The 'Preston Plumber'

Preston North End are the very definition of a mid-table Championship club and that's where they are ahead of tomorrow's fixture, just above us in the table: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/12/preston-need-to-do-better-but-few-signs.html

When I first started supporting Charlton in the 1950s, a visit by Preston was the cause of some excitement as one of their players was Tom Finney, the so-called 'Preston Plumber' because of the plumbing business he ran on the side and eventually retired to.

I'm not sure that I ever saw Finney as in my first year of support we played on a Thursday and the following year he was in an England v. Scotland game.  Finney was a versatile attacking player who could operate as centre forward or on either wing.

Preston were once known as the 'Invincibles' as they dominated the Football League when it was first founded, becoming the first team to win the 'double'.  I visited the football museum when it was originally located there before it moved to Manchester.

At the beginning of the season I forecast this game as a 2-2  and I will stick to that prediction.  They are the away draw specialists of the Championship, having drawn nine games on the road.

Preston had a strong start to the season but one win in 12 league matches between mid-January and mid-March derailed their play-off prospects.  They are now third from bottom in the form table.

They head to the Valley unbeaten in three, taking five points from a possible nine. It will be their first visit to SE7 since November 2019, Paul Gallagher scoring in a 1-0 win.

“They have been a Championship side for as long as my memory goes back,” Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley. “They are a really good Championship side. They recruit well and are very structured in what they do. They have been able to build on a solid foundation for years and years - I remember Alex Neil’s Preston with the players they had like Gallagher, Ben Pearson and Daniel Johnson.

“They either nearly, or did, get to the play-offs. They have been that type of side that has been a really good Championship side for years and they continue to do that.

Getting his excuses in early, Jones said: “They are a very tough test, are very experienced and have threats in certain areas. It is another difficult Championship test.”

Manager Paul Heckingbottom has condemned racial abuse directed at former Addick Thierry Small: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4g89jkwp1vo

The Preston supremo is also expecting a 'tough contest in SE7: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2026/april/09/-long-may-it-continue----hecky-previews-gentry-day-at-charlton/

Charlton fans should be aware that 'Gentry Day' is when Preston fans commemorate fellow fans who have passed away.

According to CAS Trust, Preston rely on crosses to create many of their chances: https://www.castrust.org/2026/04/the-gentlemen-of-preston/

Defeat seems likely at Preston

Preston North End consider that they have been knocking on the door of the Premier League for some time now, but although they often get close, their form tends to desert them t some point in the season. They have not won in their last five games and are fifth from bottom in the form table. Charlton are now actually above them, although in the real table the original Invincibles are 10th and the Addicks are 19th.

Without Conor Gallagher and with a side still weakened by injury, everything points to a defeat for Charlton at Preston. This will trigger a new wave of trepidation from relegation forecasters.

Preston have won their last three league games against Charlton but they have never won four in a row against the Addicks. Charlton have won one of their last 19 away league matches against Preston (W1 D5 L13), a 2-0 victory in November 2007.

Preston have won just two of their last 12 games in all competitions (D3 L7), losing each of their last three at home. Charlton have had the fewest shots (247) and faced the most shots (426) in the Championship this season.

Since winning three league games in a row against Blackburn, Charlton and Huddersfield, Preston have scored just six Championship goals in 11 games - four fewer than any other side in that time.

Only Wigan (24) and Blackburn (19) have dropped more points from winning positions than Charlton (17) in the Championship this season.

Whatever happened to Olafur who returned to Iceland under a cloud?

I have friends who are making the long trek to Preston and I admire their loyalty and dedication. You may recall that one time VOTV columnist and self-proclaimed No.1 Iceland Addick Olafur Johnansson once turned up in Preston in the belief that Southend were the counterpart of North End. Someone even managed to convince him that Tranmere Rovers played in the Lake District, but at least he saw a lot of scenery.

The trek up north

I know there are some northern exiles who are Addicks who can only feasibly go to away matches in the north of England. Whether they will be tempted by tomorrow night's game at Preston North End is an interesting question. Yet there are some Addicks who are making the long trek north, including one from Portsmouth.

Preston are currently a form team in the Championship, 8th in the form table, 10th in the actual table. They may consider that they have an outside chance of making the play offs. On Saturday they beat Sheffield Wednesday who are in the play off places. Their home record over the season is, however, mixed: won six, drawn six, lost four. However, they have lost just one of their last nine Championship matches.

They will have done their homework on Charlton and know about our vulnerability defending at corners. They will also know that we can't score goals. We have scored only eleven of those all season, four at Rotherham. It's difficult to see a happy ending at Deepdale.

Jordan Cousins will be travelling with the squad after being out through injury.

Odds: Preston 8/13, Draw 11/4, Charlton 19/4.

Addicks favourites to win promotion

Charlton are favourites to win promotion to the Championship next season. At least that's the view of this Preston North End site which gives a through overview of the Addicks from the perspective of the relegated club: Preston

Preston exhausted

Preston North End's players are so exhausted that they are taking the unusual step of a three day break in advance of Saturday's match at The Valley: Fatigue

Apparently they find the length of the journey intimidating. Whether they will be intimidated by the Charlton team is another matter, although I think the Addicks could actually win this match, irrelevant though it is.

There are doubts about keeper Rob Elliot who has a back problem, although he has been training. If he isn't available, Darren Randolph, who has been doing well in training may replace him, although Nicky Weaver could also be available after playing in the reserves. Butterfield and Youga also have fitness problems.