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Preston finally promoted as Jermaine Beckford runs riot against Swindon Preston finally promoted as Jermaine Beckford runs riot against Swindon
(about 2 hours later)
Half an hour of this contest still had to be played but Preston’s supporters knew their play-off jinx was finally over. They had just seen Jermaine Beckford sweep the ball into the net to complete his hattrick and put their team 4-0 up and, almost as one, those in white got to their feet and chanted “We, are, going up! We, are, going up”. Their sense of joy and relief was almost contagious. Half an hour of this contest still had to be played but Preston’s supporters knew their play-off jinx was finally over. They had just seen Jermaine Beckford sweep the ball in to complete a hat-trick and put his team 4-0 up and, almost as one, those in white rose to their feet and chanted: “We are going up! We are going up!” The sense of joy and relief was tangible.
On nine previous occasions Preston have attempted to secure promotion via the play-offs and each and every time they have been denied. It has become a weight on the club’s shoulders, a run they have been desperate to end and Simon Grayson’s men did just that on a muggy evening in north London. On nine previous occasions Preston have attempted to secure promotion via the play-offs and every time they have been denied. It has become a weight on the club’s shoulders, a sequence they have been desperate to destroy, and Simon Grayson’s men did just that here. They were simply too much for Swindon, from first minute to last, playing with a level of intensity and ruthlessness that had Mark Cooper’s men gasping for air as early as the third minute, when Beckford struck for the first time. It was 3-0 by half-time and, ultimately, it could be said justice was done given Preston narrowly missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the League One season and finished 10 points above Swindon. Whichever way you look at it, they fully deserve this long-awaited triumph.
They were simply too much for Swindon, from first minute to last, playing with a level of intensity and ruthlessness that had Mark Cooper’s men gasping for air as early as the third minute, when Beckford struck for the first time. It was 3-0 by half-time and, ultimately, it could be said that justice was done given that Preston finished a place and 10 points above Swindon in League One. Whichever way you look at it, they fully deserve their long-awaited triumph. “We had two weeks to prepare for this match and it’s full credit to the players that they turned up on the day and executed the gameplan to a tee,” said Grayson. “We showed character and determination and finished off a job we should have completed two weeks ago.”
The good news for Swindon before kick-off was that their captain, Nathan Thompson, was fit enough to start having suffered a hamstring strain in the 5-5 semi-final second-leg draw with Sheffield United that had earned them this chance. Beckford was the undoubted star. Cooper said as much when he identified the forward as the fundamental reason why his team were so soundly beaten, and on a muggy evening came a display to remind people why five years ago he was being signed by Everton and deemed good enough to play in the Premier League.
For Preston, Paul Gallagher was also fit to start having, as expected, recovered from a foot injury suffered in their semi-final second leg, against Chesterfield, meaning Grayson’s side were unchanged. The 31-year-old was a constant menace as part of Preston’s three-man attack alongside Paul Gallagher and Joe Garner, bullying defenders, running into space and, crucially, scoring goals. His first was a close-range finish from a free-kick he won himself, while the second was a precisely placed curled finish from the edge of the area after he had quickly turned Jordan Turnbull. The third was a left-footed finish into the far corner of the net after he had been sent clean through by Garner, and with it came a place in the history books as he became just the third player to score a hat-trick in a Wembley play-off final, following on from Clive Mendonca and Scott Sinclair.
And they made a convincing start too as Beckford swept in Paul Gallagher’s free-kick from close range to open the scoring. The pair were involved in earning the set piece in the first place, with the former collecting a long, first-time pass from the latter and being fouled just outside the penalty area by Thompson. It was the Swindon captain that Beckford then beat to the ball to score and to add literal injury to insult for Thompson, he appeared to hurt a knee in the process and was carried off on a stretcher shortly after. Not surprisingly Beckford was given a standing ovation from the Preston fans upon being substituted on 67 minutes – with two fans later accused of taking the shirt he had given to a young boy upon taking his place on the bench and immediately putting it on eBay. Having now scored 18 goals since arriving from Bolton on loan in November Preston’s hope will be that he is part of the club’s Championship squad next season. Beckford has already been told by his parent club that he is no longer required there.
It got worse for Swindon 10 minutes later when Preston doubled their lead. Once again Gallagher was involved, sweeping in another cross from the left after John Welsh had shown great determination after his initial corner had been cleared. The delivery was directed right into Swindon’s six-yard area and, having made a perfectly-timed untracked run, Paul Huntington was there to convert past Wes Foderingham with the inside of a knee. “[Getting promoted] makes it easier to keep Jermaine as we can now compete financially,” said Grayson. “But money has never been his motivation, he just wants to enjoy what he’s doing and that’s what he has here. We have a special relationship and I hope we can keep that going.”
The West Country side were rocked with their supporters, located at the end of the pitch where Preston were running riot, practically silent in shock. To their credit, Swindon pushed forward in search of a goal, passing the ball quickly between themselves in the hope of creating openings. But Preston held firm, disciplined in their shape and intense in their approach. Another player Grayson will hope he can now keep is Paul Gallagher, who is on loan from Sheffield United and made a telling contribution prior to being replaced on 37 minutes after taking a kick to the calf. Having set up Beckford for the opener with a left-sided delivery, he did the same 10 minutes later, this time putting in a cross that Paul Huntington converted from close-range with the inside of his knee.
Swindon should then have scored when Michael Smith connected with Nathan Byrne’s teasing cross but he could only send his close-range header wide of the near post. And they were made to pay for that wastefulness on 44 minutes when Beckford made it 3-0 with a first-time curled shot after he had easily turned Jordan Turnbull on the edge of the penalty area. Swindon’s defending really was leaving a lot to be desired. He was completely unmarked as he struck, which summed up Swindon’s sloppiness and lack of focus on a day when, as Cooper admitted, the team let themselves down.
Prior to that, Gallagher had gone off for Preston with an injury. Any hope Swindon had that their opponents’ attacking threat went with him had been firmly laid to rest by half-time, however. Having conceded five times in their madcap semi-final second leg tie against Sheffield United, the Robins were far too open again at the back, while going forward they rarely looked liked the fluid, possession-based team that secured fourth place in League One against all expectations.
Beckford could have had his hat-trick shortly after the interval when collecting Neil Kilkenny’s pass and finding himself with a clear run on goal. Foderingham made a smart save from the resulting side-foot effort. But there was to be no denying the former Leeds forward on 57 minutes when again he found himself with a clear run towards Swindon’s goal following Joe Garner’s pass. The strike was his 18th for Preston having arrived on loan from Bolton in November. In fairness, they were put off their stride by a Preston side that displayed ravenous hunger all over the pitch, and in particular in midfield where Neil Kilkenny, John Welsh and Daniel Johnson made numerous interceptions and tackles whenever their opponents in red did advance. Indeed it was telling that Swindon had their first, and only, effort on target in the 65th minute – a Jonathan Obika header that was comfortably held by Sam Johnstone.
Not surprisingly, Beckford was given a standing ovation by the Preston fans upon being substituted after 67 minutes. Their hope now is that he is part of their Championship squad next season. “The players are sore but they should feel proud, we’ve had a brilliant season,” said Cooper. Not as brilliant as Preston, though. They have been promoted via the play-offs. Finally.
For Swindon it is a case of regrouping and reflecting on a season in which they began as relegation candidates and ended up at Wembley. They simply were not good enough here and tellingly it took until 64 minutes for them to have a first effort on target, a header from Jonathan Obika that Sam Johnstone did well to keep out.
The 22-year-old did even better to save a header from the same player shortly before the final whistle. He was not to be beaten, and neither were Preston. Finally.