Four BIG talking points from Preston North End’s defeat at Bristol City

TOM SANDELLS looks at four talking points in the wake of the game.

1. Goodbye Ben

In his post match interview, Alex Neil confirmed that Ben Pearson was fit to play for PNE but the Scot opted not to select him.

There were no cloak-and-dagger excuses or misdirections. Pearson has made it clear to PNE that he will no longer be with the club after his contract expires this summer.

That means two things. Firstly, we’ve likely seen the last of him in a Preston shirt – a very sad state of affairs.

One of the best midfielders the Lilywhites have had this century, losing talent like that will never sit right.

Secondly, he must be sold. Losing him is bad enough, to do so for nothing is poor management from the club’s point.

They have tried exceedingly hard to keep him at the club, that cannot be questioned, but they are now in a position where they will lose their best player and one of the best in the league for nothing. If he is not to feature for the rest of the season there is not point in keeping him on the wage bill, especially when there could be decent fee still involved.

2. A good bow from Ben

Whilst Pearson was not selected, new signing Ben Whiteman was. He occupied the deep-lying mdifield role with class and showed a glimpse of what to expect going forward.

The ex-Doncaster captain came straight in from the start for his PNE bow, and was central to most things as Neil’s men looked to build forward.

He is not Pearson, nor will he ever be. Their games are different and they offer different things.

The 24-year-old newbie looks to be settling in well and there will only be more to come from him. The opening signs look promising as North End look to the future.

3. Must take advantage of pressure

Though North End didn’t offer loads throughout the piece, the opening 30 minutes of the second half was played at their pace.

City were a goal to the good and therefore could allow PNE to come forward, as their two banks of four worked hard to repel advances though that presented a lot of recycling of possession for Neil’s men. But wave after wave of attack changed little, and in the end, what happened at the end of the period of dominance? Bristol City made it 2-0.

As infuriating as that is to watch, it’s North End’s own fault for not putting the ball away when they had it for the best part of half an hour.

4. Where do the goals come from?

One feeds into the other, PNE didn’t score when on top but where will the goals come from?

Scott Sinclair is currently the top scorer with seven goals but they are hardly from fluid spells of form and gilt-edged chances.

Rather snapshots or penalties seem the most likely way he scores. They all count, but it’s more how long can those sorts of moments keep arising?

Sinclair featured and was ineffective, as was Tom Barkhuizen on the other side.

Sean Maguire tried to be a foil but in amongst that he offered little threat on goal, leaving the No.9 area rather vacant.

Whoever Neil has opted 
to start up front, since 
Jordan Hugill left three years, they have not found a rhythm in finding the back of the net.

Emil Riis deserves some time to find his feet but goals just don’t seem easy to come by at the moment.