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  1. Heckingbottom looking forward facing former clubpublished at 13:38 13 December 2024

    Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom Image source, Rex Features

    Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom is relishing coming up against his former club and Championship promotion favourites Leeds United on Saturday lunchtime.

    The 47-year-old managed Leeds for just 16 games in 2018 before being sacked.

    "It's always a different feeling when it's one of your former clubs until the game starts but mainly it's because you get asked different questions or there are some familiar faces still there, but really at Leeds there aren't many," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

    Preston go into the game having ended a nine-match winless streak with a 2-0 victory at Cardiff City on Wednesday night and the manager is hoping that will lead to an upturn in form.

    "We've tried to be really realistic about what we're doing and how we're playing but you can't get away from the fact you need those three points so everyone will feel better without a doubt."

  2. Pick of the stats - Norwich v Burnleypublished at 10:23 13 December 2024

    The crests of Norwich City and Burnley

    Norwich City will be seeking to get back on track as they welcome Burnley to Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon.

    The Canaries sit 10th and have won just two of their past 11 in the Championship to fall off the pace in the play-off race.

    The third-placed Clarets are unbeaten in seven but three draws in that run has seem them lose ground on leading duo Sheffield United and Leeds.

    • Norwich have won just one of their past 10 league games against Burnley (D3 L6), failing to score in five of their past six matches against the Clarets.

    • Burnley have won two of their past three away league games against Norwich (L1), as many as in their previous 16 visits (D3 L11).

    • Norwich have already won 12 league games at Carrow Road in 2024, last winning more in a year in 2018 (13). They've scored at least three goals in five of their past seven league matches on home soil.

    • Burnley are unbeaten in their past three away league games (W2 D1) and could equal a club record of four successive clean sheets in the league on the road, previously doing so in October 1980.

    • Burnley have only conceded four goals in 10 away league games this season, becoming only the second side in Championship history (since 2004-05) to concede fewer than five goals in their first 10 away games of a season; the other was Reading in 2005-06 (three conceded).

  3. Pick of the stats - Preston North End v Leeds Unitedpublished at 08:16 13 December 2024

    Preston North End and Leeds United club badges

    Preston welcome Leeds United to Deepdale on Saturday after picking up their first win in 11 games when they beat Cardiff 2-0 on Wednesday night.

    The Whites also picked up three points in midweek in their 3-1 win over Middlesbrough at Elland Road.

    Victory for Paul Heckingbottom's side could put further daylight between themselves and the relegation zone, while Leeds are looking to continue their push for automatic promotion.

    • Preston North End have won just two of their past 13 league games against Leeds United (D4 L7), though both victories during that time have come at Deepdale including a 2-1 success last season.

    • Leeds United will be looking to avoid losing successive away league games against Preston North End for the first time since October 2006 under Dennis Wise.

    • Five of Preston's past eight league games at Deepdale have ended in a draw (W2 L1), including each of their previous three matches.

    • Leeds have lost two of their past three away league games (W1), as many as in their previous 16 such games (W8 D6).

    • Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom has won both previous home games in the EFL against sides he's previously managed, beating Barnsley 2-1 with Leeds in April 2018 and the Tykes against with Sheffield United in March 2022 2-0.

  4. Wilder wins manager of the month award for Novemberpublished at 08:03 13 December 2024

    Sheffield United manager Chris WilderImage source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Chris Wilder is in his second stint in charge of Sheffield United

    Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has been named the EFL's Championship manager of the month for November.

    The Blades were unbeaten last month, taking 16 points from their six matches and climbing to the top of the table.

    It is the second time this season Wilder has won the award having also been named the division's top manager in September.

    "This award is recognition for a lot of hard work from the players and the staff in the opening months of the season," Wilder told the EFL website., external

    "The rebuild of the squad has been talked about numerous times, what needs to be taken into consideration is that this is a new group, providing a new dynamic, which includes the lads who were here last season. There's still a lot of work to do but the signs are good."

    Sheffield United have taken four points from their opening two games of December and host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

    Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, Burnley's Scott Parker and outgoing Millwall head coach were also nominated for the award.