Against the Law

Less than a week after the Italian's level of "professionalism" was praised by chairman Geoffrey Richmond, Carbone turned prima donna and took his ball home.

After three months in the Premiership with Derby - where he hardly set the football world alight - the £40,000-a-week striker obviously expected to walk straight back in to City's side. Only life doesn't work like that.

New boss Nicky Law put his cards on the table from day one by saying that reputations would mean absolutely nothing. Actions speak louder than words - and last night the manager's intentions were being shouted from the rooftops.

When the team was pinned up an hour before kick-off, Carbone's name was down among the five substitutes.

Carbone had a pitchside argument with Law's assistant Ian Banks and then stormed into the dressing room where, according to one player, he "went absolutely mental".

He refused to accept that "his" place in the first team had been taken by Andy Tod. And he would not be a substitute behind him.

Today Carbone was paying the immediate price for his actions - a big fine and a rocket from the Valley Parade top brass. But what happens next?

Carbone had been pencilled in to start at strugglers Grimsby on Saturday but that is surely out the question. The Italian has a lot of apologising to do and ground to make up - if he wants to - and he can expect an uncomfortable time under a boss who has proved anything but star-struck.

This episode presents a mighty challenge for Law, far bigger than the tests he faced last year at Chesterfield when they were hit with a points ban. But he is determined to show the dressing room who is boss - and who picks the team.

Law now fully appreciates the task he has been handed after a display as poor as anything City have served up this season. The losing margin may have been only a single goal but don't be fooled - this display was as poor as the Stockport stinker in September and the boos at the final whistle were totally justified.

City only seemed to start playing once they went behind in the 48th minute. And their increasingly desperate attempts to catch up were too predictable as Preston's solid back four ensured keeper Tepi Moilanen enjoyed the easiest of rides.

Law must have wished he had spent an extra night in the Yorkshire Clinic recuperating from his knee operation rather than suffering such a painful performance.

And afterwards he laid it on the line that Carbone was not the only player seemingly headed for the exit door.

"That game showed what's wrong at this football club," he said. "We need a change of personnel, a different type of player that's going to have a go from the first minute. I don't think five or six of our players did that.

"I've told them that in the dressing room. They need to go away and have a long hard look at themselves.

"It's all right being able to get the ball down and have players that can pass it. But you've got to have the other side to your game and anyone watching us will know that if you get into them and don't give them time, you'll win.

"There's a big job to do. Unless these players change their way of thinking then obviously I'll have to look to bring people in who want to do that.

"Unfortunately sometimes you have to grin and bear it. When players are on decent contracts they aren't going to make it easy to move them on elsewhere - but I shall be doing my best to bring in some new faces for the summer."

The highlights for City were minimal. A miskick from the ineffective Tod was their only attempt before half-time and they failed to create much more during the attempted cavalry charge in the second half.

Michael Keane's close-range finish from a great nod down by Richard Cresswell woke the home side from their lethargy. But apart from a Gunnar Halle header just wide and a sliced cross by Ashley Ward that nearly dipped in, they hardly threatened an equaliser.

Preston could have wrapped it up with a header by sub Jon Macken that came back off the post but the solitary goal always looked enough.

For Law and Banks, this could prove to be a landmark game.