Preston North End

Preston North End
Goals from Inigo Idiakez, Tommy Smith and Paul Peschisolido helped Derby seal a play-off place and leap-frog above North End into fourth spot. Idiakez gave the Rams the lead with a quick free-kick and Smith made it 2-0 after good work from Jeff Kenna. Patrick Agyemang's close range finish gave Preston hope with 21 minutes left. But Peschisolido's last-gasp goal sealed Derby's win, and the clubs will meet again at Deepdale next week in the first leg of their play-off semi-final. Derby had needed a point to be sure of a place in the top six but ended up taking all three. They did so without leading scorer Grzegorz Rasiak who had undergone groin surgery, and Rams boss George Burley made four changes from the side thumped 6-2 by Coventry last week. Tom Huddlestone, Richard Jackson, Marco Reich and Peschisolido came in for Mo Konjic, Chris Makin, Ian Taylor and Marcus Tudgay. A swirling wind meant neither side could settle in the early stages but there were still chances at both ends. Morten Bisgaard fired over the crossbar for Derby before Preston captain Graham Alexander's shot was comfortably saved by home goalkeeper Lee Camp. Smith hit the post for Derby just before the interval and there was still time for Idiakez to give the Rams the lead before the half-time whistle was blown. In stoppage time, Smith was brought down by Dickson Etuhu 25 yards from goal and from the free-kick, Idiakez cleverly struck early to send a right-footed shot low to the left of a stationary Carlo Nash. The Rams extended their lead in the early stages of the second half after a surging run down the right flank by Kenna. He found Peschisolido who set up Smith at the far post to finish a flowing move. Preston did not lie down and kept coming forward themselves. They pulled one goal back on 69 minutes when Agyemang was on hand to bundle the ball over the line after Camp had clawed away a Claude Davis header. But their hopes of a comeback were virtually ended with 10 minutes left when Alexander had to limp off injured with all three substitutes used. Peschisolido was then spectacularly denied by a superb Nash save before sealing Derby's win in the final minute. He latched on to a long ball by Richard Jackson and nutmegged the keeper to make it 3-1. The Rams will now have home advantage in the second-leg of their play-off semi-final. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby: Camp, Kenna, Johnson, Jackson, Huddlestone, Bisgaard, Smith (Holmes 72), Bolder, Idiakez (Taylor 72), Peschisolido, Reich (Konjic 90). Subs Not Used: Miller, Junior. Booked: Idiakez. Goals: Idiakez 45, Smith 49, Peschisolido 90. Preston: Nash, Alexander, Mawene (Broomes 45), Davis, Hill, Mears, Etuhu, McKenna, Sedgwick (O'Neil 52), Agyemang, Cresswell (Nugent 66). Subs Not Used: Ward, Lucketti. Booked: Mears, O'Neil, Hill. Goals: Agyemang 69. Att: 31,237 Ref: P Crossley (Kent).

Burley buoyed by omen of Preston
Derby boss George Burley reckons an early-season drubbing by Preston could have kick-started the Rams' season. Derby beat Preston 3-1 on Sunday to book the play-off clash between the two sides but Burley is still scarred by the 3-0 defeat in November. "We were very poor that day and Preston completely outplayed us," said Burley. "I would not go as far as saying that defeat was a turning point for us, although after that game our away form has been magnificent." He added: "There are no real turning points in a season because you are always striving for on-going improvements." "But the players have shown a lot of character since. Derby travel to Deepdale on Sunday, with the return leg at Pride Park on Thursday week. "Going away for the first leg does not matter to us. Nothing will be decided that day," said Burley.

