John Smith’s PNE Fans’ Panel verdict: We no longer look out of our depth tactically at times at this level
For me, Saturday’s opponents Coventry City are undoubtedly the team in our division for which the terrace chant: “Can We Play You Every Week?” could be the most appropriately applied to.
The Sky Blues had never won a league match at Deepdale in their history in 21 attempts since their first visit in 1949 and also had never beaten us in any of our last 21 league games against each other.
Although these kind of runs do not last forever it never really looked in danger of ending in this game.
After an all-round strong team performance and a deserved 1-0 victory when the referee blew for time at end of an entertaining 90 minutes, both of these statistics had been stretched to an incredible 22.
In the first half we created plenty of chances with Emil Riis looking lively and showing flashes of his former self before his horrific injury 20 months ago
It was a far cry from some of our home games under the previous manager in which we were rarely on the front foot and constantly playing our football sideways and backwards.
Our new management duo is the most experienced partnership I’ve seen at Deepdale since the days of Craig Brown and Billy Davies.
I have always believed that there is no substitute for experience and I feel that we no longer look out of our depth tactically at times at this level.
