Woohoo Sam Gallagher!!

Already look a lot better with Johnson ahead of Trybull. Much more positive player.

Will be really bad news if Wharton comes off. He's been excellent.

Kaminski has been sensational.

Elliot needs subbing.

We aren't going to be able to pass through them so need a plan B. Reckon getting both Gallagher and Nyambe on their left wing back should do it. Don't think he can handle it. Not sure who to bring off for Gallagher though... Elliott or Holtby I guess.

Woo hoo!

They've totally beating us tactically here. Can't handle 343. Not seen us so effectively nullified this season. Gallagher and Johnson look good shouts to come on.

Don't agree with that, Johnsons played really well deep, wins everything in the air, out muscles the oppos, and can drop in like a third Centreback when required, plays forward passes. Also chips in with goals at range. His main issue is that he gets caught on the turn but he's been fine this season. I'd pick him over Trybull. Trybull is neater on the turn but physically weak, and seems to have the crabs (ie. an addiction to sideways and backwards passing).

Yes, it would be mental if Liverpool have put clauses in making him play every game and then he gets a long term injury. I'll be really surprised if he starts this weekend.

Probs most important thing for Gallagher is what sort of partnership he strikes up with Douglas. Thats where his crosses are coming from in this system. They should be working on that every day in training. Ideally you want to get it where Conway and Gestede got to, where Conway knew exactly where Gestede wanted the ball. We haven't really had much quality crossing from the left to be honest since Gallagher has been at the club. Downing ended up playing more centrally.

Reckon Holtby will be decent to at least 32-33. We should offer a long term deal.

I am pretty confident going into these games if we can keep the key players fit - that's Kaminski, Lenihan, Wharton, Holtby, Rothwell, Arma and (I cant really believe I am saying this) Brereton. If you have those seven out there we look a real handful for any team. Take any of them out and our system looks a bit fragile. Team for me : Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Wharton Douglas Holtby Johnson Rothwell Gallagher Arma Brereton Subs : Pears, Carter, Bell, Trybull, Davenport, Buckley, Elliott, Dolan, Chapman Barnsley are on a decent run, won 4 of the last 6 including beating Watford. So obviously no pushovers. Look like they play pretty direct so Wharton and Lenihan to get their head on it. Really like them as a pairing, makes me much less concerned about aerial bombardment.

He's scored three goals in 415 minutes (less than five 90 minute games) which is pretty impressive. Does seem like the ultimate super sub rather than a starter at this stage. When he has played against well organised teams he has struggled, but when the opposition are a bit loose or down to 10 men he's fantastic. With the 5 sub rule he is going to get a lot of opportunity to come on and stretch the opposition in the last half hour.

Best keeper we have had since Friedel. Totally exceptional. Probs the one player in the team who you would say, even more than Arma, will have big Premier League interest come the summer. You can see why he is in the Belgium national team squad. Great signing, can't really believe we pulled it off.

Johnson coming back provides a bit of a quandary. Hopefully he doesn't do something mad like swap out Holtby or Rothwell. I don't think he will though. Mowbray knows they are our best mids. Trybull played pretty well but I think Johnson may come back in for Saturday. Reckon rest of the team the same. We really do look like we have great strength in depth. Once Travis and Dack are back we will have some subs bench. In the era of 5 subs that is going to be a very potent weapon.

He wasn't really put under any pressure today. To be fair to Joe he Bark played the other side. I agree with Joe that Douglas lack of pace and defensive focus will ultimately be an issue for us. But hey, let's enjoy the win!

Fantastic team performance. Not sure we can read too much into it though because Preston were so poor it is hard to judge who has cemented their place. A couple exceptions to that though : 1) Wharton was absolutely brilliant, and continuing a trend of the last few games. Seems to be a properly physical dominant defender of the old school. Was also pleasingly composed under pressure. Think he may be a real prospect for us. 2) Davenport showed some real bite and quality when he came on. With Rovers just starting on an intense seven week schedule of two games per week and the five sub rule I think he could finally get a run of games. Our system needs 2 of the 3 centre mids to get up and down and we only have Rothwell, Holtby and maybe Buckley who can do that. Surely Davenport will get a run next time we are short rather than playing Evans, Johnson or Trybull in a box to box role they can't deliver.

Yes he has the sort of engine we need from the midfield in our system.

Dolan's goal to minutes record must be exceptional?

Feeling sort of confident. Wharton and Lenihan seem to have them outmatched physically, which was the big problem last few years against Preston. Plus we've got an extra man. And they've been unbelievably crap. So we've got to see this out.

They're much better organised, but they haven't strung 2 passes together all game. Really phenomenally bad.

Preston fans watching this must be absolutely disgusted with their teams performance. They've been abject.

Woohoo!

Once big positive from this is Wharton really looks the part in a physical game like this.