Preston form due to 'winning when not at best'

Preston North End head into their Lancashire derby against Blackburn Rovers on a five-game unbeaten run

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom has credited his side's recent good form to the knack of being able to beat teams even when North End are not at their best.

Heckingbottom's side head into Friday's Lancashire derby against Blackburn Rovers on a five-game unbeaten run, including three wins from their past four in all competitions and back-to-back victories.

Despite that upturn in form, they are still 15th in the Championship table before their trip to Ewood Park.

"We've not lost many games so that shows consistency has been there throughout the season," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But it was important to pick up points when you're not the best team, or when it's an edgy or end-to-end game or a close game where there's not much in it and that's where we've come out on top.

"That's been the difference. When we've been the best team we've generally won which is good, but we've also shaded some games."

Last time Preston played Blackburn, Lilywhites striker Milutin Osmajic appeared to bite Blackburn's Owen Beck.

That led to the Montenegro international picking up an eight-game ban and a £15,000 fine, but Heckingbottom is a fan of the intensity a derby can bring.

"I love it to be intense," he added. "You could do anything [in the past] to get the fans on board and now it's almost illegal to tackle anyone and that always gets the biggest cheer, especially in a derby, it's probably a bigger cheer than a goal.

"Those moments are gone which is sad but just the fact that there's local bragging rights and 6,000 away fans there, it feels like a different game."