Ferguson's loan rangers fire blank
Preston 0 Blackpool
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.He has been in the job less than six weeks yet Darren Ferguson has twice been on the phone to Old Trafford to ask his old man about borrowing players.
In the wake of this Lancashire stalemate, don't be surprised if Sir Alex Ferguson dispatches another youngster from Manchester United's reserves to add some quality to a Preston side which showed plenty of endeavour but lacked quality when it was needed most.
Sir Alex was in the crowd to watch his son's team and cast an eye over the progress of teenagers Danny Welbeck and Matt James, who have both moved from Old Trafford to North End on loan until the end of the season.
As the tackles flew and tempers threatened to boil over during a bruising Red Rose derby, the young duo will have learned more from the 90 minutes they endured on Saturday than any reserve game.
"They've come down to the Championship and they're getting kicked all game," Jon Parkin, the Preston forward, said afterwards.
The arrival of Welbeck and James from United has not gone unnoticed on the Fylde Coast. At one point Blackpool's 5,000 travelling fans chanted sarcastically at Fergie Jnr: "Daddy, daddy help me out". But Brett Ormerod was not laughing.
The Blackpool forward could have done with some help himself after an astonishing second- half miss let his former club off the hook and left him apologising to his team-mates afterwards.
Preston North End (4-4-2): Lonergan; Hart, Mawene, St Ledger, Jones; Sedgwick (Brown, 80), Coutts, James, Wallace; Welbeck, Parkin. Substitutes not used: Henderson (gk), Collins, Chilvers, Carter, Treacy, Mellor.
Blackpool (4-3-3): Gilks; Baptiste, Evatt, Edwards, Crainey; Southern, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher; Burgess, Campbell, Ormerod. Substitutes not used: Rachubka (gk), Butler, Martin, Bangura, Husband, Euell, Dobbie.
Referee: M Jones (Chester).
Booked: Preston North End St Ledger; Blackpool Vaughan.
Man of the match: Parkin.
Attendance: 19,840.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments