Deep joy at last as Barkhuizen ruins Pulis’ comeback
ALEX NEIL’S Preston pumped up the volume to smash their home jinx to make it a miserable managerial return for Owls boss Tony Pulis.
After losing all five home games this season, North End installed 18 speakers around Deepdale complete with crowd noise hoping that the team would at last hit the right notes.
And while it wasn’t exactly AC/DC at full blast, at least it helped ensure some home comfort at long last.
For Pulis – back after an 18-month exile – it all started going off key in the 17th minute when Wednesday forward Josh Windass was sent off after a chest-high challenge on Joe Rafferty.
It was more clumsy than malicious but referee David Webb wasn’t in forgiving mood and banished the stunned striker to the dressing room.
Pulis said: “The officials will say it’s dangerous play but speaking to Sky Sports they thought it was probably harsh.
“Josh said that he was trying to flick the ball and he didn’t see their player until it was too late.
“But when you’re down to 10 men all your plans go out of the window.”
In true Pulis style, though, there was no surrender as the experienced boss rallied his troops in typically boisterous fashion from the Owls’ technical area.
But a gamble to select keeper Keiren Westwood after almost 12 months in the shadows rebounded on the former Stoke boss.
The Republic of Ireland international could only offer a weak punch to a cross from Ryan Ledson allowing Tom Barkhuizen to pounce from inside the box for the only goal in the 48th minute.
Cue relief for the home side who had until yesterday only scored once here.
Full-back Darnell Fisher can also be relieved that a grab at Owls forward Callum Paterson’s privates was not spotted with the strange incident appearing on Twitter.
Even with 10 men Wednesday carried a threat and Liam Palmer should have done better slicing wide from close range.
It all made you wonder why Pulis had exchanged the comfort of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday studio for the frustrations of a Championship Saturday.
Neil can be thankful that his side were able to replicate some of the away form which has rescued their season.
Four wins from their six travels is in stark contrast to life at Deepdale.
Assistant boss Frankie McEvoy said: “The win feels good.
“I thought right away it was a red card for their player.
“It was dangerous and if anyone tells me otherwise then I’d better get my spectacles.”
PRESTON: Rudd 6; Fisher 6, Bauer
7, Huntington 7, Rafferty 6 (Gallagher
(46th) 6); Potts 6 (Stockley (46th) 6), Ledson 7 (Pearson (72nd) 6) Johnson
6; Barkhuizen 7, Sinclair 6, Riis 6 (Maguire (71st) 6)
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY: Westwood
6; Palmer 6, Lees 6, Borner 6,
Van Aken 7; Bannan 6, Luongo 6 (Pelupessy (62nd) 6), Odubajo 6 (Rhodes (74th) 6) Reach 6; Paterson 6 (Brown 80th), Windass 5
STAR MAN: Patrick Bauer
REF: D Webb