Preston North End 2-2 West Ham Utd

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 21st July 2018

West Ham were forced to share the spoils at Deepdale this afternoon as hosts Preston came from behind to snatch a draw.

Manuel Pellegrini's side, featuring five of the seven new signings made so far this summer were pegged back twice by Championship North End on a hot and sunny day in Lancashire.

Marko Arnautovic continued his good form from last season by opening the scoring after just seven minutes. when converting a quickly-taken Mark Noble free kick having caught the home defenders flat-footed and unprepared.


However Preston were back on level terms five minutes ahead of the half time whistle when the hosts also profited from a free kick, with Tom Clarke converting Paul Gallagher's delivery from wide right.

West Ham regained the lead shortly before half time when Arnautovic fired home his second of the day, turning on the spot and firing into the corner following some good work from new arrival Andriy Yarmolenko.


And they should have extended their lead further on 62 minutes when Ryan Fredericks won a penalty after being felled inside the Preston box, only for Mark Noble to rather uncharacteristically fail to find the net following a fine save by Chris Maxwell.

Preston thought they had levelled for a second time when Clarke had the ball in the net following a 71st minute free kick but he was adjudged to have been offside.

Sadly West Ham weren't quite so lucky six minutes later when Bodin took advantage of some good work by Preston substitute Clarke before finding the net, with Hammers goalkeeper Adrian well beaten.

West Ham might have snatched a late winner when Robert Snodgrass' deep cross was firmly planted goalwards by the head of Toni Martinez, only for 'keeper Maxwell to pull off a fine save and divert the Spanish forward's header onto the woodwork.

So in the end, Pellegrini's side had to settle for a draw on the third leg of their pre-season tour.

Embed from Getty Images


West Ham Utd: Adrian, Fredericks, Diop (Ogbonna 79), Rice, Obiang, Noble, Wilshere (Haksabanovic 46), Snodgrass, Yarmolenko (Holland 65), Masuaku (Zabaletta 79), Arnautovic (Martinez 74).

Subs not used: Trott, McCullen, Samuelsen, Coventry.

Goals: Arnautovic (7, 45).

Preston North End: Maxwell, Fisher, Clarke, Davies, Earl (Hughes 65), Pearson (Ledson 20), Gallagher (Harrop 77), Horgan, Browne, Barkhuizen (Bodin 66), Moult (Maguire 77).

Subs not used: Rudd, Robinson, Johnson, Storey, Woods, Burke, Huntington.

Goals: Clarke (40), Bodin (77).

Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire).

Attendance: 5,960 (940 West Ham).

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