That’s all folks. We came, we saw, we lost, we're out.
Preston are one of the better Second Division sides and I’ll be surprised if come the spring they’re not around the shake up. A very well organised and tight unit with more than a touch of ability running throughout the side. They've spent well.
The game itself was very tight and a single goal always looked very likely to win the game. Ray surprised me by changing a winning side, turning a blind eye to one of those golden rules he appears to be loath to break. Rammell and Evans returned to the line up with Marsh switching to left wing. Platt and Watson were the unlucky ones.
The two sides basically stood toe to toe and slugged out a high quality first half, neither team taking a step backwards or concede anything in the quest for an advantage. Chances however, were few and far between with PNE probably feeling the most disappointed at the break. Especially when we escaped a nailed on penalty claim on the stroke of half time when Green tripped Nogan inside the box.
The second half followed much the same pattern as the first as both sides went for the knockout blow. It eventually came on the hour as Wayne Evans found himself outpaced down our right and when Green and Nogan simultaneously challenged for the ball it looped over Jimmy Walker and almost apologetically crossed the line.
We were in trouble now, probably having to chase a goal in order to force a replay, however the match, as a contest, ended before we'd even reshaped as moments after the first Paul McKenna fired home an unstoppable shot from 35 yards. A bit of a career goal I fancy and more significantly no need for Saddlers fans to check what time tomorrow's 3rd round draw is.
We huffed, puffed but couldn’t break down a resolute PNE backline and made a rather quiet exit from the finest cup competition in the world. Sounds like a good name for a compilation album to me. No one really stood out but Marshy probably shaded the Man of the Match honours.