Preston North End

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport Editor

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancs Sports Editor

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End's 3-2 win over Sheffield United was a wonderful advert for the madness, chaos and brilliance that is the Championship.

This really was a joy to watch - and it was a result that North End needed after defeats at West Brom and at home to Birmingham.

Apart from a 20-minute spell, where they very nearly let the game run away from them, they were terrific.

This is a new North End, one that has undergone significant and much-needed change.

On matchday 12 last season, they squandered a three-goal lead to only take a point at Plymouth. Fast forward a year, and only Jordan Storey, Andrew Hughes and Ben Whiteman started this one. Exactly half of the matchday squad from Home Park are no longer with the club.

In their place are a mix of permanent and loan signings who have hit the ground running and given the whole place the refresh it had been craving.

Some might say that Harrison Armstrong, Alfie Devine, Lewis Dobbin and Daniel Jebbison are only on loan. Others (including me) would argue, who cares?

All four are impacting the starting XI. They won't all start every game, but right now with injuries mounting up, they'll be in more often than not.

Armstrong looks a gem.

As soon as he joined North End, the former Everton academy manager David Unsworth told me that he could go right to the top. That sort of recommendation shows just how highly his parent club rates him.

The permanent summer arrivals are doing a fabulous job too. The return of Daniel Iversen in goal is a masterstroke. Odeluga Offiah is highly likely to be money well spent once he beds in completely.

The wide areas have been given an uplift with Thierry Small, Pol Valentin and Andrija Vukcevic all looking the part so far, and Michael Smith offers the Ched-Evans type, Plan B from last season.

The one area of concern has to be the absentee list.

Ali McCann watched from the stand with a broken arm, but he wasn't alone.

Valentin is getting closer to a return, but there's no time frame on returns for Brad Potts, Will Keane, Robbie Brady and Jordan Thompson, who haven't kicked a ball this season.

Muscle injuries to Lewis Gibson and Vukcevic will mean an assessment for them ahead of a trip to Southampton next weekend.

Paul Heckingbottom named eight subs instead of nine for this one; we'll have to see who makes the roll call to the south coast.

But, what a night. The Championship, once again, serving up a treat!

Paul Heckingbottom said his Preston North End side recovered well from their "brain freeze" which handed Sheffield United a two-goal lead at Deepdale.

The Lilywhites manager, whose side bounced back to win 3-2, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "The only abnormality in that game from us was when we had a brain freeze for 15 minutes.

"We started great. From being really dominant, we're one down, and then we give them the second goal.

"That was the worst moment and for the next 10 minutes we just lost discipline and shape - going gung-ho, trying to get the next goal but we weren't playing in a way to hurt them and every time we lost the ball they could break on us again.

"We got back to playing how we were playing at the start, which was going to create chances and shots. That was the message at half-time.

"[Lewis Dobbin] has scored three of those [excellent goals] now but it's a team - he hasn't scored them on his own, it's getting the ball to those positions.

"The third goal was Andy [Vukcevic] doing what he really does well and a fantastic header from Jebbo. I'm pleased for him because his all-round game was great again."

Listen to the full interview with Heckingbottom on BBC Sounds.

Preston defender Lewis Gibson has said he always leaves everything out on the pitch when playing for the club.

Gibson has featured in each of Preston's 11 Championship fixtures this season.

North End host Sheffield United on Friday (20:00 BST) sitting 11th in the table, but knowing that a win would take them into the play-off places ahead of the Saturday fixtures.

Gibson is keen to keep improving and told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I think as games go by you always look at the 10 games mark where you start getting a rhythm.

"I'm feeling confident and I'm grateful, every game I go out there I give my all and that's all you can do. I don't leave a stone unturned with what I can do day to day and game to game so I'm pleased, but I'm always eager that I can do more."

With Preston preparing to host a seemingly revitalised Sheffield United team, Gibson is keen to emphasise the importance of the atmosphere at Deepdale.

"I think this season the results at home have been really positive and to be honest, I liked the other day when it starts to go against us a little bit and you feel a bit of edge in the crowd because I think that did do things,

"I like when you make it a bit hostile and I think it should be a difficult place to come, I think that's what we should aim to do.

"The fans have been brilliant this season, home and away, they've travelled in numbers and we're trying to repay them as best we can."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Preston come into this game looking to avoid a third successive league defeat for the first time since April.