Preston v Derby ( Playoff)
Preston winger Eddie Lewis is close to returning after an operation on his appendicitis but may not be ready until the second leg. Defender Graham Alexander is expected to have recovered from a thigh strain sustained at Derby last Sunday. Derby midfielder Inigo Idiakez is out of the play-offs after tearing a groin muscle in training. Striker Grzegorz Rasiak has not yet recovered from a hernia operation, while Chris Makin has a heel injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BIG-MATCH FACTS PRESTON NORTH END and Derby set out on the Play Off trail that could lead to a much coveted £20 million place in the Premiership. These clubs, that finished fifth and fourth in the Championship table respectively, are no strangers to the drama of this end-of-season competition but neither have gained promotion through it. For Lilywhites manager Billy Davies it's a first taste of the Play Offs, but for the club itself a sixth such adventure. The Deepdale side succumbed at the semi-final stage when in the third League level in 1988/89, and 1998/99 and as a fourth tier club in 1994/95. They reached Wembley as Third Division (fourth level) finalists in the 1993/94 season, only to lose 4-2 to Wycombe. Most recently Preston beat Birmingham in the 2000/01 Division One semi-finals, but then lost 3-0 to Bolton at Wembley. North End picked up just one point from their last three games in the regular League season, but face Derby looking to extend an undefeated home run to 10 games in all competitions, stretching back to the FA Cup Third Round loss to West Brom. Leeds were the last club to win a League game at Deepdale (2-4 on 6 November 2004), since when the Lilywhites have won eight and drawn six. DERBY COUNTY narrowly escaped relegation last season, and were tipped to struggle again this term but manager George Burley has built the side into a formidable force to tackle a third Play Off campaign. The Rams' first experience was unsuccessful in 1991/92 when they finished third in the Second Division and lost to Blackburn in the semi-finals. Two seasons later a sixth place finish, again in the second level (Division One), saw them beat Millwall in the Play Off semi-finals, but lose at Wembley 2-1 to East Midlands rivals Leicester. Burley is not short of Play Off experience. He was in charge of Ipswich when the Suffolk side qualified in four consecutive seasons, losing in the semi-finals three times, before defeating Barnsley at Wembley to gain promotion to the Premiership at the end of the 1999/2000 campaign. Derby last competed in the Premiership in 2001/02, whereas Preston - the first ever Football League champions - have not been in the top flight since 1960/61. Home wins have resulted in each of the last five times these sides have met in the League and the Lancashire club are looking to beat County for a fifth successive time on their home turf. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS SEASON'S LEAGUE MEETINGS: Preston North End 3-0 Derby County 27 November 2004 - Ref: Michael Jones Preston scorers: Alexander 13, 43 pen, Cresswell 8 Derby County 3-1 Preston North End 8 May 2005 - Ref: Phil Crossley (Kent) Derby scorers: Idiakez 45, Smith 49, Peschisolido 90 Preston scorer: Agyemang 69 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS League: Preston 42 wins, Derby 34, Draws 12 HEAD TO HEAD at Preston League: Preston 30 wins, Derby 7, Draws 7

