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It was interesting on Sunday to see the fringe
players make an effort to make Blackwell consider them for the
future.
Of those that started the game only Richardson did
himself any favours, showing that he will be a more than adequate replacement
for Gary Kelly when the time comes (the sooner the better, eh
Phil?).
If Crainey is a problem, and most of us think he
is, then Pugh is not an answer. Harding was begining to look as if he might
just be an answer when his untimely injury came and I'd like to see him given
another go before writing him off completely. Not in the play-offs though, I'd
stick with Crainey, with all his faults, at this stage. I suppose a case could
be made for Pugh in place of Lewis, but then I could make a case for me to play
instead of bleeding Lewis and I was a crap goalkeeper when I played 40 years
ago. I think Pugh will be off down the leagues at the end of the
season.
I think Ian Moore will be off too. He tried hard
yesterday and made some good runs to no avail but really does not look as if he
can hack it in the higher end of the Championship.
Walton is another who tries hard and works his
socks off and may, in a season or two, prove to be a decent centre half, but
he'll never be a mid-fielder as long as he's got a hole in his
arse.
Douglas will, I hope, prove to be a fringe player
for the play-off games if all our other mid-fielders are fit and will then piss
off to Blackburn reserves or where ever else they want to send him. Not back to
us though please.
Of the two subs, Griffiths didn't look anything
special but I have high hopes of Beckford. He looks to have improved in the
short time he's been with us. He's quick, uses the ball intelligently when he
has it and generally caused Preston problems. If his first touch hadn't let him
down a bit at the crucial time he would have scored and he still managed to
force the keeper in to an excellent reaction save.
Of the old lags playing yesterday Healey looked
like a man trying to keep out of trouble so he wasn't injured for the play-offs.
Blake should watch how Stone does it and learn that a simple pass to an unmarked
team mate is often a better option than to try and beat four men in a crowded
penalty area.
Gregan looked good and solid again yesterday and it
was Killgallon who did what he's supposed to do and gave away the crucial
freekick with a clumsy challenge. Gregan certainly looked better than Butler but
I'm sure the skipper will be back. It will be interesting to see which pairing
Blackwell goes for but for me the Butler/Killgallon duo look better as a
pair than either Gregan/Killgallon or Gregan/Butler.
Preston didn't show anything yesterday that we need
fear, but they are certainly very strong defensively and there won't be much
more than a goal in it at the end of the two legs.
A lot could depend on how fit Nugent really is
after a six-week lay-off and what change a rested Hulse will get out of the two
Preston central defenders.
It's going to be very interesting and, win or lose,
I'd rather be in the play-offs than not.
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