the next game. Stuart McCall is left to take charge in the absence of Heckingbottom. What he needs to do is finesse their approach to get more value in future games.
Leave a Reply