Having scored more than one goal in a game for the first time this season in their 3-1 win at Blackburn on Tuesday, Sheffield United are hoping to make it three victories in a row.

• Preston North End are winless in their past eight league games against Sheffield United (D2 L6), losing all of the last four.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in each of their past four league trips to Preston North End (W3 D1) and could win three in a row for the first time.

• Preston have lost their last two league games, having lost only one of their previous 10 (W4 D5). Since the start of last season they've only lost three successive league games once before (run of four in April).

• Sheffield United have won each of their past two league games, as many as in their previous 12 (D1 L9), last winning three in a row in February last season (run of four).

• Only Junior Firpo (14) has been involved in more Championship goals among defenders since the start of last season than Sheffield United's Harrison Burrows (10 – 6 goals, 4 assists), who scored and assisted against Blackburn last time out.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom said the outcome of their defeat against Birmingham City was "decided by the referee" but abuse of the officials is not the answer.

After the 1-0 loss on Tuesday, Heckingbottom said if VAR had been implemented his side would have won.

"Everyone can see that the outcome of that game was decided by the referee and no one wants that, the referees don't want that. It's something we all want to avoid in the game, referees included.

"I'd rather not mention stuff like that but sometimes I feel it's right but I'd always rather speak to Kevin Friend for example about it. It's difficult because you can never say what you really want to say but you still want to be constructive with what you're saying and still try and get your point across about how important it is.

"We're all on the same page in terms of that we don't want to see it [bad decisions] and we need it to be better, everyone's of the same opinion.

"I don't think managers coming out abusing officials is necessarily the best thing as much as you do want to because there is a different level of accountability there.

"They'll feel a pressure off it but really there doesn't seem to be enough accountability there, they'll get a game the next time, so, I don't think managers coming out and abusing the officials is the answer."

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom criticised the officiating after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by Birmingham City at Deepdale.

The Lilywhites suffered back-to-back league losses for the first time this season after Phil Neumann's first-half goal gave Blues all three points.

"First and foremost, let's talk about the players, they were magnificent and I am really proud of them." Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"This is another game where we have shown that it is not about what you spend, it is about preparing properly and going out to execute it.

"It is another game where our goalkeeper has not had a save to make and we have had however many shots.

"Anyone that watches us knows we are refereed to a different standard to everyone else and they shouldn't be allowed to have that much of an influence on a game of football, it is scandalous really.

"The first free-kick, we win the ball and they are saying Keshi Anderson has been caught in the face - all right, he has been caught as we are coming away with the ball.

"Then they put the ball in and Phil scores with his hand, so we are then up against it.

"A couple of minutes later, Ben Whiteman gets a hand in his face and busts his lip, nowhere near the ball and I could see it on the other side of the pitch.

"This is my point, it is just not good enough. These incidents are just rife across football, and this is meant to be the fifth best league in the world.

"I am a fan of VAR because we would have won that game. We would have won so many games last year if we had it."

Birmingham City will look to avoid a hangover after losing their unbeaten run at home as they return to the road to visit Preston North End on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

Blues had not conceded defeat at St Andrew's for 18 months before Hull City ended that run with a dramatic 3-2 victory on Saturday.

But now the West Midlands side, who are winless in four, will look to spoil the party at Deepdale, where Preston are yet to lose this season.

The Lilywhites find themselves one point outside of the top six after a loss to West Bromwich Albion last time out and will be hoping their commanding home form will propel them back inside the play-off places.

• Preston have lost two of their last four home league games against Birmingham City (W1 D1), as many as their previous 31 beforehand (W19 D10).

• Birmingham won their last league meeting with Preston 1-0 in April 2024 but haven't won consecutively against the Lilywhites since February 2001.

• Since the start of last season, Preston have lost fewer Championship home games (4) than any ever-present side in the division.

• Birmingham have lost three of their last four away league games (D1), as many as their previous 26 beforehand (W16 D7).

• Preston's Paul Heckingbottom has never lost as a manager to Birmingham in six Championship meetings (W4 D2), only managing against Sunderland (7) more times in the division without losing.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom praised his side's mentality after the 2-1 defeat against West Bromwich Albion.

Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It was a tight one. I'm pleased with how we approached the game. We know how fine the margins are in this league.

