Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom made three changes to his starting line-up for the Championship fixture away at Watford on Tuesday evening. The alterations saw Johnny Kenny handed his first start for the club, with Odel Offiah and Andrija Vukcevic also coming into the side at Vicarage Road.
Heckingbottom's reshuffle was reported by the Lancashire Evening Post following the 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers. The trio replaced Caleb Wiley, Stanley Mills, and Delano Burgzorg, who all dropped to the bench. Callum Lang, who scored twice on his 28th birthday against Blackburn, retained his place in the attack. Preston lined up in a back three formation, with Mads Frökjaer-Jensen absent from the matchday squad.
Who came into the Preston starting XI?
Johnny Kenny's inclusion was the headline team news. The forward was given his maiden start since joining the club, leading the line alongside birthday boy Callum Lang. In defence, Odel Offiah slotted into the backline, while midfielder Andrija Vukcevic was also promoted from the bench. Their arrivals were part of Heckingbottom's tactical adjustment for the trip to face a Watford side that had made six changes of their own after a "1-0 loss to West Brom.
The full Preston North End starting XI was: Iversen; Offiah, Storey, Gibson; Clarke, Leroy, Thompson, Vukcevic, Devine; Lang, Kenny. The substitutes available were Nicholls, Lindsay, Erabi, Small, Wiley, Mills, Gibbs, Moran, and Burgzorg.
What was the context of the match?
The game came at a critical point in Preston's season. Heading into the fixture, the Lilywhites sat 23rd in the Championship table with just three points from five games, having won one and lost four. Their recent form read WLLLL, with five goals scored and ten conceded for a -5 goal difference. They were already eight points behind early leaders Swansea City. The club's standings page shows the scale of the challenge ahead.
Injury issues also played a part in selection. Key players Ali McCann, Brad Potts, and Andrew Hughes were all currently sidelined, limiting Heckingbottom's options. You can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page.
How did Watford shape up?
The Hornets were also in a state of flux, naming only eight substitutes for the match. Two of those were goalkeepers, highlighting their own squad limitations. Among their bench was former Preston loanee Stephy Mavididi, who joined Watford as a deadline day loan signing from Leicester City. Watford's starting line-up featured Ravaglia in goal, with a defence including Keben, Pollock, and Coulibaly.
Preston's focus now must shift quickly to their next fixture, a home game against Lincoln City on Saturday, September 12th. Lincoln are currently 18th in the table, making it a significant opportunity for Preston to climb away from the bottom three. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. The team will need to build on any positive momentum from the Watford match as they look to address their difficult start to the campaign.