West Ham 1-0 Preston
Bobby Zamora's second-half goal gave West Ham victory in the Championship play-off final and a return to the Premiership after a two-year absence. Tomas Repka hit the post and Carlo Nash denied Matthew Etherington as the Hammers started brightly in Cardiff. Shaun Newton headed Richard Cresswell's effort off the line, while Zamora and Marlon Harewood went desperately close. Zamora converted Etherington's cross and his team survived late pressure and keeper Jimmy Walker's injury to win. It was a victory they just about deserved after playing the more fluent football and carving out the better openings. Preston had done the double over the Hammers in the regular season, and finished above them in the table, but it was the Londoners who found their best form going into the play-offs. They dominated possession in the early stages at the Millennium Stadium and played the ball around with pace and precision. It should have reaped reward when Newton slid the ball through to the on-rushing Repka, but the Czech defender's well-struck effort smacked against Nash's left-hand post. Zamora, who had endured a difficult season before coming to the fore in the play-offs, then showed his creative ability when he played in Etherington, who saw his effort palmed away by Nash. Preston saw more of the ball as the half wore on but their best chance of success appeared to be from well-worked set-pieces. None of these yielded clear strikes on goal and the lively Zamora could have punished Claude Davis for switching off just before the break, but the defender redeemed himself with a desperate tackle. The Hammers, desperate to erase the memory of last season's final defeat by Crystal Palace, were almost caught cold soon after the restart. Paul McKenna's corner was met by Cresswell but Newton headed his goalbound effort away. It should have been 1-0 to Alan Pardew's men soon after when Nigel Reo-Coker's ball split North End's defence asunder. Somehow, Nash kept out Harewood's initial effort, Zamora's shot from the rebound was hacked off the line by Davis, and Harewood's second strike was blocked. But a breakthrough was not long in coming and when Etherington's cross fell to the feet of Zamora he made no mistake from six yards. Zamora should have made it 2-0 when Etherington's free-kick found him completely unmarked in acres of space but he sent his header over the bar. North End were struggling at the wrong end of the table when Billy Davies took over as manager last September. And his team showed the resilience that helped them climb into the top six to fight back. Their highly-rated striker David Nugent, who had been quiet for the first hour, fired straight at Walker, while Cresswell volleyed wide of the far post. Cresswell then sent another header straight into the hands of Walker, whose day turned sour late on when he was carried off with a serious looking knee injury after charging out of his area and landing awkwardly. Substitute Stephen Bywater's first job was to keep out a McKenna free-kick but there was little else for him to do afterwards. Indeed, Mark Noble could have put the result beyond doubt in time added on, but it mattered little to West Ham fans that he fired wide. For they were soon celebrating their return to the big time and belting out their favourite song I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. Their under-pressure manager Pardew, almost certainly on his way out if his side had lost, had guided them to the promised land of the Premiership. Crestfallen North End supporters, whose team have been out of the top flight for 44 years, were left to ponder what might have been. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Ham: Walker (Bywater 87), Repka, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell, Newton (Noble 82), Reo-Coker, Mullins, Etherington, Harewood, Zamora (Dailly 74). Subs Not Used: Sheringham, Fletcher. Booked: Mullins, Walker. Goals: Zamora 57. Preston: Nash, Mawene (Alexander 87), Davis, Lucketti, Hill, Sedgwick (Agyemang 71), McKenna, O'Neil (Etuhu 81), Lewis, Cresswell, Nugent. Subs Not Used: Broomes, Ward. Booked: Hill, Mawene. Att: 70,275 Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Davies philosophical after loss
Preston manager Billy Davies has told his squad to learn from the experience of losing the Championship play-off final 1-0 to West Ham in Cardiff. He said: "We didn't play particularly well on the day, but we had one or two chances and the first goal was crucial. "But we've got to dust ourselves down and learn from what happened - learn from the mistakes and the experience. "I couldn't have asked any more of these players, they've been absolutely fantastic all season." Preston had beaten West Ham twice in the league this season, but they struggled to impose themselves on their rivals at the Millennium Stadium. After a quiet first-half they started the second brightly when Richard Cresswell had a header cleared off the line, but within 10 minutes they were behind to Bobby Zamora's match-winning strike. "I can ask no more of the players," Davies added. "They worked their socks off and we have to be very proud of our season. "We've learnt a lot and we'll learn from the experience. The fans have been magnificent."

North End release striker Lynch
Striker Simon Lynch has been released by Preston, and will leave when his contract expires at the end of June. The 23-year-old started just 14 games for North End since joining from Celtic for £130,000 in January 2003, scoring just twice in that time. He spent two months on loan at Blackpool last season, failing to score in nine appearances for the Seasiders. Lynch also served Stockport on loan during 2003/04, and was capped by Scotland at Under-21 level.

Preston sure Davies will stay on
Preston chairman Derek Shaw is convinced manager Billy Davies will not leave them for Hearts. Davies is about to enter into talks with the beaten Championship play-off finalists over a new contract but has been linked with a move to Tynecastle. "He's very positive and we're already talking about next season," said Shaw. "I would be surprised if somebody would leave Preston North End to go up to Scotland unless it was one of two clubs (Rangers or Celtic) up there." Davies took charge of Preston in September and guided them to a fifth-place finish in the league table. The former Motherwell manager had been working at Deepdale as assistant to ex-Scotland boss Craig Brown, who was sacked at the end of August.

Preston to offer Davies new deal
Preston will offer Billy Davies a new deal after Derby expressed an interest in him becoming their new manager. Derby have drawn up a list of 50 potential candidates to replace former manager George Burley. And a Derby director approached Preston chairman Derek Shaw at a chairman's meeting at which he mentioned Davies. "We would fight tooth and nail to keep him here," Shaw told Preston's website. "We are currently in discussions with him over a new contract." Burley quit Pride Park on Tuesday due to his poor relationship with director of football Murdo Mackay. Derby chief executive Keith told the club's website: "We're aware we have to make the right decision for the club. "We're going about this is the correct manner - any approaches will be made by seeking the necessary clearances."

