Preston versus Watford verdict: No goals but signs are still promising

For the fourth time in five league games this season, Preston were held to a goalless draw – this time against Watford at Deepdale on Saturday.
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Match Report: Preston North End 0-0 Watford - Tough test for North End draws a b...

Like all of North End’s stalemates, this was not a drab encounter despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise.

It was end to end at times and both sides were able to show their qualities both with and without the ball.

Ryan Ledson battles with Watford's Yaser Asprilla.Ryan Ledson battles with Watford's Yaser Asprilla.
Ryan Ledson battles with Watford's Yaser Asprilla.
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However, the fact that PNE have gone another game without scoring is becoming a bone of contention for fans.

Had they scored just a couple of league goals, they could well be sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table.

Despite the frustration of another blank, this result could well turn out to be important point at the end of the season – coming against a side who dropped down from the Premier League last season.

North End have been so close in the past few games to making that all-important breakthrough, and it does give Lilywhites fans confidence that their team have nothing to fear for the rest of the campaign.

Preston North End's Emil Riis is disappointed during the game on Saturday.Preston North End's Emil Riis is disappointed during the game on Saturday.
Preston North End's Emil Riis is disappointed during the game on Saturday.
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There are of course a minority of fans who would like to see their side blowing away the opposition every single game but that is not realistic.

PNE and Watford were equal on the day, with both sides having their chances.

Hornets’ No.1 Daniel Bachmann was arguably the busier of the two goalkeepers, pulling off a number of important stops while his opposite number Freddie Woodman only needed to watch on as the ball sailed either wide or over his goal more often than not.

But it was a good game between two good sides – one of which was in the Premier League last season and obviously benefits from parachute payments.

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A point against a side like Watford in isolation is a good one, results against other sides in recent weeks have changed the perception.

It is perhaps getting towards the stage where North End need to start turning draws into wins.

However, the season is only five games old and there is plenty of time left for Ryan Lowe’s men to get things right in front of goal.

The Preston defence was again excellent. Considering just one error in judgement or slight mistake could result in a goal, to keep the ball out of the net for five games straight is outstanding.

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Andrew Hughes had to be replaced by Greg Cunningham who has generally operated as a left centre half under Lowe and he stepped in and proved to be an able understudy for the Welshman.

Given that Cunningham’s game-time in recents seasons has been stop-start, for him to come in against one of the sides expected to challenge for promotion and help maintain the clean sheet record deserves credit.

They are now the first PNE team in the club’s history to start a league season with five clean sheets, Woodman the first goalkeeper to start with five clean sheets in his opening five games. It’s a historic start but it is not being talked up much because the goals haven’t been flowing.

But as things stand, regardless of what they are able to do offensively, it seems the minimum they will get out of a game is a point and that is a good platform to have.

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North End had a period in the first half where they should have scored. They were on top, the crowd was vocal and Watford were penned back.

Any fleeting moments of attack from the Hornets were swiftly swatted away and back again came the home side.

It is those moments that have come and gone this season without anything to show for it.

Is that where the ‘something out of nothing’ striker that Lowe craves comes into play? Maybe! We’re less than two weeks from the end of the transfer window though, so hopefully it won’t be an issue too much longer.

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Two players that divided opinion on the day were Alan Browne and Daniel Johnson, but it said a lot that when the pair were withdrawn North End’s creativity suffered.

It may not have been massively obvious when they were on the pitch that they were contributing to what PNE were trying to do offensively.

They have more than 700 Preston games between them, they’re savvy operators and their runs down the channels helped get the side forward. There’s a reason they are relied upon by Lowe.

PNE had the first chance of the game just four minutes in when Hughes' low cross was collected by skipper Browne whose touch took the ball into the air and his volley was straight at Bachmann in the Watford goal.

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Watford could have taken the lead after a quarter of an hour, Hughes' clearance was blocked into the path of Vakoun Bayo who went through one-on-one but saw his underwhelming strike saved by the legs of Woodman.

Despite a spell of dominance, shots from range were the best that North End could muster, with Johnson, Ryan Ledson and Troy Parrott all having a go.

Edo Kayembe retaliated, twisting and turning on the edge of the box before aiming wide of the post just five minutes before half time.

PNE had the first half of the second half approaching the hour, Robbie Brady stepped inside from the left to cross on his right foot and Browne crashed into the box to connect with an effort on goal forcing a fine stop from Bachmann.

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Two minutes later Watford could have instead had the lead. Rey Manaj was played clean through on goal, but as he came to pull the trigger on the edge of the box he found only the back row of the Bill Shankly Kop behind the goal.

Though PNE pushed towards the end of the contest, they could not find a way to double their tally for league goals.