"But we didn't take our moments and one big decision, which the ref got wrong [a Preston claim for a first-half penalty], went against us

"They scored two really good goals in terms of the finishing. But we could have defended better.

"We went toe-to-toe with a good team and I was pleased with the mentality. We looked like a good team. We gave Mikey Johnston too much space in the first half but we corrected that and the subs had an impact."

Image source, Opta

The international break is finally over and West Bromwich Albion will seek to get back on track when they welcome Preston to The Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Baggies went down 3-0 at Millwall last time out, a third defeat in five games which saw them slip outside the play-off places. They return home where they have claimed five points from their opening four matches, though scoring only three goals.

After a 2-0 home win over Charlton in their most recent fixture the Lilywhites are three places and two points better off in fourth and are seeking to make it six Championship games unbeaten, though their four away games this season have seen just eight goals scored, four at either end.

• West Bromwich Albion are unbeaten in each of their past five league matches against Preston North End (W4 D1), netting 3+ goals in three of the previous four meetings.

• Preston North End have lost 15 of their past 17 away league games against West Bromwich Albion, with their only victories coming in September 1973 (2-0) and January 2022 (2-0).

• Since the start of September, only Sheffield United (3) and Norwich (2) have won fewer Championship points than West Bromwich Albion (4), while in that time Preston have won the fourth-most points in the division (9).

• Only Coventry (5) have more Championship clean sheets this season than Preston (4) – the Lilywhites have four clean sheets in their past seven games, having gone 13 without one beforehand.

• Thierry Small has netted in each of Preston's past two Championship matches. He could be the first player aged 21 or younger to score in three Championship appearances in a row for the Lilywhites since Tom Cannon in April 2023.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom says they "have got a chance in every game" but the Championship remains one of the toughest leagues.

The Lilywhites, who are fourth in the table, have been without full-back Brad Potts due to injury and are also missing Will Keane after he got injured in the last pre-season friendly against Bolton.

"[Brad Potts and Will Keane] are still not fit," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"That's it, they are progressing. It is pointless trying to put a timeframe on it.

"You are fit when you are fit, and we have to do all we can to support them through that and that moment when they are training, when they get to that point, we will probably show a bit more caution and patience."

Preston visit seventh-placed West Brom on Saturday with the top 10 in the Championship only separated by six points.

"They are all tough in this league, home and away, it is shown all the time," Heckingbottom added.

"The results are showing this season in particular, how close the league is, the league table is showing that.

"Statistically it has been shown to be the tightest league in Europe, but there are reasons why it shouldn't be in terms of resources, finances, approaches compared to some clubs - but for some reason it is.

"It means you have got a chance in every single game, and every game you need to perform at your best, and every game is a tough game."

Preston North End defender Andrija Vukcevic says they "have started the season really well" but the Lilywhites need to remain consistent to build momentum for the season.

Vukcevic joined Preston in the summer on a three-year deal following the expiration of his contract at Mexican club Juarez.

"When I heard about the option to come on a trial here, I didn't really think too much," Vukcevic told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Although I had other offers I said, ' I really want to go there to prove myself'.

"It wasn't an easy decision, as you take a lot of risk, because you can get injured - but I decided to go and I didn't make a mistake."

Preston are fourth in the Championship, following a start to the season that has seen them lose just one of their opening nine league fixtures, in a 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth.

"We have started the season really well," Vukcevic added.

"It is just about how consistent we want to be, and we have had really great games to start the season, we just need to keep that momentum going.

"[The supporters] have been class since the first game. You notice on the pitch when you hear their voices, you just want to give your all."

Image source, Getty Images

Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town lead the manager and player of the month awards for September after both sides have remained undefeated and climbed up the Championship table.

Tractor Boys winger Jaden Philogene has been nominated for player of the month after finding the net four times across the side's three completed matches in September, including a hat-trick during their 5-0 drubbing over Sheffield United.

Charlton's James Bree bagged two goals and two assists over their four games to earn his nod.

Addicks boss Nathan Jones and Ipswich's Kieran McKenna both earn manager of the month nominations for their roles in their unbeaten months but face tough competition against Preston North End's Paul Heckingbottom and Queens Park Rangers' Julien Stephen.

Both also enjoyed an undefeated September, with Preston and QPR currently residing in the top six.

