Birmingham City trip is set to bring up a landmark for stopper Paul Huntington

Paul Huntington is set to make his 300th appearance for Preston North End in tonight’s clash with Birmingham City.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The central defender, nicknamed the Cumbrian Cannavaro, will hit the game landmark eight-and-a-half years after joining PNE on a Bosman.

He has had to battle his way back up the pecking order a few times during his time at Deepdale.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This season, Huntington did not feature in a league game until the end of October but now has 15 Championship appearances under his belt.

Centre-back Paul Huntington is closing in on a landmark appearance for PNECentre-back Paul Huntington is closing in on a landmark appearance for PNE
Centre-back Paul Huntington is closing in on a landmark appearance for PNE

The 33-year-old has started eight of the last nine league games since Patrick Bauer suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on December 1.

Of his 299 appearances which have come in all competitions, he has started 271 matches. The trip to St Andrew’s (7.45pm) should see the 300 come up, continuing his partnership with Ben Davies at the back.

The task for Huntington and his PNE team-mates in the West Midlands is to deliver a first win of 2021.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They have lost their last three games, the league defeats against Bristol City and Nottingham Forest sandwiching the FA Cup exit at Wycombe.

In response to Saturday’s reverse at Ashton Gate, PNE boss Alex Neil might well be tempted to tweak the starting line-up.

Jayson Molumby will be pushing for a start after being on the bench until the later stages at the weekend.

The loan signing from Brighton had started the Wycombe cup tie.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ben Whitehead can expect another start after an assured debut at Bristol City.

Neil did not think his wide players Tom Barkhuizen and Scott Sinclair got into the game enough at the weekend. However, they are the only two experienced wingers available at the moment and look likely starters tonight.

Neil said: “I watched the game back from Saturday and my opinion didn’t change from straight afterwards.

“We didn’t match Bristol City’s aggression in the first 20 minutes and we should have done better for their goal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The onus was then on us to force the issue and although we got better before half-time and for 25 to 30 minutes in the second half, some of our combinations weren’t as crisp as they should have been.

We didn’t really cause them enough problems.

“That is something we have spoken about and we want to be better at Birmingham.

“It will be a difficult game down there. I have been up against Aitor Karanka a number of times at different clubs and his sides are always tough to play against.

“We are going to have to play well to get something.”

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 per month for the first two months. Try us today by clicking here