Preston North End f.C. vs Tottenham lineups
The FA Cup comes to Lancashire as Tottenham Hotspur makes the trip to Deepdale on Saturday evening. Preston has won three games out of four in the competition and lies two points off sixth in a congested race for promotion this term.
Spurs have already beaten Portsmouth 1-0 at home earlier this month and will be hoping for more. They could even be in with a chance of making the fifth round if Harry Kane is fit.
Ryan Lowe
Lowe has been at the helm of Preston North End for the past two years, but before that, he spent time in charge at Bury. He also coached the England Under-21 side and was the assistant to the manager at Plymouth Argyle, who he guided to promotion from League One last season.
After a slow start to the season, Lowe has presided over five wins and one draw so far this campaign. He has been praised for his expansive football style, and his side has looked strong defensively but a little goal shy on the attack.
He clearly knows what he wants to do with the team, and he has been working on his tactics for the game against Tottenham Hotspur this week. He will be without key players Liam Delap and Troy Parrott, but he has some options for his midfield.
The North End boss has a good record against Tottenham in recent years and will want to ensure his side can escape from Deepdale with the three points. He will likely look to start Freddie Woodman in goal, with Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, and Andrew Hughes completing the back line.
In the middle of the park, it looks as though Ryan Ledson and Ben Whiteman will continue to hold down their places in the starting XI, with the possibility of Tom Cannon coming into play up front with Ched Evans. Alan Browne has been in fine form recently and could see himself moving to right wing-back, while Robbie Brady will hope to hold onto his spot over Alvaro Fernandez after impressing at Birmingham City last Saturday.
With Tottenham’s lineup likely to be unchanged, the game will be important for both sides. A win for either side would ensure they move on to the fifth round of the FA Cup, where they will face each other again next month.
A victory against Tottenham would be a huge boost for both teams, and it will not be a surprise to see both sides take the three points at Deepdale. It will be a matchup between two of the strongest teams in the Championship and a very entertaining affair.
Antonio Conte
A former player at local club Lecce, Conte has become one of the most successful coaches in Europe, with stints at Juventus, the Italian national team, and Chelsea among his most illustrious achievements. He has won 5 Serie A titles, 2 Champions Leagues and is a former Italy captain.
In his final managerial position, he managed Tottenham Hotspur to fourth in last season’s Premier League and was expected to go on to challenge for the title this time around. But despite significant spending in the summer, Spurs have struggled to deliver.
They have won only seven points in their previous seven games against top teams and were beaten in their opening game of the new campaign by a Manchester City side without Conte for health reasons. It has left Tottenham in fifth place in the league, two points behind Arsenal and three ahead of Everton.
This is also the first match since they sacked Conte and appointed Cristian Stellini as their acting head coach. The former Lazio manager started with a 1-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League on Monday and has named seven changes to his lineup for this clash.
Heung-min Son and Ivan Perisic have been called up to the squad after impressing in the FA Cup on Saturday and are both starting in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation. Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski are also back from injuries and are in the midfield.
However, it’s a different story at the back, with Emerson Royal and Liam Delap missing out as they are cup-tied. Despite this, the Lilywhites are still strong and should be able to pick up another important win against Tottenham.
While many will expect an easy win, it’s impossible to ignore that Spurs have lost their past four league games against Preston North End. It’s their first time beaten at Deepdale in 10 years.
As a result, it will be an interesting battle between the two sides in this fourth-round FA Cup tie. If the Lilywhites can put in a strong performance, it’ll boost the club’s morale and give them some extra momentum moving into the season.
Liam Delap
Liam Delap will be looking to make an impact in his Preston North End debut as the club looks to bounce back from an underwhelming display against Luton Town. The 20-year-old had several chances to score at MKM Stadium but was substituted before the break and has yet to record his first goal for the club this season.
The former Derby County starlet has had a few injuries this year, including a knee injury against Rotherham United, but is set to be recalled from his loan at Stoke City this weekend. He has started four games for PNE this season, with two being early substitute appearances against Norwich City and Luton Town.
While he is still young, Delap has already impressed in the U23 side, scoring 24 goals and providing eight assists last season. He thinks he will get to play more this season after signing a new three-year deal with Manchester City.
As he continues to develop, he must decide whether to stay in the Premier League or move on to a bigger European club next year. Plenty of clubs have the financial means to give him the experience he needs, but it could be difficult to pick the right one.
He has been linked with Burnley, West Bromwich Albion, and West Ham United. But it seems he is now close to signing with Stoke City, according to The Athletic.
The defender is a real threat on the ball with his dribbling ability, and he can wriggle away from defenders in tight areas. He is also a very strong shot.
During his time with the England U19 team, he was named in the squad for their final group game against Israel and scored the lone goal during that match. He then came off the bench in extra time to help Aaron Ramsey score a late winner as the England side won the tournament.
He has been with Burton Albion and Manchester City in his career. He has made 458 appearances for both teams, with 61 goals.
Troy Parrott
Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End will meet in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening, with the Londoners aiming to secure a place in the last sixteen. The hosts will have a tough task ahead of them as they go up against a side that is currently 11th in the Championship, although they have only lost two of their last five home matches.
The Lancashire club has struggled to stay in the league in recent years, but they are still looking for a first trophy since 2005. They are also currently amid four successive defeats, and while they have managed to pick up a narrow win over Fulham on Monday night, it will be tough to avoid suffering another setback at Deepdale.
There’s a strong chance this game will feature some of the latest talents in Tottenham’s ranks, as the England international Harry Kane hopes to get back to his best in front of goal. With the striker now level with Jimmy Greaves on 266 goals, he will have his sights set on a new personal record when the two teams come up against each other at Deepdale.
Meanwhile, Parrott will be hoping to build on the impressive performance he put in against Norwich City on Tuesday. The promising 20-year-old made a big impression on the league stage for MK Dons last season, scoring nine goals in a successful loan spell.
He’s now on a season-long loan at Championship club Preston, where he’s been allowed to prove himself in the first team. He’s already played 15 senior matches for the Republic of Ireland and scored his most recent goal against Scotland in June.
Both sides will have their work cut out for them in this game, with Tottenham’s weakened lineups containing several young players who could be facing a huge test of their legs against a side struggling to break down the opposition. It will be a tough battle between two sides who are both desperate for victory, so the match will likely be an entertaining and exciting affair.
