The ACN Review: Preston (h) | OneFootball

How did we play?

We played well enough to nudge back into the top half of the Championship. We can wax lyrical about the first half. We can shrug our shoulders at the second half. We can talk about Kvistgaarden’s scrappy performance, Pelle being a legend in the making, or Kenny’s free kick. But ultimately this game was the marker for something bigger: the recovery and resurgence of a club that was dead and buried in November. Under Big Phil we’re averaging almost two points a game and he’s engineered that with a team no stronger overall than the one Manning had. It was a special day in the sun. 

What was the best bit of the game?

Kenny’s free kick was sublime. I’ve watched close to a 100 times now, from five different angles. It wasn’t unprecedentedly good but in the context of this season it’s up there as a moment. It was a thing of beauty. 

What was the worst bit of the game?

It’s slim pickings for this category. Ben Chrisene’s exit with yet another injury was a bit of a dampener. 

What was the atmosphere like?

Everyone was feeling fine. The lack of jeopardy on the pitch kept things at a low simmer rather than anything especially noteworthy, mirroring what the team was up to for the second half. 

But we did need to talk about Clement. The lack of a good song is reaching a crisis point. I’m loath to go too hard here — not least because I have no solution to offer. This man deserves so, so much more than “he’s got no hair, we don’t care” sung at triple speed. 

Hero of the match?

Kenny is not my favourite player. I’ve been firmly in the doubters camp for several years. But his performances since Clement came in have been superb. And his free kick to settle this game means it’s probably time to accept that I was wrong and the McLeaniacs were right. 

Summary in Five Words

Great escape to playoff chase.