JANUARY SALES
...but there’s at least one Bright spark in new era
87th-minute header.
Some credit must go to a resolute Preston side, for whom Alex Baptiste and Tom Clarke were impermeable, but improving the potency of a team whose top-scorer boasts just two goals must be a priority for Lambert.
In fairness, Preston were only marginally more threatening. The fervent attentions of Jack Price and Conor Coady prevented Daniel Johnson marauding, whilst a succession or woeful deliveries – Callum Robinson was the worst culprit – made life easy for a Wolves back four expertly marshalled by Danny Batth.
The home side might have had their first penalty of the season when Marnick Vermijl tumbled under Andy Lonergan’s challenge, though it would have been soft.
“With our luck, there’s not even much point in claiming,” quipped Preston boss Simon Grayson.
But the best – indeed only – clear opportunity fell to Jordan Hugill in the 94th minute. Played in by Simon Makienok following a sloppy Kortney Hause clearDicko’s ance, the striker went clean through only to whack wastefully over the bar.
“I don’t think the DVD of this one will be on any Christmas lists,” added Grayson, whose side maintained a run of one defeat in nine.
“But it’s a point on the board and we knew it was going to be a tough game with the new manager. It was a mark of respect that they set out to stop our key players from performing. They worked and pressed us very well. Paul had clearly done his homework.”