Steve Round says: "The effort was fantastic from a very young team of ours. The back four, who were all senior were excellent, especially after the Cambridge game where they weren't really at the races after a tough opening two weeks of pre-season. They didn't live up to their reputations in that game and the manager was quite tough with them afterwards but in this game they were outstanding.

From the other perspective Dan Gosling put in a great performance after coming back from England duty and the young trio of him along with Jack Rodwell and Jose Baxter - who are just 16, 17 and 18 - in particular did well."

Alan Irvine on the Everton fans: "They were fantastic. It was a special moment for me. It means a great deal to me and I really appreciated it. I had a lot of great times and Everton and it was fantastic to see everyone again. To get the response from the fans, on top of seeing all the staff and David, it was a great night for me."

See anything unusual or funny at the match today? e-mail info@bluekipper.com

* The Everton fans singing "There's only one Alan Irvine" To which the former Everton player gave a salute.

* Moyesy waving to the 4,500 travelling Toffees when asked: "Moyesy, Moyesy give us a wave."

* 2 builders in the stand being re-built watching the game in boots, hard hats and hi-viz jackets instead of working. Tom Davies

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT HERE.

What Do You Think The Score Will Be? e-mail info@bluekipper.com

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Sausage's XI To Start: Turner, Irving, Jagielka, Lescott, Valente, Osman, Rodwell, Neville, Arteta, Van de Meyde, Johnson.

Everton from: Turner, Ruddy, Jagielka, Irving, Lescott, Baines, Valente, Osman, Rodwell, Neville, Kissock, Arteta, Van de Meyde, Johnson, O'Kane, Agard, Jutkiewicz, Baxter, Sinnott, Molyneux.

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE.

Ex-Everton Assistant manager, Alan Irvine is looking forward to seeing the Everton fans tonight at Deepdale and is backing his former boss to come good with the transfers.

Alan Irvine says: “What people have to realise is that it is becoming more and more difficult every year. The fans can rest assured that David is working unbelievably hard to sign players that will improve the squad. But the quality in the squad has risen. What might have improved the squad three seasons ago won’t do so now – and the money needed to get these top class player isn’t always there. David won’t buy anyone for the sake of it, he will make sure he has done his home-work. He will get all the support the club can give him and he will make some more astute signings.

"I thought it was a fantastic season when Everton took another big step forward and there’s no doubt they fully deserved it. What they did in the league was terrific and I expect it to be another great season this season. David has put together a really good, close-knit squad and they will be a force to be reckoned with again this year. It’s down to good management. David leaves nothing to chance and if he can get everybody fit it’s a really good group.

“It got to the stage where I was ready for management because of the work I was doing with David. All it meant was me being able to come in and do the job but the only difference was having the final decision on things. That was the only thing I’d never done before. So that experience helped me make the decision. It was a really tough decision to go because I had a fantastic job at a club I think so highly of and it’s also one of the safest jobs around thanks to what David has done there. I wasn't looking to leave but when I was offered the job by Preston – actually through David – it left me thinking that if I hadn’t taken it, it would be me saying that I didn’t fancy management. So I would have regretted not taking it. And I don’t have any regrets now. On January 12 we were bottom of the table but after that our record was only equalled by Hull City – and look where they ended up! Now I just hope we can get off to a good start and continue that form, but that will be difficult over a long, hard season.

"I’m really looking forward to tonight. It will be a fantastic occasion for me on a personal note. The Everton fans were always absolutely brilliant with me so it will be nice to see them.”

Preston From: