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  1. Will the promoted sides survive?published at 07:44 GMT 29 October

    Jaka Bijol, Quilindschy Hartman and Nordi MukieleImage source, Getty Images

    The team on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have been debating whether the sides promoted to the Premier League can survive, given their starts to the campaign.

    The Observer's Rory Smith: "It won't be the case that the three newly promoted sides will go down with a whimper. They have learnt the lesson of Forest and Villa. The way the Premier League works now is you come up, you spend all that money, and you hope you can survive. As things stand, I would say it's unlikely all three go down and it might not be any of them.

    "The average team in the Premier League is better than it has ever been - just as it was last season.

    "You go through the league - Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford - they can all beat absolutely everyone. You are seeing this levelling out in the Premier League and it is to Arsenal's enormous credit that they seem to be hovering above it."

    Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton: "Sunderland have been top drawer in the way they play. They carry a threat when they go forward. Looking back at the game against Chelsea, they had opportunities, they defended well and they threw bodies forward.

    "I know it is early days, but you don't feel the wheels are going to come off. Their recruitment has been sensational and the way Regis Le Bris has got the team performing and functioning, and as competitive as they are, it is a testament to him. They have arguably got their star player [Habib] Diarra out injured.

    "We always say with the promoted clubs that the start is really important and then they can get a foothold and gain confidence and feel they can be a match for anybody."

    Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend: "Even if the wheels come off, they're [Sunderland] still doing a much better job than the last couple of promoted sides have done.

    "In terms of Sunderland and Leeds, they have hostile atmospheres, amazing pitches. It gives them a massive boost. Nobody wants to go and play Leeds. Leeds away, no matter what division, is not a great place to go and win a football match. It's definitely helping them."

  2. 'Flying under the radar is what Burnley does best'published at 10:56 GMT 28 October

    Natalie Bromley
    Fan writer

    Burnley fan's voice banner
    Burnley players celebratingImage source, Getty Images

    It was billed a Super Sunday, with pubs and sofas all across the country hooked on multiple screens to follow all of the action across four Premier League grounds. And while Wolves v Burnley was largely judged as being the one nobody was watching, it was Molineux that ultimately provided the goals and the drama. Go figure.

    Still think Burnley don't score goals? That they are boring?

    Those of us who were watching would be forgiven for thinking we had tuned in to prime Brazil. Burnley turned on the charm in the first half with two spectacular goals, both involving Quilindschy Hartman and Zian Flemming, Burnley's very own flying Dutchmen. They got in behind the Wolves defence and bypassed their entire midfield. Ironic really, given that this is a Burnley side who allowed that to happen to them just a few weeks ago at Villa Park.

    But it wasn't just about the goals. The game tried its best to deliver one final twist, and if it wasn't for an unreal save from Martin Dubravka it would have ended 3-3. The ball had actually beaten him, but he somehow managed to contort his arm behind him and stop what would have been a heartbreaking equaliser at the death. He likely won't make a more important save this season, and that save is as important as any goal.

    Scott Parker has quietly bought himself a squad with a lot more quality than it is being given credit for. And flying under the radar is exactly what this little club in East Lancashire does best.

    But it was the game management that impressed me the most. Parker and his side understood how important an away point is at your relegation rivals, and that that importance is not in any way diluted because you went two goals up earlier in the game. They frustrated Wolves and didn't really look likely to surrender the point.

    It is generally accepted that 10 wins over the course of the season will secure you Premier League survival - maybe nine in recent years - and Burnley are now one third of the way there.

    Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external

  3. 'Great working with Heckingbottom again' - Jebbisonpublished at 10:56 GMT 28 October

    Media caption,

    'Being under a great manager that I know really well makes it 10 times easier' - Jebbison

    On-loan Preston forward Daniel Jebbison has paid tribute to boss Paul Heckingbottom for bringing the best out of him.

    Heckingbottom was coach of the Under-23s at Sheffield United when Jebbison came through the ranks at Bramall Lane and was interim boss when he handed the then 17-year-old his Blades debut in a Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace in May 2021.

    The Canadian international, now 22, told BBC Radio Lancashire it was an easy decision to reunite with his former boss on loan at Deepdale from Bournemouth this season, revealing: "As soon as he said 'come', I said 'yes, sir.'"

    Jebbison played just 181 minutes in Preston's first eight Championship games this term, but has started three of their four games in October, contributing two assists and two goals, including the winner against former club Sheffield United on Friday.

    "I had some problems at the beginning of the season with my foot but now it's out of the way, I could find my feet and keep going," he said.

    "Being under a great manager that I know very well makes it 10 times easier and the players around me are great people.

    "The manager has helped me a lot since I was a kid. It's great to have him. He's always on to me, he has high standards, I know what he wants so I just try delivering in training and in games.

    "It kind of gets me going; I like it when someone gets on to me when I'm slacking and I'm likewise with other team-mates - that's how we get better."

    Paul Heckingbottom lifts up Daniel Jebbison after his winner at Everton in May 2021Image source, Rex Features
    Image caption,

    Paul Heckingbottom gave Daniel Jebbison his first professional start for Sheffield United at Everton in May 2021 and the Canadian teenager scored the only goal.

