Sports
Match Report – Boro vs Preston North End: Wilder searches for his first win as Boro left rocked by loss at home to Preston

Middlesbrough took the lead in the first half through Paddy McNair’s powerful header as the visitors left it late to take the spoils.
Striker Ched Evans’s header from a whipped in corner in the 77th minute levelled the game as PNE gained the momentum.
Emil Riis Jakobsen then smashed home the winner 4 minutes later after a defensive calamity from defend Sol Bamba who failed to clear the ball.
Boro had no response in the remaining minutes as Chris Wilder looks for his first win in charge of the Teeside club.
The new boss saw his side dominate for large periods on Saturday against Millwall and fail to get over the line. It was a similar story against Preston on Tuesday evening.
The home side took the lead in the 33rd minute as Paddy McNair smashed his header past the helpless Daniel Iverson after the corner from Jonny Howson found its way into the path of the Boro man.
Wilder’s side were unable to increase their lead despite having a number of chances.

Credit @theboroofficial instagram
PNE goalkeeper Iverson was in unstoppable form, turning Duncan Watmore’s driven effort over the bar just before half-time.
After the break, Lee Peltier’s smashed shot was tipped onto the crossbar before the 24-year-old Danish keeper was called upon again to make a diving save from striker Sporar’s low effort.
Despite being under pressure for most of the game, McAvoy’s side soaked up the Boro onslaught and equalised through Ched Evans, who played under Wilder at Sheffield United, with just 13 minutes left on the clock.
His header nestled into the net after the corner from midfielder Ben Whiteman cannoned off the head of the veteran attacker.
Just four minutes later, the side from the North-West took an unlikely lead after a decent counter-attack. They dispossessed Boro on the edge of their own box and turned defence into attack.
After the referee waved away a handball claim when Tavernier’s shot was blocked in the penalty area, Preston found themselves in the lead.
Sol Bamba’s clumsy clearance deflected off the leg of McNair straight to the feet on Striker Jakobsen. The Dane made no mistake, smashing his shot into the back of the net past Luke Daniels.
The visitors scored from both their shots on target as Boro were unable to respond with just nine minutes left – much to the frustration of the Riverside crowd.
The 2-1 defeat meant Preston avoided their third straight defeat. The home side now fall a place behind the Lilywhites in the Championship table and sit in 15th position.
Preston North End face a challenging proposition at home on Saturday as they invite table-toppers Fulham to the North-West, with striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in great goalscoring form.
Middlesbrough are six points adrift from QPR in the play-off places and need some much-needed momentum heading into the challenging Christmas period. They currently find themselves dropping down the table week by week and but are still eight points above the relegation zone.
Their recent run will worry the team and fans alike who were left frustrated once again after the home loss on Tuesday evening.
Wilder will be hoping to get his first win as new boss on Saturday. His team travel to Yorkshire to face promotion hopefuls Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The crunch games come thick and fast.
What did the managers say?
Middlesbrough manager, Chris Wilder said:
“I thought Preston were the better side for the first 10. We got to grips with that. We got ourselves up in the game and for the amount of chances we have had we should have increased our lead.
He added:
“In the second half we were not so dominant, but there was nothing from the opposition that changed the flow. We were still in the ascendancy. What affected the game was our attitude towards it.
“For the period where we lost it we played like we were three or four up. We weren’t, we were one up. If you are only one up then things can turn around. Even if we were three or four up I don’t want to play like that. I thought we tried to force it, there were too many looking to be the star of the show, looking for the killer ball. The top and bottom of it is that we have lost a game we should have comfortably won.”
Preston’s Frankie McAvoy said:
“It was the players who delivered on the pitch. We started the game well, we were brave. We had a couple of good shouts for penalty kicks in the first half, one in particular looks a stone-waller; the other I could see that given as well. We conceded from a corner kick again, we have worked hard on those, that’s disappointing.
He added:
“In the main we defended well. That is now four wins in the last seven games. The biggest thing is the team spirit we have, it has always been there despite what other people think. The fans were magnificent as well. I am delighted we have won it.”
Post-match thoughts? Will Wilder get his first win on Saturday? Can Boro make the play-offs this season?
Join in the conversation and have your say…
Featured
Newcastle United to Reveal New Shirt Sponsor?

