Deepdale saw Championship side Preston North End welcome Premier League outfit Everton as both sides ramp up their preparations for the forthcoming season, with Ryan Lowe’s side set to kick off the EFL season at home to Sheffield United next Friday.
The Lillywhite’s lined up with Everton academy graduate Ryan Ledson and striker Will Keane, whose brother started in central defence for the Toffees.
📋 TEAM NEWS: Here's how we're lining up against Everton. 👊#pnefc pic.twitter.com/uRpTU0BS1P
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) August 3, 2024
Sam Greenwood started for Lowe’s side meanwhile new signing Stefan Teitur Thordarson started on the bench. The visitor’s XI saw Danish international Jesper Lindstrøm make his first start since joining on loan from Napoli, while new signings Jake O’Brien and Iliman Ndiaye featured on the bench
Dominic Calvert Lewin led the line with fellow Englishmen Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison occupying the flanks.
Today's Toffees to face @pnefc! 🔵 pic.twitter.com/kDsNOJb59F
— Everton (@Everton) August 3, 2024
Preston looked to make it three pre-season wins on the bounce following consecutive wins over Bamber Bridge, Salford City and Fiorentina, whereas their Premier League opponents are still searching for their first win of pre-season after defeats at Salford and Coventry City.
The hosts got us underway, carving out their first opening after Greenwood’s cross met Keane, whose soft header from six yards was comfortably caught by João Virgínia.
Dyche’s men were quick to respond after a one-two between Calvert-Lewin and Vitalii Mykolenko saw the Ukranian international’s shot on the edge of the area collected by Dai Cornell.
The first phase of the game saw both sides trying to play their pressing games before the Premier League side were awarded a penalty after Calvert Lewin was brought down in the box by Liam Lindsay following McNeil’s through ball – the striker comfortably converting to the right of the goalkeeper.
Preston immediately turned up their game, after an advantage saw a smart save drawn by Brad Potts, a first real test for the Everton shot-stopper.
New signing Greenwood acted as a thorn to the opposition, forcing a series of corners which saw openings for Andrew Hughes and Ryan Ledson, the former Toffee forcing a spectacular save to his right, denying Lowe’s side an equaliser on the 30-minute mark.
Confidence grew more from the home side with the game heavily contested in the middle of the park, with smart movement from Keane a continuous problem for his brother.
A series of chances came for the away side in the 41st minute. Lindstrøm was played through by Ashley Young to force a desperate save before Calvert-Lewin was unfortunate not to double his side’s lead after his shot flashed across goal just moments later.
The visitors carved the best chances of the half, largely of credit to new recruit Tim Iroegbunam, whose tenacity in the middle of the park won ball after ball to keep his side on the counter attack.
Despite that, the Championship side will have been encouraged going into the dressing room, with their own press causing a number of problems for the Everton defence. Central to Preston’s positives were Greenwood and Keane, with Potts and Ledson’s attempts proving a tough test for the former Reading goalkeeper.
At half-time, it was a penalty from Dominic Calvert-Lewin that placed the opposition in front.
Half time: Preston North End 0-1 Everton
Both sides were attentive to their benches at half time. Home fans will have been happy to see Emil Riis Jakobsen take to the field, with his compatriot Mads Frokjaer making way. Dyche changed his backline with former Swindon Town loanee O’Brien making his first appearance for the club since his £18 million transfer from Lyon last week. Mason Holgate and Elijah Campbell joined the Irish international with captain James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko swapped.
Preston started the second 45 with more aggression, immediately testing the Everton keeper when Robbie Brady’s cross from the left was met by Greenwood.
The 59 minute mark saw the Everton manager make his fourth change of the half, with Harrison Armstrong joining the action for Idrissa Gana Gueye.
After a worrying 15 minutes, the Toffees doubled their advantage after Calvert-Lewin managed to chest the ball perfectly into the path of O’Brien, whose composed finish found the back of the net. A debut goal for the summer arrival.
Continuing the theme of debut goals was Lindstrøm. A spectacular curled free kick in the 70th minute breezed past Cornell, deflating any hopes of Ryan Lowe’s side coming back into the game.
This saw a triple change for both sides. with Milutin Osmajic, new signing Teitur Thordarson and Jordan Storey join the game in place of Greenwood, Ledson and Lindsay. Meanwhile Beto, Neal Maupay and Iliman Ndiaye made up the Toffees’ attack in the closing 20.
As the game wore on, the chances were coming thick and fast for the Everton side, with Young’s cross in space testing the Preston defence before the full back was replaced by teenager Roman Dixon.
There was relief for Everton after Brady and Keane made way for Kian Best and Duane Holmes. The substituted pair had caused numerous headaches for the Merseyside defence.
Nearly rounding off the perfect day out was Beto, after Jack Whatmough’s closing down was just enough to force the striker’s shot narrowly wide. That was the last meaningful action of the afternoon, after a much more comfortable second half saw the Premier League side exert their quality. Nonetheless a meaningful workout for both sides with Preston causing a number of issues for Everton despite a scoreline that suggests otherwise.
EFL-made youngsters were at the forefront of Everton’s performers, with Tim Iroegbunam, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jake O’Brien among the standout performers for Sean Dyche’s men.
Robbie Brady, Will Keane and Sam Greenwood showed their quality that the home fans can be encouraged by going into the opening fixture on Friday. A useful day as Ryan Lowe prepares for his side to kick off the new Championship season in less than a week’s time.
Full time: Preston North End 0-3 Everton
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