UK Edition
Harry Wilson shines but Derby County and Preston play out stalemate
Preston 0 Derby County 0
Much as Frank Lampard wants to keep Harry Wilson at Derby next year, every performance like this makes it less likely he will get his wish.
The Liverpool loanee has become a specialist in the spectacular and while he did not add to his nine long-range goals this season, he was inches away from a double as Derby missed the chance to go fifth.
After Wilson struck the woodwork twice from 25 yards, Lampard tipped him for the top, but Derby could drop out of the play-offs on Saturday after Preston’s second-half onslaught left them hanging on for a draw.
“I have been massively impressed with Harry’s shooting,” said Lampard. “It is a great attribute for him. With the all-round game he has got and the rate at which he is improving, it will be a weapon for him and it will take him a long way in his career.”
Wilson almost added two more memorable goals as his ferocious shot rebounded off the bar and a long-range drive beat goalkeeper Declan Rudd and cannoned back off the post. He also supplied the game’s finest pass to release Tom Lawrence, who sliced his shot wide.
But while Preston’s only first-half chances came from Paul Gallagher corners, with January signing Jayden Stockley heading wide and shooting over, manager Alex Neil changed the game with a half-time tactical rejig.
“The second half was better from us and if we had got that first goal, we felt we would have gone on to win the game,” Neil said.
Kelle Roos had to justify Lampard’s decision to prefer him to a fit-again Scott Carson and the Dutch keeper blocked Darnell Fisher’s low shot and Gallagher’s volley.
“It’s not a beautiful result,” said Lampard, but his defensive substitutions helped a makeshift rearguard preserve a point.
Match details
Preston North End (4-2-3-1): Rudd; Fisher, Davies, Storey, Hughes; Pearson, Gallagher (Barkhuizen 79); Stockley (Nmecha 65), Browne, Potts; Maguire.
Subs: Ripley (g) Earl, Clarke, Johnson, Ledson. Booked Pearson.
Derby County (4-3-3): Roos; Holmes, Tomori, Keogh, Malone; Bryson, Evans, Wilson; Waghorn (Bennett 65), Nugent (Wisdom 69), Lawrence.
Subs: Carson (g), Jozefzoon, Johnson, MacDonald, Huddlestone. Booked Malone.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).
Attendance: 12,124