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Burnley lined up as expected after our recent good run, with Steven Thompson coming back in up top. Alan Irvine meanwhile pulled a managerial masterstroke by electing to play Jo Brand alongside the bustling Neil Mellor; Caldwell asserted his authority and marked the female comedienne. Mind you she did display a little more movement than her obvious replacement Jon Parkin.
Our Lancastrian rivals often attempt to make light of their trips to the hills to play us and clearly Mellor's strike partner is in dire need of altitude training as he was struggling for oxygen throughout the first half.
The Clarets really should have netted in the opening moments, just like last year, thanks to a lazy back pass from Darren Carter. Pato attempted to do a Jay but took the ball slightly too wide of the keeper, subsequently blazing over with his left peg.
It took some time for the game to settle, as both teams struggled to impose themselves, with both defences on top. It wasn't until half way through the first half that the deadlock was broken, when we conceded a very sloppy opener. Stephen Jordan lost the ball in midfield having advanced too far; the ball was switched out to the otherwise pedestrian Sedgwick who dinked the ball into our box, where the bang in form Steven Caldwell produced a weak header which the on rushing Nicholson lashed into the bottom corner. The inquest involved Caldwell and Jensen, the inference being that our skipper wanted our keeper to claim the cross.
For 10 minutes or so Preston were relatively comfortable, with the excellent Youl Mawene mopping up our attacks, that was until we won a free kick by the right touchline. As we loaded up the box, Alexander switched it in field to Joey, who lined up a shot from considerable distance, "Don't shoot" I shouted. Thankfully the advice was not taken and he unleashed an absolute pearler which dipped spectacularly past Lonnie Donegan in front of the bunch of lemons in the Cricket Field Stand, Turf Moor erupted!
We then went on to finish the half strongly with Graham Alexander starting to exert an influence, shooting just wide and crossing for Steven Thompson whose header forced Lonnie to tip round the post. Wade Elliott, who was strangely off colour, also forced a late corner with a cross come shot. So half time arrived with the match very much in the balance, but it was us who had the momentum.
The third goal was going to be vital and once again Graham Alexander played a part in creating it, as he floated over a free kick to the back stick where the immense Clarke Carlisle won yet another header, which fell to an unmarked Caldwell who hooked home from just outside the 6 yard box. I was confident at that point with the way we are defending that we would go on and win it, there's a solidity about us with Alexander in front of the back four which makes us very difficult to break down.
The job certainly became easier for us when Callum Davidson stopped Joey from galloping clear with his hand, an easy decision for Lee Mason which left the PNE faithful wishing they'd brought on Jim Davidson instead of Callum.
As we all know, playing against 10 can be a tricky proposition on occasions, but this time our midfield completely monopolised the ball and we never looked in danger. The only way they were going to get back into it was a set play and we were brilliant at keeping infringements to a bare minimum.
Allied to this were the fantastic bursts up the pitch from Chris McCann who is relishing his more progressive midfield role with Alexander in the holding role. It seems to me that he is much more powerful this season, which is helping him get past people thus committing defenders and freeing up space for his team mates.
As the game wore on a camp looking Owen Coyle (pull the socks down please Owen!) brought on an array of attacking talent in Robbie, Jay and Chris Eagles. There's something about Chris Eagles, you can just tell the way he addresses the ball. He effortlessly glides past people and commits the opposition to rash tackles with his injections of pace. Once OC improves his decision making (he missed a golden opportunity to play in Martin Paterson on the left side of the area), this guy will flourish at this level.
Fittingly it was Eagles who issued the coup de grace as he hared through the middle after fantastic work from McCann to lash it home and ensure that all us Clarets were in for a magnificent weekend.
It was a thoroughly deserved win, we didn't play as fluently as we did against Blackpool, but there were some great displays from Caldwell, Alexander and McCann, although there was only one choice for man of the match and that rightly went to Clarke Carlisle who had an absolutely blinding game.
Preston to me lacked both ability and pace, they were crying out for Simon Whaley, whereas we certainly possess ability when you can bring on Eagles and Blake. We've a bigger squad this time out so we are well capable of a significant improvement this season.
Yesterday was one of those days, when you realise what watching footy is all about, a really enjoyable day capped off by the dejected looks of the PNE followers as they headed back to their massive city with no points. Gloating? Too bloody true.