Even Gary Waddock described it as a "great game", but the Wycombe boss must have been gutted that his side didn't hang on and get something from it.
In yesterday's post I highlighted the threat that Neil Mellor posed and the former Liverpool striker proved I was spot on (yeah, I know, unusual for me). Within ten minutes he had scored the opener - his seventh of the season - and then setting up team mate Iain Hume for the second. Game over - or so I thought. Wycombe briefly looked stunned.
Indeed, Phil Brown thought so to, but pointed out afterwards: "You don't go 2-0 up and take your foot off the gas after only nine minutes." He also mentioned the effect the game had on his greying locks, but that's one for his hairdresser.
To give Wycombe their due though, they battled to get back into the game and within 14 minutes had pulled level through goals by veteren skipper Gareth Ainsworth - after keeper Arestidou had spilled a free kick - and a Scott Donnelly penalty that looked a little harsh on the visitors.
Bad decision by the ref or not, Wycombe continued to press forward and then took the lead deservedly in the 27th minute when Scott Beavon glanced in Donnelly's corner at the near post.
It was Preston's turn to look shell-shocked and the break couldn't come soon enough for them I suspect.
Brown didn't expand too much on what was said in the dressing room at half time, but whatever it was and whoever said it, it did the trick.
Preston came back out determined that, when they got back on the bus, they weren't going home empty handed.
Hume scored his second in the 64th minute after latching on to a pass from Clark Carlisle and scampering away from the half way line before lifting the ball over Nikki Bull in the Wycombe goal.
The last word went to Mellor though in the 73rd minute when he buried another close range effort in front of the visiting fans to send them nuts.
I'm sure that the home support will have felt a little down as they climbed into their sacks last night, but if they can set their partisanship aside today, they'll realise that they will have witnessed one of this season's best League One games.
My clipping from this morning's paper
It was a great game last night.
ReplyDeleteWycombe are just one defender away from being a good side. And after their performance I will be surprised if they do not start gaining a few more points. Their winger Harris will develop into a class act. Well done to Preston lad Gareth Ainsworth, he always scores against his former side.
For us North Enders, our run of form with Phil Brown and Brian Horton has been a tonic after the dismal tenure of Alex Ferguson's son Darren and the gloom and despondency he cast.
We feel like a team again.
Must comment on Wycombe as a club. I love it. The staff always come across as efficient and friendly. Refreshing.
Sorry! Tried responding yesterday, but had a technical problem. Agree with everything you said though and all the best to North End for the rest of the season. Jeff
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