Lancashire

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It's time to talk about Preston North End's transfer business...

North End wasted little time in moving for Lewis Gibson from Plymouth Argyle to shore up the heart of the defence while 18-year-old Jayden Meghoma joined from Premier League side Brentford on loan to fill the problematic left-back berth.

Scotland international defender Ryan Porteous also arrived on loan from Watford while Paul Heckingbottom kept hold of some of his key names who had been linked with potential moves away in the form of Ryan Ledson, Emil Riis, Freddie Woodman and Milutin Osmajic.

With a 10-point cushion above the relegation zone and only a seven-point gap to the play-offs, are Preston looking up rather than over their shoulder in the final few months of the campaign?

We want you to tell us what you think about the Lilywhites' transfer dealings...

Let us know your thoughts here.

Tom Sandells
BBC Radio Lancashire

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The January transfer window is shut and for Preston North End, there is a sense of job done - for now.

Was it the perfect window where every problem and potential problem was solved? No.

But was an 18-month wait for a left-back ended? Yes. And in that, there is somewhat of a tongue-in-cheek victory in itself.

PNE made just three signings in the winter window but all have helped improve the squad.

First through the door was Lewis Gibson from Plymouth Argyle - much needed defensive reinforcement and immediately a player who could be key at the heart of the Lilywhites' defence.

It was not the type of transfer that Preston make often, going to a fellow Championship club and paying decent money for one of their best players. Refreshing.

Then they signed Jayden Meghoma from Premier League Brentford on loan for the second half of the season and though getting the runaround at Blackburn Rovers on Friday - with no help, it is worth adding - will have been a chastening experience, he looks up to the level.

His addition has also freed up Kaine Kesler-Hayden to be played on his natural right side, and having been one of the better performers in blue and white so far this season, it has already been a boost for Paul Heckingbottom.

PNE also acted quickly upon the news that Jordan Storey's injury picked up in the first half against Rovers will rule him out for some time. Ryan Porteous moved north from Watford to fill the gap Storey left and the depth at the back was replenished.

Heckingbottom's squad is looking stronger coming out of the January transfer window than it did coming into it and that, for the most part, is the aim of the game.

There were rumours circulating around the futures of many of the first team squad, particularly those with deals running out in the summer such as Ryan Ledson, Emil Riis, Freddie Woodman and even Milutin Osmajic in the closing stages of the window – despite the latter still having two-and-a-half years to run on his deal – but North End held firm for now.

There were rumours too about a bid being made for promising goalkeeper Sam Tickle at Wigan Athletic and though he is a player admired at Deepdale, they seem content to bide their time on that one.

There were also some wages offloaded with summer signing Jeppe Okkels already departing PR1, on loan to Aberdeen, while another summer recruit in Josh Bowler joined Luton Town until the end of the season.

An upturn in recent results helps ease the pressure on the importance of mid-season changes but in some respects it has kicked the can down the road.

Gibson's addition is one that will come in handy for seasons to come. Meghoma sees them through to the end of the campaign, as does Porteous.

But there's still the risk that seven first-team players can no longer be sold for any sort of fee if they don't sign a new deal with the club.

Still, the Lilywhites have improved their ranks and that in itself should stand them in better stead for an unlikely play-off push and give them a better basis to convince those they want to stay to re-commit.

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Burnley have conceded just nine goals in the Championship season and have now kept nine clean sheets in a row.

Scott Parker's side are 11th when it comes to goals scored but are second in the table as it stands, occupying an automatic promotion spot.

Clarets fans, we want your views on your remarkable defensive record and the season so far:

What has it been like to watch Burnley this season?

Are you happy with the style of play?

Is the defensive record something you are proud of?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Burnley manager Scott Parker says Marcus Edwards has matured since the days when he was criticised by his former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino for having "behavioural and authority problems".

The 26-year-old has signed on loan for the Clarets from Sporting Lisbon for the rest of the season and was on the bench for Tuesday's win over Oxford United.

Edwards was likened to Lionel Messi by Pochettino but moved to Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes and then Sporting when his career in North London stalled.

Parker told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I've been around Marcus for some time. [When he was] a young boy of 13 years of age was the first time I was introduced to him, when I was doing my coaching badges. He's a special player with special talent.

"We need to take care of him, as he's not played a lot of football - the last time he played was November, December, so he needs a bit more training time.

"He's definitely matured, and also probably the understanding of Marcus as well (has improved). He's gone off to Portugal on his own, and there is maturity there.

"He was a young boy in and around London and when you're a young boy sometimes there's a difference in the way you are, but he's matured and there's no denying he's a special talent."

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Burnley head coach Scott Parker spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after his side returned to the automatic promotion places by beating Oxford.

"The first 45 minutes I thought we were nothing short of superb. We really dominated the game and we were everything we weren't at the weekend throughout," he said.

"We created a lot of chances and showed real quality.

"It's fair to say that going in at half-time 1-0 up was a little unjust because it could have been more. We missed some big chances.

"Overall I was delighted with the team, our general endeavour and the way we went about it tonight.

"Over the last few weeks we've been a little bit too desperate and tried to force things when really it wasn't open, and tonight I thought we showed a real balance - where to use passes to try and create bigger spaces, hence the chances we created.

"It comes from patience and manipulation of the opposition that opens up massive chances for us so I was really pleased with that."

Burnley could close the gap on Championship leaders Leeds to just two points if they can end their run of stalemates at Turf Moor when Oxford United visit on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

Burnley have scored the fewest number of goals of any team in the top six with 36 in 30 games, though the Clarets have by far the best defensive record across the entire top four divisions, conceding just nine league goals all season.

The Us could climb as high as 14th and put 13 points between themselves and the drop-zone if they can cause an upset in east Lancashire.

• Burnley have lost just two of their past 14 league games against Oxford United (W5 D7), winning their last such home match against the U's 3-2 in December 1999.

• Oxford United have won just one of their seven away league games against Burnley (D4 L2), a 2-0 victory at Turf Moor in January 1996.

• Each of Burnley's past three Championship home games have all finished 0-0. The only second tier side in English league history to have four successive home matches end goalless were Wolves in March/April 2016.

• Oxford United are unbeaten in four away league games (W1 D3), last going longer without defeat on the road in December 2022 (7 games).

• Oxford United's Gary Rowett has won none of his four Championship games against Burnley as a manager (D2 L2); only against Bournemouth (5) has he taken charge of more matches in the division without ever winning.

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Getting back to the Premier League is more of a priority than being exciting to watch according to the majority of Burnley supporters.

Third-placed Burnley have conceded only nine goals in their 30 Championship matches this season, keeping 21 clean sheets.

"I do feel we're prioritising being strong at the back to going forward but overall the fanbase is happy although there are murmurings about the style and things like that," Joe Redmond from the Burnley podcast Turfcast told the BBC's Monday Night Club.

"But it's about getting back there and if we're on the way to the Premier League it'll all be forgotten about."

At this stage of the season Burnley have conceded the fewest goals per game in EFL history with goalkeeper James Trafford keeping eight clean sheets in a row after a difficult time in the Premier League last season.

But despite their excellent defensive Burnley have only scored 36 goals in the league which, after Blackburn (34) makes them the lowest scorers in the Championship's top half.

"We're not exciting to watch but the record is brilliant especially James Trafford who has grown in confidence from last season where I felt it was too high too soon for him and not necessarily his fault," Redmond added.

"Esteve and Egan-Riley are a great defensive partnership and then you've got Connor Roberts and Bashir Humphreys as well but we're not great going forward though and that's the problem."