After two very poor away defeats, Brentford’s comeback from 1-0 down to 2-1 against promotion rivals at home to Swindon may go down as the turning point of the season. Currently sitting in 3rd place with 9 games to go and only 4 points off top-of-the-table Doncaster Rovers, who we play last game of the season, it’s really now all in our hands.
So getting a result against freshly invigorated Preston North End is now even more important. As we come to the crucial part of the season, we seem to be gaining players rather than losing them. Jake Bidwell has been rested up a few matches and is ready to take his place back in defence. Bradley Wright-Phillips sat on the bench against Swindon but is set to start we believe after the impact he made when coming on. Sam Saunders will be also vying for a starting place after the impact he made against Swindon after coming on scoring the penalty. Harry Forrester, out with a knee injury for two games, will be also looking to get his place in the team back.
Farid Al Alagui and Kev O’Connor are back in training and play their first matches in the development game on Monday. We would expect them to be back in contention for the final few games or, if needs be, any playoff action.
Preston are looking to continue their decent run cheered on by 1000 or so bowler hatted supporters all celebrating Gentry Day. We asked Preston fan Geoff Ollerton what was this all about?
In the autumn of 1970 PNE were away at Plymouth on a cold Tueday night. That was a fair old trip in those days and as the players and manager climbed form the team coach they were greeted by a smalish army of fans. A journalist asked the manager – one Alan Ball Snr – what he thought of the fans who had made the trip to watch them. “These are not just fans they are Gentry” was his reply. For the following home games that season people turned out in pinstripe suits and bowler hats and The Gentry was born.
Preston Supporters Group rekindled the idea in 2005 as a dedication when one of the original Gentry lads died and it has grown ever since. We now have a Gentry Day each season (always an away match) in dedication of all the PNE players and supporters who have passed away.
This is your fourth Gentry day in London. Two were against our esteemed rivals QPHaha. How did they go?
The first one was at Loftus Road yes and it well very well indeed, we had a good turn out that day and the players joined in the fun with a good performance one of the best photo’s was of David Nugent proudly donning a bowler that had been thrown to him from the terraces.
Personally I think our best day was at Charlton that was a fabulous time, Quite a crowd of us started out from The Clock pub which was unknowing to us a Millwall stronghold
And you’ve lost your last three gentry day matches. How’s your form looking for the trip to a Griffin Park. ?
Have we really? You know it’s always very difficult to remember the result when we’ve had such a great day. We are now on our best form of the season so far, the players are happy and full of confidence.
We are on a decent run with three wins and two draws since we got shut of that nice Mr Westley
Any outrageous gentry day stories you care to tell of trips gone by?
Far more than I can remember but the one where we ended up in Greenwich Village at The Clock takes some beating. If you look in the pictures there is one where one of the guys is leaning against police van he had already been thrown out of it by the coppers inside. They stayed there ‘protecting’ us from some nasty Millwall fans who when they were informed of why The Gentry were in town, they were well impressed and respected us for it. The van escorted us out of the ‘unsafe’ area once we were ready to leave.
You guys were one of the best teams we played that season when we lost 1-3. We actually got into Neil Mellor’s car after the match and told him “don’t you ever, ever, ever do that again” after he scored his brace – his initial fear turned to laughter. How come this season you seem to have gone backwards?
We actually went backwards last season when the then manager Phil Brown seemed to lose all interest. He was sacked only to be replaced by probably the worst manager in our clubs history. Thankfully, but far too late in 99% of fans opinion, that guy was sacked – I think you may know who I am talking about.
How’s your team shaping up for tomorrow?
Midfielder Jack King should come back into the side. Average skill but a heart as big as Big Ben. He’d die for the cause.
Bailey Wright aggravated an ankle injury in midweek and faces a late fitness test. If he doesn’t pass Robertson will most probably step into his place
Midfielder Joel Byrom is still a way off fitness. Many fans would say a blessing in disguise but to be fair we haven’t really seen a lot of him all season
One to watch is young Will Hayhurst a local lad and a product of our youth set up. He’s come in and set the place alight scoring in each of our last three games. Simon Grayson predicts a massive future for him
Graham Westley is one of two managers universally hated by Brentford fans. The number one is Karl ‘smuginson’ Robinson of Franchise FC (aka MK Dons). He didnt last too long with you guys. What went wrong? How is simon Grayson settling in?
Westley was disliked for m day one and by the time he left he was enemy number one for Preston fans. His ‘football’ was dire and he was dragging the good name of our club through the mud. Good riddance. We agree entirely about the prat from mkd. Grayson has started solid.
Feeling confident about the game Saturday?
If we had been here about a month ago I would have said we were in for a hammering but not anymore. I am confident now every time PNE take to the field.
Give us a score prediction
I think we’ll take the three points with a 1-0 win
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BillytheBee
@billythebee99