footballinsider247 are reporting that the main shirt sponsor slot for Newcastle United is expected to be filled by airline SAUDI, who sponsored Newcastle’s mid-season tour of their owners’ homeland in December.
They state ‘This site revealed in February that there is frustration at St James’ Park that they have inherited a kit deal with Castore worth just £5m per year with no break clause and several seasons left to run.’
Newcastle’s recently appointed CEO Darren Eales has already previously expressed that the club at looking at all commercial opportunities and fans on Twitter were keen to mock up their expectation for the new shirts, see below and let us know your thoughts and also see our below video on how NUFC can increase commercial avenues..
Eddie Howe’s team are currently in a strong position to achieve a European slot which would increase revenue into the club allowing more spend whilst staying within Financial Fair Play which is something Howe has spoken about on several occasions as they look to stay within. If the club do reach a European slot it should help significantly with recruitment in the summer by making it a more attractive proposition to any incoming targets.
What do you think of the kits – let us know on our facebook page and join in on the conversation.
You can also download our FREE app – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates
Credit: NUFC kit concept – twitter
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Featured
Amazon filming Newcastle United for “All or Nothing” style documentary

Amazon Prime are currently filming behind-the-scenes footage at Newcastle United for a new documentary.
The docu-series will provide an insight into the club and its efforts to secure a top-four finish and a piece of silverware in the 2022-23 season.
Reports today revealed that camera crews have been filming a four-part documentary for their All or Nothing series. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie confirmed that the series will cover the club and the new owners as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy.
The All or Nothing series has previously documented other Premier League Clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Spurs as well as the Brazilian national team, Juventus, and the All Blacks of rugby.
Something I mentioned last night on @tfNUFC: Camera crews have been filming behind-the-scenes at Newcastle United for a four-part documentary to be shown on Amazon.
The series will chart the club & its owners as they attempt to win a trophy & qualify for The Champ League #NUFC— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) February 8, 2023
Newcastle face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on February 26 at Wembley.
🗓️ 26.02.23@ManUtd 🆚 @NUFC #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/V23zWPDoxP
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 1, 2023
The Magpies have featured three times in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Most recently in the 2003-04 season as they reached the third qualifying round, eventually losing on penalties to Serbian side FK Partizan.
The season before the Toon finished third in the 2002-03 Champions League group stages, winning twice against Bayer Leverkusen and drawing with Inter Milan 2-2 at the San Siro. The lineup that night; Given, Solano, O’Brien, Dyer, Shearer (C), Bellamy, Speed, Griffin, Hughes, Dabizas and Viana.
The series is expected to air later this year and will be available on Amazon Prime.
Based on previous seasons, you can expect exclusive access to training sessions, team meetings and match days, giving fans an in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis at Newcastle United.
It is set to be an incredible storyline and one that should provide fans with some real insight into what it takes to compete at the top level of professional football.
What do you think Newcastle fans?
Does this excite you or do you stand more with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who once said the cameras could be intrusive to the dressing room when he turned down the offer from Amazon In 2018?
Join the conversation on our Facebook page…
Sports
Newcastle target rejects Everton move following £45m bid.

Everton have made a £40million bid with £5m in add-ons to sign Connor Gallagher from Chelsea.
This comes after Newcastle completed the signing of Anthony Gordon, the club’s second most expensive transfer behind Alexander Isak.
Everton received an initial fee of £40m plus add-ons that could increase the deal to £45m.
EXCL: Everton have submitted a bid to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea. It’s £40m proposal plus £5m add ons. 🚨🔵 #EFC
Chelsea will make a decision soon as there are also other clubs interested in Gallagher — and player has to decide his future too. pic.twitter.com/xZeuGqaR01
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 30, 2023
The Toffees currently sit 19th in the Premier League and are looking to reinvest the money from the Gordon deal to sign much-needed players under newly appointed manager Sean Dyche.
But, multiple sources have reported today that Gallagher is not actively pushing for a move and has no intention of going to Goodison Park. However, with Chelsea having met the record-breaking €120m release clause for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, Gallagher may be forced to leave the club if the transfer is complete.
🚨| Conor Gallagher is not interested in a move to Everton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0CYzXjBoBd
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 30, 2023
This leaves Newcastle an option as the player would prefer a move to a top-six club.
This morning, Eddie Howe said, “We’ll see what we can do to try & bring a player in. There’s no guarantees. In terms of permanent signings, it will be very difficult. We’ll look at a potential loan. But it’s got to be the right player & not one for the sake of it”.
Due to financial fair play, the only way Newcastle could sign the player is through a loan, with an obligation to buy the player for at least £45m, the same price they paid for Anthony Gordon.
Gallagher has been playing regular Premier League football over the last two seasons. Since returning to his parent club Chelsea, the 22-year-old has been linked with a move away to numerous Premier League clubs.
Last season he was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Season by their fans. He also won the Player of the Month award twice, Goal of the Month once, and was awarded the Young Player of Year at the 2022 London Football Awards.
In the same season, he made 36 appearances scoring eight goals and registering three assists that earned Palace a 12th-place finish, one point behind Newcastle.
Have Your Say!
Would you want Newcastle to sign Conor Gallagher?
Does he start?
Let us know on our Facebook page!
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