(N)
Preston North End FC
Ian Lindsay
Watford
James Tucker
Youth Cup Final
Head To Head Results
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON |  | - |  | - |  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 5 | | | 1 | - | 0 | - | 0 |
| 4 | 21 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 3 | | | 1 | - | 1 | - | 0 |
| 5 | 32 | FA SHIELD SEMIFINALS | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 0 |
| 6 | 2 | AP Cup Group (1) | | 5 | - (n) | 2 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| 9 | 13 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 2 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 9 | 31 | FA CUP SEMIFINALS | | 0 | - (n) | 1 | | | 3 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 9 | 34 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 4 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 10 | 13 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 5 | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 10 | 34 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 3 | | | 5 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 12 | 13 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 6 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 12 | 34 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 2 | | | 7 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 20 | 1 | FA Cup Round 1 | | 4 | - | 0 | | | 8 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 21 | 42 | YOUTH CUP FINAL | | 3 | - (n) | 2 | | | 9 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 23 | 2 | AP Cup Group (1) | | 2 | - (n) | 5 | | | 10 | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 25 | 13 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 10 | - | 3 | - | 2 |
| 25 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - (n) | 2 | | | 11 | - | 3 | - | 2 |
| 25 | 34 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 11 | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| 27 | 4 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 12 | - | 3 | - | 3 |
| 27 | 21 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 12 | - | 4 | - | 3 |
| 30 | 19 | AP Cup Quarterfinals | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 12 | - | 4 | - | 4 |
| 31 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - (n) | 2 | | | 13 | - | 4 | - | 4 |
| 32 | 4 | 1st Division | | 4 | - | 1 | | | 13 | - | 4 | - | 5 |
| 32 | 10 | FA Cup Round 2 | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 13 | - | 4 | - | 6 |
| 32 | 21 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 14 | - | 4 | - | 6 |
| 33 | 15 | AP Cup Round 2 | | 2 | - | 3 | | | 15 | - | 4 | - | 6 |
| 33 | 17 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 15 | - | 5 | - | 6 |
| 33 | 38 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 4 | | | 16 | - | 5 | - | 6 |
| 34 | 2 | AP Cup Group (1) | | 4 | - (n) | 1 | | | 16 | - | 5 | - | 7 |
| 34 | 13 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 17 | - | 5 | - | 7 |
| 34 | 34 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 17 | - | 6 | - | 7 |
| 35 | 13 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 17 | - | 6 | - | 8 |
| 35 | 33 | Youth Cup Quarterfinals | | 1 | - (n) | 2 | | | 18 | - | 6 | - | 8 |
| 35 | 34 | 1st Division | | 5 | - | 2 | | | 18 | - | 6 | - | 9 |
| 36 | 24 | Youth Cup Round 1 | | 0 | - (n) | 1 | | | 19 | - | 6 | - | 9 |
| 39 | 17 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 19 | - | 7 | - | 9 |
| 39 | 38 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 19 | - | 8 | - | 9 |
| 40 | 8 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 1 | | | 20 | - | 8 | - | 9 |
| 40 | 26 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 20 | - | 8 | - | 10 |
| 43 | 7 | AP Cup Group (3) | | 6 | - (n) | 1 | | | 20 | - | 8 | - | 11 |
| 43 | 18 | FA Cup Quarterfinals | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 20 | - | 8 | - | 12 |
| 44 | 4 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 1 | | | 20 | - | 9 | - | 12 |
| 44 | 21 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 2 | | | 20 | - | 9 | - | 13 |
| 45 | 42 | YOUTH CUP FINAL | | 0 | - (n) | 2 | | | 20 | - | 9 | - | 14 |
| 46 | 19 | AP Cup Quarterfinals | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 9 | - | 15 |
| 47 | 10 | FA Cup Round 2 | | 3 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 9 | - | 16 |
| 48 | 10 | FA Cup Round 2 | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 20 | - | 10 | - | 16 |
| 48 | 14 | FA Cup Round 2 Replay | | 2 | - | 0 | | | 21 | - | 10 | - | 16 |
| 49 | 5 | 1st Division | | 3 | - | 3 | | | 21 | - | 11 | - | 16 |
| 49 | 25 | 1st Division | | 0 | - | 0 | | | 21 | - | 12 | - | 16 |
| 49 | 28 | Youth Cup Round 2 | | 1 | - (n) | 0 | | | 21 | - | 12 | - | 17 |
| 50 | 16 | 1st Division | | 2 | - | 1 | | | 22 | - | 12 | - | 17 |
| 50 | 27 | AP CUP SEMIFINALS | | 0 | - | 1 | | | 23 | - | 12 | - | 17 |
| 50 | 39 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 23 | - | 12 | - | 18 |
| 52 | 5 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 24 | - | 12 | - | 18 |
| 52 | 25 | 1st Division | | 1 | - | 0 | | | 24 | - | 12 | - | 19 |
| S | M | COMPETITION | HOME | AWAY | WON | | - | | - | | |||
Olmec Head Preview
Youth Cup• Preston North End FC has 5 Youth Cup Trophies.
