The Tim Mercer column: ‘Hats off’ to the players for superb comeback win at Charlton
The first win away since early January was a fitting way to celebrate Gentry Day, as we all remembered our fellow North Enders who have sadly left us.
Just before kick-off, a sea of bowler hats were waved in front of me to the song of ‘Hats off, to the Gentry, hats off.
And perhaps unsurprisingly, given Charlton needed a win to secure their Championship status for another season, the hosts went at the Lilywhites from the start.
Dominating and creating the best chances in that opening period, it was still a defensive error that led to them taking the lead shortly before the 20-minute mark.
Relying on a series of long throws as their main weapon, the Addicks launched yet another one into the visitors’ penalty area, only for Daniel Jebbinson to neatly back-head it into the path of ex-Blackburn Rovers player, Joe Rankin-Costello, who converted the gift with ease.
The setback only served to spur Preston on and equalise just a few minutes later. Brad Potts started in consecutive games for the first time in an injury-ravaged season and was a key player throughout, looking back to his old self.
Receiving the ball back from his own throw-in, he clipped in a good cross that Lewis Dobbin headed skilfully across the Charlton keeper and into the net. Game on!
From that point on it was North End who had the upper hand, overall, and it was a reversal of roles early in the second half that led to what turned out to be the winner. Dobbin had raced forward on a counter-attack with Potts in support on his right flank.
He slipped a lovely ball through to Potts who then slammed it home for his second goal in two games, them being 250 and 251 in the shirt that he proudly wears.
Cue pandemonium in the away end and bowler hats launched skyward for the deserved lead.
Two further gilt-edged opportunities went begging, one late on when Alfie Devine really should have put it on a plate for substitute Milutin Osmajić instead of misplacing his pass.
That would have killed Charlton off but of course, this being North End, it took yet another fine Daniel Iversen save in stoppage time to maintain the advantage.
As for man-of-the-match, this fan found it difficult to separate Potts’ and Dobbin’s excellent performances, but on the day of the Grand National and for largely emotional reasons, it goes to Potts … by a nose!