Gary's brace punishes Preston

Gary Alexander's brace sealed another fine away victory as Reds bounced back from last week's defeat at home to Portsmouth.

Preston began the brightest as John Welsh and new signing Stuart Beavon both went close.

Crawley's first notable effort came when winger, Nicky Adams saw his 25-yard strike go just wide of 'keeper Thorston Stuckmann's top right-hand corner.

Soon after, on 26 minutes, Mat Sadler's left wing cross was headed just wide by Dannie Bulman. An opportunity for a rare goal from the fans' favourite.

Akpo Sodje was booked for Preston just prior to fracas between both sets of players as Kyle McFadzean was chopped down from behind by Lilywhites skipper Nicky Wroe. Somehow the referee felt a few words would suffice rather than a straight red card.

Wroe's challenge deserved more than just a chat

Graham Westley took off David Buchanan, a straight swap for ex-Stevenage man Joel Byrom as the second half began.

Within 3 minutes of the second half resuming, the visitors had another effort as McFadzean let fly from long range. The defender's header, however, was straight at Stuckmann.

The breakthrough finally came on 54 minutes as Adams' superb deep cross from the left hand side saw Alexander, who rose above Scott Laird to send the away stand into raptures.

Alexander added to his tally four minutes later when he turned North End centre back, Shane Cansdell-Sheriff and fired into the bottom right -hand corner with the outside of his right boot.

The Reds captain had a chance to complete his hat-trick but headed tamely at Stuckmann from another Sadler cross.

Westley decided to take off danger man Jeffrey Mounakana. The former Arsenal man making way for William Hayhurst with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.

Preston snatched a goal back at the death as an in-swinging Byrom free kick found Paul Huntington lurking in the box and the big defender fired past away 'keeper Paul Jones, just before the referee added 5 extra minutes of injury time.

One final chance fell to the home side as the natives found their voice; Wroe tried to head an effort past Jones, only for the former Peterborough stopper to tip over the bar.

Two successive corners ensued but North End couldn't find a way through a resolute defence.

REDS: P.Jones, Sadler, Connolly, McFadzean, Alexander (c), Hunt, Ajose (Clarke, 79), Bulman, Adams, Cooper, M.Jones (Walsh, 87)

Are Preston Aiming To "Do A Charlton?"

After a season of turmoil for Preston North End in the last campaign, boss Graham Westley has gone ahead with dismantling and rebuilding a squad aiming for promotion back to The Championship after two years away.

It is something that Charlton Athletic manager Chris Powell did this time last year; the Addicks chief oversaw the arrival of twelve Summer arrivals including Rhoys Wiggins and Danny Hollands from Bournemouth, Danny Green from Dagenham & Redbridge, Matt Taylor from Exeter City and Michael Morrison from Sheffield Wednesday.

Green made over 30 appearances last season

Departures from The Valley were the likes of Alan McCormack, Jose Semedo, Carl Jenkinson and regular goalkeeper Rob Elliot joining Swindon Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal and Newcastle United respectively.

It now seems as if Westley is following suit.  It's not even the end of June yet and the former Stevenage manager has already raided his former side for the services of John Mousinho (below left) and Scott Laird (below right) as well as high profile captures such as Lee Holmes from Southampton, experienced 'keeper Richard Wright from Ipswich Town along with former Shrewsbury Town duo Nicky Wroe (below centre) and Shane Cansdell-Sheriff who won promotion to League 1 with the Shrews last season.

Leaving Deepdale were the experienced Ian Ashbee and Nicky Hunt along with a number of younger players as Westley chose to wield the axe on his under-performing players.  Also leaving Preston was Neil Mellor due to injury; a player who, at League 1 level would get a team 15-20 goals a season.

So will it work? With League 1 looking a strong division once again with the likes of Coventry City, Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers, Swindon and big-spending Bournemouth, Preston won't have it all their own way.  It will take time to gel the squad, it took Westley time to bring Stevenage, or Stevenage Borough as they were back then from a Conference outfit to a decent, if physical League 1 surprise package.

For me, it's all be thrown together a little bit too quickly.  A few pieces of Westley's jigsaw that are missing are clinical strikers; Charlton had Bradley Wright-Phillips and Yann Kermorgant to fire them towards the division's summit and the Addicks had other forward options by having the likes of Danny Haynes to call upon along with a number of midfielders who could come up with a few goals like Johnny Jackson for example.

They will have to get off to a good start.  Charlton themselves went on an unbeaten 13 game run at the beginning of their promotion winning campaign - halted away at a Stevenage side managed by Westley on the 15th October.

I wish Preston luck, it won't be easy for them.  Feel it is a bit of a financial gamble (especially with Peter Ridsdale involved up there) but for me, they will be a play off side.

WESTLEY: Aiming for promotion with the Lilywhites

Come On England!

Until next week...