• The previous Youth Cup Final appearances by Preston North End FC include:
• a season 9 loss to Tranmere Rovers 2-2 (PK Shootout: 6-5).
• a season 10 loss to Plymouth Argyle FC 6-3.
• a season 14 loss to Tranmere Rovers 1-0.
• a season 18 win over Carlisle United 0-0 (PK Shootout: 7-6).
• a season 20 win over Bristol City FC 5-0.
• a season 21 win over Watford 3-2.
• a season 34 win over Tranmere Rovers 1-1 (PK Shootout: 4-2).
• a season 36 loss to Sheffield United 2-1.
• a season 41 loss to Brentford FC 1-0.
• a season 44 win over Lewes FC 0-0 (PK Shootout: 6-5).
• a season 45 loss to Watford 2-0.
• Watford has 2 Youth Cup Trophies.
• The previous Youth Cup Final appearances by Watford include:
• a season 1 win over Tranmere Rovers 3-3 (PK Shootout: 4-2).
• a season 21 loss to Preston North End FC 3-2.
• a season 42 loss to Tranmere Rovers 0-0 (PK Shootout: 7-6).
• a season 45 win over Preston North End FC 2-0.
• a season 49 loss to Southend United 2-1.
• Watford crashed out of the Youth Cup last season in a 1-0 loss to Bristol City FC in the 2nd Round.
Preston North End FC
• Preston North End FC will assess Ludwig Süle (I/16 Sw - pulled hamstring), Anders Jacobsen (APP/10 Df - knee injury) and Ibrahim Aggrey (II/17 Df - head injury) ahead of this game.
Watford
• Watford are free of injuries entering today's match.
Head To Head Meetings
• Preston North End FC and Watford have met 55 times with 7 of those occurring in the Youth Cup.
• Preston North End FC have won 24, lost 19 and drawn 12 of 55 matches against Watford.
MATCHUP
PUNDIT CORNER
| Preston North End FC | Position | Watford |
| 4 | Goalkeeper | ✓ 7 |
| 15 ✓ | Sweeper | 5 |
| 49 ✓ | Defenders | 36 |
| 19 | Midfielders | ✓ 37 |
| 31 | Forwards | ✓ 42 |
| 2 | Est. Attacks | ✓ 10 |
🅾 PREDICTION: PNE 0 – 1 WAT (WAT to win)
🏦 Neutral venue
⚔️ KEY BATTLE: The midfield battle is decisive — Watford (37) heavily outclass Preston North End FC (19) in the engine room, giving Watford clear control of the game.
⭐ ONES TO WATCH: Walter Hamisu (DF, TL:17) — PNE | Djonno De boer (FW, TL:18) — WAT
🎯 VERDICT: Watford should progress in this Youth Cup tie, driven by their dominant forward line (42) and midfield (37) overwhelming Preston's defence (49 is respectable but they'll be under constant pressure with only 2 estimated attacks). Watford's goalkeeper advantage (7 vs 4) adds extra security, while Preston's weak sweeper cover leaves them vulnerable on the break. Djonno De Boer looks the most dangerous individual on the pitch and should be the decisive figure in what is predicted to be a narrow 1-0 Watford victory.
RAY'S TAKE
PNE 0 - 1 WAT
Watford's midfield is absolutely bossing this — Soroka and Barbosa are going to run the show in the middle of the park and Preston haven't got the legs to keep up. Their forward line looks toothless on the day, only two attacks, that's not a cup run, that's a day trip. Watford go through and Preston's kids learn a harsh lesson.
MARCUS'S TAKE
PNE 0 - 1 WAT
Watford's midfield is simply operating in a different postcode — De Boer and Soroka have the engine and the quality to dictate the tempo from first whistle to last. Preston's forward line, on the other hand, looks like it's been assembled from a lost property box, generating precious little threat in a neutral venue that offers them no favours. One goal is probably all it takes, and Watford look perfectly capable of supplying it.
Match Notes
JT throwing schoolboys forward five at a time, I-Man plotting the downfall of another Evil Empire rival. Youth Cup chaos on a neutral patch — penalties waiting if neither blinks first.
Olmec Head Ray (Blyth Spartans AFC) 07/04 - 6:31 PM
There's no way one of these teams doesn't win.
Brian (Brighton & Hove Albion) 07/05 - 4:57 PM