GOALKEEPER Lewis Price will be spared tonight as manager Jim Magilton wields the axe.While the Blues boss will make changes to the side that lost 5-1 on Saturday, the young keeper has been handed a reprieve and told he has another opportunity to shine.

By Derek Davis

GOALKEEPER Lewis Price will be spared tonight as manager Jim Magilton wields the axe.

While the Blues boss will make changes to the side that lost 5-1 on Saturday, the young keeper has been handed a reprieve and told he has another opportunity to shine.

Magilton said: “Considering he was outstanding for Wales in midweek, it was a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show.

“I was disappointed with Lewis on Saturday but he will be given another chance against Preston.

“He is a professional person and I'm sure he will have analysed his own game, as keepers tend to do.

“He has been great for us and him coming into the side coincided with us going on an undefeated run.”

Magilton was not giving too much away about other changes but confirmed that winger Martin Brittain was high in his thoughts, and changes could also be made at the back.

He added: “Martin Brittain is very close to playing. He gives genuine width and is different to what we have.

“We also need to inject some pace and we also expect more from our full-backs.

“We have a clean bill of health, so I'm expecting those players left out on Saturday to be knocking on my door demanding to play.

“To be beaten in the manner in which we were, then it is obvious I will make changes.”

Magilton admitted changes would happen as a result of a different approach tactically and a lack of aptitude by some players

He said: “People are told to mark people and they are not doing their jobs.

“Players are not taking responsibility and that is the disappointing thing. We have not started games well in the past two games and we need to get off on the front foot. How we start the game will dictate on how we finish.”

The Lilywhites are on a nine-game unbeaten streak and have pushed up to third in the Championship under former Carlisle boss Paul Simpson, who took over from Billy Davies in the summer.

Magilton said: “Preston will be licking their lips after seeing the video of our game and after scoring four. But we have to withstand anything they come up with and I expect my lads to rise to the occasion.”

Simpson will be without the injured Patrick Agyemang and is likely to stick with the same side that beat Sunderland 4-1.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk