Tom Sandells’ Preston North End Press View: PNE being held back by inability to keep clean sheets

Credit to Neil Mellor who was there working for Sky Sports who alerted us all to it, but PNE just don’t keep home clean sheets anymore.

The last time North End kept a home clean sheet was against Brentford, a 2-0 win. That was five months ago now.

There have been 15 matches at Deepdale in all competitions since, 13 in the league plus one against Manchester City in the League Cup and one against Norwich in the FA Cup.

It’s a funny balance, because PNE do still boast the best home record in the league – on goals scored –ahead of Derby County, so it’s clearly not holding them back.

But on days where they are not at their best and they just need to stumble through and maybe nick a goal, they actually need to nick two – and it often isn’t possible.

This is not to say that PNE’s defence is an issue, which is why, coupled with the excellent home form all season, it came as a surprise to most that the stat had racked up.

Patrick Bauer has been a brilliant signing since coming in this summer and really hit the ground running.

Ben Davies is arguably North End’s best defender in recent memory.

Darnell Fisher has been a good performer out on the right, chipping in with assists going forward but also very good in the tackle and in one-on-one situations.

Tom Clarke has also come in for spells – drawing criticism in some quarters – but his presence in that team is felt by every other member of the squad out there and apart from an error at Blackburn Rovers, he hasn’t done badly.

On the left it has been either the ever-reliable Joe Rafferty or the left-footed, six foot-plus Andrew Hughes. Both provide different options but neither have weakened the side.

Declan Rudd is also enjoying his best season at PNE, his kicking massively improved, while his shot-stopping has never been in doubt.

His total of seven clean sheets this season matches Sam Johnstone’s at league leaders West Bromwich Albion, but just two of these have come at Deepdale – the first coming in the first home game of the season.

North End have not been creating bags and bags of chances.

In the 3-0 win over Barnsley not so long ago, the goals were PNE’s only three shots on target.

Towards the start of the season when the Lilywhites burst out of the blocks, there was talk of how clinical they were being, as it didn’t take many chances for them to score.

When those goals dry up though, which is always liable to happen at some point during a season, you need to have that solid foundation to make sure you come away with a point.

Alex Neil has always been a forward-thinking manager, if a game is tight his instinct is to attack to widen the gap rather than contain.

The style of play has noticeably changed at Deepdale this season, it’s a much more open and controlling way of playing.

That could potentially leave PNE open by committing too many bodies forward.

With the home record being as good as it has been, it’s only natural for there to be an increase in expectation and therefore pressure when it comes to Preston making sure they come away with all three points. That coupled with what has, until recently, been a poor away record, means it’s been more important to get the win rather than keep the back door shut.

But as the end of the season draws closer – I know it’s still only February – but with 13 games to go, the small margins become even more important.

If you take a longer view, the away form continuing to improve is vital, with the next two trips being West Bromwich Albion and Fulham.

Preston still have to host Nottingham Forest amongst other tricky visitors, who could set up to not concede knowing that their hosts are liable to let one in.

Look further ahead to a potential play-off campaign and, as Huddersfield Town will attest to, you don’t even need to score to go up, but you do need clean sheets.

It’s a trend that needs resolving, expecting North End to have to score at least two in every home game isn’t a sustainable way forward.

There are undeniably goals in the team, Tom Barkhuizen and Daniel Johnson are in double figures with three months to go, and Josh Harrop is on their tails.

But how long can PNE keep up scoring more than one at home to win a game?

Hull City at the weekend would be a perfect opportunity to start a new run – of clean sheets. They’re certainly owed one after the heavy defeat at the hands of the Tigers in November.

Hull also have undoubtedly had their forward line weakened and North End will be favourites going into the game.

But by tightening up a little bit more, it’s a real possibility that they could see out the season without losing another home game.