Preston North End v Palace

Deepdale, Saturday 3.00pm

Crystal Palace

Story so far

Well last Saturday was a bit of a let down, weren't it? It was drab, the football was poor and there were no chances up front. There are always positives to take though. We kept a clean sheet and we didn't lose. It's a good enough way to start the season. Look how long it took us to keep a clean sheet last year!

We've managed to progress to the next round of the cup as well. So a draw and a win in the first two games. It might not be pretty but it's a reasonable start.

This is where it gets worse - we're off to Deepdale. This has to be a game that Palace fans dread - when do we ever do well there? Apart from last year.

It's Preston's first game at home so there should be a bit of an atmosphere kicking about. North end have won their two opening games, Alan Irvine has settled in and hoping to avoid the relegation battle of last season.

As usual, it'll be a tough game. It might be worth noting that the quality that Preston have on display has been diminishing over the last few seasons, so we have a chance if the football is better than we witnessed last Saturday.

Still, we've got Oster and the French dude in now, so we have one or two more options.

Team news

Preston's striker Chris Brown faces a late fitness test (sciatica) but goalkeeper Wayne Henderson (back) and defenders Liam Chilvers (Achilles) and Neal Trotman (hernia) remain sidelined.

Eagles midfielder Neil Danns still hasn't recovered from a groin injury sustained last season so wil miss out.

New signing John Oster is pushing for a starting place after scoring on an impressive debut against Hereford in midweek. Another new boy Calvin Andrew will push James Scowcroft for a place in attack.

Preston North End - league stats

Full league table

Preston North End - current form

Full form table

Our away record v Preston North End

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
01/03/2008	League	Preston North End	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
27/11/2007	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	Preston North End
07/04/2007	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 0	Preston North End
27/01/2007	FA Cup	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Preston North End
25/11/2006	League	Preston North End	0 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Simon Whaley

Whaley and McKenna have already made the impact that is generally expected of them. McKenna is creating and scoring and so is Whaley.

Whaley is still a young player who hasn't really been given a proper go at Preston. He was brought in from Bury but has shown glimpses of what he can do.

He is a tricky right winger - a proper one - with a bit of pace, skill and the usual eye for goal. He can play on either flank and is likely to cause a few problems for either Hill or Butterfield.

Middlesbrough took an interest in him last season for a reported fee of £1.5m.

Last meeting

Preston North End 0-1 Palace

Saturday March 01 2008

Preston North End: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, Chilvers, Hill, Sedgwick (Ormerod 82), McKenna, Carter, Whaley (Lewis Neal 46), Brown, Hawley (Mellor 46)

Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, St. Ledger

Booked: Jones, Carter, Hill

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield, Hudson, Lawrence, Hills, Ifill (Freedman 61), Watson, Fletcher, Derry, Morrison, Moses (Robinson 87)

Subs Not Used: Fonte, Hughes, Scannell

Booked: Moses, Ifill, Watson

Goals: Morrison 76

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