Simpson urging strikers to shoot on sight
Paul Simpson has ordered his troops to shoot on sight tonight in a bid to fire Preston into the top three. The North End boss wants more goals from his over-cautious team, starting against leaky Barnsley.
Simpson is a firm believer in the SAS motto of "Who Dares Wins."
And he has assured the players no one will get a rollicking if they miss – just as long as they have a go.
"I'm greedy, I want more goals," said Simpson, whose side have managed only nine in their eight league games so far.
"Danny Dichio still hasn't got off the mark, Dave Nugent has got a couple, Patrick Agyemang has got a couple and Simon Whaley has got a few. But I want even more.
"I think we can still be scoring more goals. I think we can still be getting into forward areas where we will get goals.
"But that will come as we go through the season and they realise I am not the type of manager who will slaughter somebody for having a shot or for missing an opportunity.
"I want them to keep getting in there because the law of averages says they will eventually get a goal."
Simpson has a tricky decision to make for tonight's live TV match – does he bring back camera-loving Nugent or stick with the Dichio/Agyemang partnership which has done so well in the past two matches?
Nugent has pleaded for his place back after being busted to the bench at Derby following his one-match ban for a red card against Cardiff.
