Old Boys Weekend Round Up
On this opening weekend of the football league season there is plenty of action to report in involving former North Enders. First of all we will start with Saturday's fixtures and in particular Derby County who are were without a win in over thirty games before today's game. Tyrone Mears started for the Rams who were left looking sheepish by Brian Stock's Doncaster Rovers. Lewis Guy got the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for the Championship new boys, despite Brian Stock being wrongly credited with the goal. Claude Davis came on as a second half substitute but was unable to sure things up at the back.
Marlon Broomes, who recently joined Preston's bitter rivals Blackpool, had to make do with a place on the substitute's bench as he watched on to witness their 1-0 defeat against promotion hopefuls, Bristol City.
Former loanee and Burnley striker, Andy Gray got his 2008/2009 campaign off to a goal scoring start as he netted for Charlton to seal the points at the Valley. With the game delicately poised at one-nil, Gray eased the Addicks' nerves by putting them 2-0 with just five minutes remaining against newly promoted Swansea City.
The Rangers revolution got off to the start they would have wanted after they recorded a 2-1 win over Simon Davey's Barnsley. Patrick Agyemang was at the forefront of the QPR attack but it was Fitz Hall who got the goals - an unlikely source if ever there was one. Agyemang was later replaced by Daniel Parejo, the Real Madrid starlet who is on loan at Loftus Road. Jon Macken featured for Barnsley but was unable to prevent a defeat for the Tykes whereas Rob Kozluk was an unused substitute.
At Portman Road, Preston faced a tough challenge against Ipswich Town whose home record speaks for itself. Former loanee, Tommy Miller made a substitutes appearance in the 2-1 win as Preston ran out winners despite being a goal down after 73 seconds.
To another former loaned Preston midfielder, David Jones who made his first appearance for Mick McCarthy's Wolves against Plymouth at Home Park. 2-2 was the final score.
Keeping with the loan players theme, Tamas Priskin, who came to Alan Irvine's rescue at the back end of last season, played from the start in Watford's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, but was later substituted.
Preston's rivals from East Lancashire got off to a terrible start. Graham Alexander, the Burnley skipper was powerless to prevent the 4-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
In League One, Preston born goalkeeper David Lucas had a place on the subs bench for Leeds' in their 2-1 win over Scunthorpe at Glanford Park. Meanwhile former skipper Chris Lucketti made his debut in his second spell for Huddersfield Town as they started with a 1-1 draw with Stockport County.
Another former skipper in the shape of Sean Gregan was at the heart of Oldham's defence in the 7 goal thriller at Boundary Park. 4-3 the game finished with Oldham coming out victorious.
Another former Preston centre half featured in a high scoring game on Saturday afternoon, this time being on the receiving end. Paul Reid, who made just the one loan appearance for North End, started for Colchester United in their first game back in League One, but was powerless to prevent Hartlepool from running riot in a 4-2 win.
Elsewhere in League One, Michael Ricketts played the vast majority of Walsall's 1-1 draw with Yeovil whilst Jemal Johnson made a late substitute appearance for the MK Dons at the Walkers Stadium. The game finished 2-0 to Leicester.
In League Two where first and foremost, Paul Simpson and his Shrewsbury side got off to an emphatic start to the 2008/2009 season. Dave Hibbert got himself on the score sheet in the 4-0 win as he looks to once again be the clubs top goal scorer. Michael Jackson also featured for Shrewsbury with another former, but slightly less high profile former Preston player, Kevin Langmead took his place amongst the substitutes.
At Kenilworth Road, Kevin Nicholls started for Luton Town in what is his second spell at the cash strapped club. Despite their best efforts, Luton fell to a 3-1 defeat to Port Vale with Sam Parkin, who opted for a move to Luton ahead of Preston under Billy Davies, equalised for the hatters on 35 minutes but instead turned out to be merely a consolation.
Elsewhere in League Two, Omar Daley played the full ninety minutes for the Bantams as Bradford saw off Notts County in a 2-1 win whilst Colin Murdock was in the starting eleven for Accrington Stanley's fixture with newly promoted Aldershot, who ran out surprise winners with the score at 1-0.
Brian Barry-Murphy played the whole of Bury's 1-0 win over Brentford with Andy Bishop getting the only goal of the game.
In the Conference, Gavin Ward and Wrexham got off to a fantastic start as they began life outside of the football league win an emphatic win. A five goal hammering over Stevenage Borough did much to suggest that the Welsh outfit could have a great chance of returning to league football at the first time of asking.
On Sunday, Nottingham Forest welcomed the visit of Reading to the City Ground with former North End centre half, Kelvin Wilson at the heart of the Forest defence. Wilson, the Forest skipper put in a sterling performance as they earned their first Championship point.