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  1. Preston can 'light a fire of optimism'

    Tom Sandells
    BBC Radio Lancashire

    Preston Expert View Banner

    Although Preston North End's season looked to be over before it started as their early campaign descended into turmoil after just one game, they curiously seem to be able to reset their campaign completely and light a fire of optimism with their upcoming game on Friday night.

    They travel to Ewood Park to play Blackburn Rovers and the start to the season for the Lancashire rivals could not have been more different.

    North End's manager ended last season "unacceptably" according to chairman Craig Hemmings and so Ryan Lowe walked out one game and one defeat into the 2024-25 season.

    Rovers had their boss in place last season and while they did not set the world alight, they were steady and reaped the rewards of their stability as they made a fast start to the campaign.

    Blackburn started the Championship eight unbeaten while Preston won only two of their opening eight matches.

    And while North End were going nine games without a win from October, Blackburn during that same time period won six in a row.

    However, a win for the Lilywhites on Friday would put them just two points behind Rovers and they will head to East Lancashire backed by more than 5,000 supporters.

    They also go there off the back of two fine wins against play-off chasers Watford and Middlesbrough and looked good value for the points in both contests.

    Since Boxing Day, only two teams in the division have taken more points than Preston and one of them tops the table.

    On the other hand, only three teams have taken fewer points than Blackburn.

    Friday's Lancashire Derby is set up to be a potential catalyst for Paul Heckingbottom's side, especially if it brings Blackburn into range.

    The Yorkshireman has now had time to settle into his role at the helm and has shown the attacking intent and positivity in the football he wants from his side.

    A win to start the weekend and it is game on coming into the turn, post January window.

    PNE have made efforts to improve their squad too, with Lewis Gibson and Jayden Meghoma joining on permanent and loan deals respectively.

    Both have hit the ground running and with captain Ben Whiteman ruled out for around eight weeks with an ankle injury, Heckingbottom has hinted at potentially doing more January business to bolster their options.

    There are positive signs for the North End faithful and with one defeat in their past eight when travelling to Ewood they have every reason to be confident of securing more bragging rights.

  2. Water runs through a persons hands into a metal sink from a tap at a home.

  3. Jonathan Downie mugshot - he is wearing grey sweater and has short brown hair

  4. Todd Cantwell of Blackburn Rovers celebrates

  5. Close up photograph of a shiny, silver-coloured running tap against a blurred background

  6. External view of Blackpool Town Hall in Talbot Square, Blackpool

  7. Burnley defensive record down to 'team work'

    Maxime Esteve in action for BurnleyRex Features

    Maxime Esteve joined Burnley permanently in July after a loan spell

    Burnley's stunning defensive record this season is a credit to the whole team, says defender Maxime Esteve.

    The Clarets have only conceded nine goals in their 29 Championship games and kept 20 clean sheets.

    "We worked during pre-season defensively and you see the recovery runs of everyone - the winger, the striker, the midfielder, everyone works on the same thing," Esteve told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    "The attitude of everyone is amazing, it's team work."

    Burnley held the leaders Leeds to a goalless draw on Monday and are in third place in the Championship table, one point outside the automatic promotion places.

    The Clarets visit struggling Portsmouth on Saturday.

    "There is the backline when you talk about it defensively but when you see the game, all the players work on the same side," added Esteve.

    "If you come back with three points from Portsmouth it's a good point against Leeds so we have to switch on."

  8. Stencilled sign, painted in white, on a road depicts a dog owner leaning down to pick up dog faeces next to their pet.

  9. A defibrillator in a yellow box attached to a wall

  10. A pair of woman's hands clasped together above her knees with her face out of shot.

  11. Burnley & Leeds produce second lowest xG of season

    Expected goals maps from Burnley and Leeds during their 0-0 draw at Turf Moor.Opta

    From 12 shots on total between the two sides, Dan James' 89th-minute effort was the only attempt to hit the target

    Monday's uneventful goalless draw between Burnley and Leeds produced the second lowest expected goals [xG] of any Championship match so far this season.