  4. 'These moments are what Preston's history is built on'published at 14:41 GMT 27 October

    Jack Bridge
    Fan Writer & Commentator

    Preston fan voice
    Preston players embrace following their victory over Sheffield United Image source, Getty Images

    Comeback spirit.

    There are games where you hear the final whistle and just know - this day could be a turning point.

    Friday night under the lights at Deepdale was one of those. A breathless 3-2 comeback victory over Sheffield United gave us everything: drama, chaos, and fight in classic Championship style.

    For 15 frantic minutes, we looked rattled. Sheffield United struck twice early, and, in manager Paul Heckingbottom's words, "we had brain freeze" - but that spell was short-lived.

    The Lilywhites found their backbone before the break with a superb finish from Lewis Dobbin, grabbed an extremely lucky equaliser, and never looked back. Daniel Jebbison's brilliant finish made it three, and Deepdale erupted.

    These moments, when a team refuses to fold and rallies the crowd behind them, are what Preston's history is built on. I still reminisce about games under the lights, where North End and Deepdale find something special – Friday night was another shining example.

    Having listened intently to Heckingbottom now for around 15 months, we know he's building a mentality in the squad. Where previously, if the team found themselves 2-0 down, they'd have rolled over and had their bellies tickled – well that attitude is gone... long gone.

    The siege mentality and competitiveness is starting to bear fruit. It's us versus everyone and I absolutely love it.

    Heckingbottom and his players will not get too high by this win, nor would they have got too low with the two defeats in the six days before the Sheffield United match. Their focus moves on to Southampton next weekend.

    Dobbin, still settling in, turned provider, linking well with Andy Vukcevic, Alfie Devine and Jebbison. The new faces are starting to spark, with Vukcevic and Jebbison's connection on display for the winner and young Harrison Armstrong doing the unseen work that makes the difference.

    BBC Radio Lancashire's Steve Eyre spoke at the end of last season about how the North End squad had a lack of pace and a lack of ability to get to the end of the pitch – the summer recruitment looks to have gone a long way to fixing those concerns.

    Of course, it's not all sunshine: recent injuries have tested our depth, with Ali McCann breaking his arm last week and Brad Potts hit by a setback in his recovery.

    With senior figures like Robbie Brady and Will Keane also sidelined, it has been next-man-up, yet the replacements have shown the grit and nous this club is famous for and nobody could question the desire all over the pitch.

    We're still chasing consistency, just two wins in eight before Friday, and a narrow defeat to Birmingham City midweek stung, but this was a real statement win and puts us back in the thick of the play-off hunt.

    The mood is rising, hope is building, and for every knock and scare, Preston North End now have the ability to fight back.

    It's not just something stirring at Deepdale; it's gaining momentum one game at a time.

  5. Injury crisis deepening at Deepdale published at 12:07 GMT 27 October

    Andy Bayes
    BBC Radio Lancashire Sport Editor

    Paul Heckingbottom points from the sidelineImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Paul Heckingbottom has pointed to the gruelling Championship schedule as the reason for his side's growing injury list

    Preston North End are likely to find out on Monday how long midfielder Ali McCann will be out of action for after breaking his arm in last Tuesday's home defeat by Birmingham City.

    McCann sat out North End's 3-2 victory over Sheffield United on Friday, where Paul Heckingbottom named eight substitutes instead of nine due to a lengthy injury list.

    Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire on McCann: "He's broken his arm, he did it on Tuesday night. He had an x-ray, it was really sore. He's got his arm in a sling. He's seeing a specialist on Monday."

    North End are already missing Brad Potts, Will Keane, Jordan Thompson and Robbie Brady.

    The quartet have not featured at all this season due to injury while Pol Valentin has been another absentee in recent weeks and the Lilywhites also picked up two more injury issues against the Blades in defenders Lewis Gibson and Andrija Vukcevic .

    Both sustained muscular injuries and will be assessed before Saturday's visit to Southampton.

    The North End boss feels that the Championship schedule is responsible.

    "We want tackles in the game but everything is a foul now and everything is player safety yet they'll flog you to death with three games in six days," he said.

    "That's the frustrating thing with the powers that be which is nonsense when they're saying 'we don't want tackles because of players injuries.'

    "It's not just us, you look at all the other clubs and that is a direct consequence of the schedule."

  6. Wolves 2-3 Burnley - the fans' verdictpublished at 09:49 GMT 27 October

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    We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Wolves and Burnley.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Wolves fans

    Richard: Wolves have identity, which the manager says we need. I'm not sure why people say we don't. We play, pick the ball out of the net and lose. That's an identity. I feel really bad for Vitor. He saved us last year, but things keep going wrong. Something has to change…but not sure changing the manager is always the best option.

    Tony: Terrible match. Neither side were impressive, but Burnley deserved their win. O'Neil got the sack for less. Very unimpressive.

    Anon: Lacking creativity and any real goal scorer. The Championship is the only destination now for Wolves.

    Burnley fans

    Neil: Excellent performance despite a highly dubious penalty; we stayed strong and deserved to win.

    David: Apart from the win, the important thing is that they are consistently scoring goals, which has been missing in the past.

    John: The game should have been over by half time. The finish from Flemming was incredible for Burnley's first. Wolves took advantage of that and looked much stronger in the second half. The Dubravka save right at the death was amazing.