Davies close to new Preston deal
Preston manager Billy Davies has confirmed he has been offered an improved contract and is hopeful the situation will soon be "concluded". "I have been offered a substantially improved contract to stay at Deepdale," Davies told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I was offered the new deal less than a week ago by the club and it was the first time any discussion had taken place about a new deal." Preston chairman Derek Shaw said he is hopeful of a "satisfactory outcome". Davies, who took charge of Preston last August and took them to the Championship play-off final, had been strongly linked with Derby and Scottish side Hearts. Preston have offered Davies a long-term deal as oppose the his current one-year rolling contract - and a hard copy is now with his lawyer. Shaw added on Preston's website: "We've had very constructive discussions and feel very confident of a satisfactory outcome." Derby have now turned their attention to Yeovil boss Gary Johnson. Preston moved quickly to open talks with Davies' representative, Mick McGuire of the Professional Footballers' Association, after George Burley quit as the Rams boss last week. Shaw rebuffed an informal approach by a Derby director at a meeting of Championship chairmen where he made it clear that Preston were keen to retain the highly-rated Davies.

Davies signs new Preston contract
Billy Davies will remain Preston's boss after agreeing to sign an improved deal with the Championship club. The 41-year-old Scot had been the subject of an approach from Derby County - and was linked with Hearts. Davies told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I could have received greater financial rewards at another club. "But the board, the players and everyone connected with Preston North End played a major part in my decision to stay at Deepdale," Davies added. The open-ended contract covers Davies' assistant David Kelly. "I've also had an undertaking from the chairman that he's prepared to help us in every way he can to drive us forward," added Davies. Preston chairman Derek Shaw maintained he still remained on good terms with Davies, who guided the club into the Championship play-off final against West Ham last season. Shaw told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've got a great relationship with Billy - there's absolutely no problem whatsoever. Football people can be like children in a sweetshop and I've got to do what's right for the football club." Davies took charge of Preston last August and led them to the Championship play-off final where they were beaten by West Ham. Davies' agent Mick McGuire said: "We've agreed a new deal with the chairman which is a great deal for the club." "Billy is delighted with the offer - I think he wants to finish the job at Preston," added McGuire, who is the Professional Footballers' Association deputy chief executive. "It's testimony to his abilities, and when you consider there was interest from Derby County and Hearts - who are the two we know about - it's to Billy's credit that he wants to see out the deal at Preston. "And to the club's credit that they have done their very, very best to ensure he stays with them. "The Preston chairman (Derek Shaw) was extremely bullish and positive to negotiate with and it was very clear he wanted to ensure his man stayed." Shaw had rebuffed an informal approach by a Derby director at a meeting of Championship chairmen where he made it clear that Preston were keen to retain the highly-rated Davies.

Preston complete Hibbert signing
Preston and Port Vale will go to a Football League tribunal to establish the compensation for teenaged striker Dave Hibbert. Hibbert completed his move to Preston but the clubs were unable to agree on the fee Vale are entitled to for the out-of-contract 19-year-old. He told Preston's website: "I can't wait to get started now. "I'm delighted, obviously it's going to be hard. It's a massive challenge for me but it's one that I'm up for." Hibbert's season ended when he was injured in a match at Milton Keynes, which resulted in the player being airlifted from the field.

Davies delighted by Hibbert deal
Preston manager Billy Davies believes the club has done well to sign striker David Hibbert from Port Vale. The 19-year-old signed on Monday with a tribunal set to decide the fee. "We are very fortunate to get this young lad because there were several clubs interested," manager Billy Davies told the club's website. "We think his finishing is very good and - like David Nugent - he is very quick, but to be honest I think he is quite a way from first-team action."

Brown pens new deal with Preston
Preston midfielder Michael Brown has signed a new one-year contact. The youngster spent five months on loan at Chester City towards the end of last season and gained experience by making 19 appearances in that time. Assistant manager David Kelly told the club website: "We are pleased that Browny has signed. "He went out on loan last season and has done quite well so we will be looking for him to start again and move on to bigger and better things."

Preston sign up winger Anyinsah
Preston have signed Bristol City winger Joe Anyinsah on a three-year deal. Anyinsah, 20, moves to Deepdale after rejecting an inproved contract offer from the Ashton Gate club. Preston will have to pay compensation although the amount has not been agreed but it is hoped a Football League tribunal will not be needed. Anyinsah told Preston's website: "I have been at Bristol since I was nine years old and I thought it was time for a change."

Preston hopeful of more signings
Preston are in talks with an unknown club as they hope to secure permission to talk to a player they want to sign. Billy Davies has already signed David Hibbert from Port Vale and Bristol City winger Joe Anyinsah as part of his summer squad strengthening. And he is looking to sign more players ahead of the start of the Championship season on 6 August. "Both the player and club are as yet unnamed and it is thought he is under contract," said a Preston statement.

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