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan and Hull City's Ollie McBurnie round out the player nominations.

McBurnie scored in each of the side's four games to produce five goals in September, while Bannan helped earn Wednesday five points with an opening goal in their first league win of the season against Portsmouth and two assists.

Can Ian Penrose's appointment as Preston North End's new non-executive chairman lead to a new era for the Lilywhites?

Lifelong North End fan and businessman Penrose took the role after owner Craig Hemmings stepped down as club chairman on Tuesday.

The change comes as the club look for new ownership or potential investors to help them remain competitive in the Championship, and BBC Radio Lancashire's Andy Bayes has been looking into why Penrose's appointment may help the cause.

"So my thinking into all this is that it's always been that if the Hemmings family can find a buyer, that would be their preference. If, in the meantime, they can find investment from elsewhere, that would be welcomed," Bayes said.

"I just wonder whether the appointment of Ian Penrose is going to be really key to this because of all his business acumen, because of his experience all over the world in different genres.

"He's going to know a heck of a lot of people and maybe already has somebody lined up to take Preston North End onto the next step."

Listen to the full analysis and more Preston North End content on BBC Sounds.

Former Preston player and coach Neil McDonald has praised North End's "brilliant start" to the 2024-25 Championship season.

Paul Heckingbottom's side sit fourth in the table after nine games, having lost just once so far.

"That's an absolutely brilliant start," McDonald told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"You're talking about getting the best out of the players. You're talking about recruitment. He (Heckingbottom) has obviously recruited really, really well.

"He's obviously playing a system that the players enjoy and they're able to express themselves as well as defend properly. That's a good mix and that shows in the performances and certainly shows where they are in the league.

"It's a long time since they've been that high. So everybody should really be well chuffed with Preston's form so far."

You can listen to more from Neil McDonald on Preston North End on BBC Sounds.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End have made a highly impressive start. Tipped by many to be strugglers, they have delivered strong, consistent performances and are rightly sitting in fourth spot.

You could put a case forward that North End should be two points better off after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to Middlesbrough.

But, on the other hand, a miraculous save by Dan Iversen prevented Bristol City from leaving Deepdale with three points at the end of September.

All in all, the Deepdale faithful have no cause for complaint.

Paul Heckingbottom was crystal clear that last season's squad had to be broken up and that it needed a significant refresh. It's had that – and some.

On Saturday, it was the chance for summer recruits Andrija Vukcevic, Thierry Small and Daniel Jebbison to grab the headlines. In previous weeks it has been Pol Valentin, Alfie Devine or Lewis Dobbin who have had the limelight.

The return of Iversen to the goalkeeping department has been a masterstroke. A player familiar with the club, a player who feels at home, a player who feels valued and wanted.

He didn't have a shot to save on Saturday but was a commanding presence when required.

Harrison Armstrong made his full home debut against Charlton. A quick look at his ability shows he's got all the attributes to go to the top.

He's a player who makes the game look easy. Always in space, always with the pictures in his mind of how to get his team on the front foot.

While it's important to rightly recognise the new injection of talent in the squad, it is also crucial not to forget the long-serving players too.

Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes are in season number eight as North Enders. Both have been outstanding, with Lewis Gibson in between them as part of a solid back three.

Club captain Ben Whiteman was a target for the 'boo-boys' last season on occasions. He's not put a foot wrong this season.

And Ali McCann is simply Ali McCann. A player who gives absolutely everything for the cause. He covers every blade of grass with tenacity, and I'm convinced that he's underrated in terms of what he offers.

The Milutin Osmajic situation is one that hopefully will be a lot clearer by the time the international break is over.

He answered FA charges in London last month relating to being accused of racism in February. Paul Heckingbottom told me on Saturday just how important it is that a verdict is reached soon.

"It could have/should have been dealt with a long time ago," Heckingbottom said.

"I think when there is something this important and the topic is important, it rightly means a lot to a lot of people.

"We've got two lads' careers, and they're trying to get on with it. We would have loved for it to have been sorted one way or another and moved on, but it's not. Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it soon."

As the managerial sacking season gets into full swing, it probably marks the end of another time-honoured phrase, "it's very early in the season".

North End have made an excellent start, and for anyone dreaming of making the Championship play-offs for the first time since 2009, is it really out of the question?