    According to Opta, Burnley's four attempts in total added up to an xG of 0.18 while Leeds' eight shots equated to 0.35 xG, creating a total match xG of just 0.53 across the 90 minutes at Turf Moor.

    Dan James' 89th-minute strike, which had to be tipped over by Burnley's James Trafford, prevented the stalemate from being the first second-tier clash to end without an effort on target this season.

    Despite the drab affair, Luton's 0-0 draw with Preston in Matt Bloomfield's first match in charge of the Hatters earlier this month produced an xG even lower than Monday's top-of-the-table clash - just 0.49 from 11 shots in total.

    Notably, November's Steel City derby saw Tyrese Campbell score the winner for Sheffield United against bitter rivals Wednesday with the match's only shot on target from a game which produced a comparatively gluttonous 18 attempts in all.

  12. Police officer in hi-vis jacket taken from the back with a police car in the background

  13. Huge fire at a derelict hotel in Blackpool. Bright orange flames have engulfed the building, which is viewable only in silhouette with its windows shot out.

  14. EFL balls on a pitch

  15. Ashley Fletcher celebrates scoring at Lincoln

  16. A shot, from a distance, of the former ICI works in Thorton-Cleveleys. It can be seen on the horizon over marsh land.

  17. View from the balcony of the empty Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre showing red seats and on the ground level dozens of grey foldable chairs with red curtains slightly open on the stage.

  18. Burnley manager Scott Parker and his players leave the field at Turf Moor

  19. Leeds' Ao Tanaka battles with Burnley forward Zian Flemming

  20. Pick of the stats: Burnley v Leeds United

    Burnley and Leeds United emblems

    Along with Sunderland, Burnley are the only Championship side with an unbeaten home record as they prepare to host table-topping Leeds United (20:00 GMT).

    The Clarets also boast the best home defensive record with only four goals conceded in their 13 games at Turf Moor.

    The visitors are the top scorers in the Championship with 53 goals from their 28 matches. Daniel Farke's side have only failed to score in four league games this season.

    • Burnley have won just one of their past five league games against Leeds United (D1 L3), although that sole victory did come during the reverse fixture in September (1-0).

    • Leeds United are unbeaten across their past two away league games against Burnley (W1 D1), last enjoying a longer undefeated run at Turf Moor between September 1975 and October 2005 (four games).

    • Burnley are unbeaten across their past 13 home league games (W6 D7), conceding just four goals in total across that time. The Clarets last enjoyed a longer undefeated run at Turf Moor between August 2022 and April 2023 (21 games).

    • Leeds have lost just two of their past 13 away league games (W5 D6), though have scored just 1.4 goals on average per match during that time.

    • Leeds' Joel Piroe has been involved in four goals in his past three away league games (three goals, one assist), more than he had in his previous 17 on the road (three goals).

  21. Preston boss Heckingbottom charged with misconduct

    Paul Heckingbottom stands with his arms stretched outRex Features

    Paul Heckingbottom was sent off at half-time during Preston's win at Watford

    Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after his sending off in their 2-1 win at Watford last week.

    Heckingbottom was shown red for using abusive language in the tunnel at half-time at Vicarage Road.

    In a statement, an FA spokesperson said: "The manager allegedly acted in an improper manner and/or used threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards the match official/s around the tunnel area at half-time, which led to his dismissal.

    "It's further alleged that he acted in an improper manner following his dismissal by entering the technical area prior to the start of the second half."

    Heckingbottom has until Wednesday to provide a response.

  22. Labour MP for West Lancashire Ashley Dalton with short grey hair wearing red lipstick, an emerald studded earring with a second hoop earring smiling and waving. She is wearing a blue and white patterned blouse and bright red jacket.

  24. Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, wearing a black suit and white shirt