Preston North End

Image source, Rex Features

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom praised his side's attitude during their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Deepdale.

Goals from Stefan Stefan Thordarson and Emil Riis secured the victory after Delano Burgzorg levelled for the visitors.

Victory is their third in four matches and Heckingbottom said his team grew into the game and took their chances after giving themselves a good foundation defensively.

"It was a good game," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The right outcome for us and three points. I'm delighted with the performance and the application against a good side.

"I've said before, in possession, Boro are a very, very dangerous team.

"We had a couple of moments where we weren't brave enough in the first half but I would always back us to get moments of control and we did that.

"Second half, it was similar. I felt we got to grips and they scored on the counter, but we were a lot stronger without the ball and had moments with it."

Preston are up to 14th in the Championship table.

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom says midfielder Mads Frokjaer-Jensen has an "edge to him" but needs to improve his mentality.

The Dane provided an assist for Milutin Osmajic to score North End's second goal as they beat Watford 2-1 on Tuesday.

However, Heckingbottom feels that the 25-year-old could improve if he adopted a more positive mindset.

"He can affect himself negatively, when there's no need to do that," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"If he can stop beating himself up as often and getting down on himself, his level of performance will become much more consistent.

"I think he can control his mood, mentality, frame of mind better."

When asked about whether he felt he was too negative, Frokjaer-Jensen agreed with his manager's opinion.

"I'm pretty much in tune with myself so by that, I'm also probably my biggest critic," Frokjaer-Jensen said.

"It's easy to see when I'm annoyed. I don't really hide it and I think sometimes the manager thinks I show it too much.

"I can beat myself up but that's only because I trust my own abilities."

Middlesbrough make the trip to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT) as they look to strength their position in the Championship play-off places.

Boro beat fellow promotion contenders West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to go fifth in the table.

Preston North End have not lost in their past three league games and earned a point against Middlesbrough in September's reverse fixture.

• Preston have won each of their past four home league games against Middlesbrough since December 2020, as many victories as across their 18 prior matches at Deepdale combined (W4 D6 L8).

• Middlesbrough have won two of their past four league games against Preston 4-0 (W2 D1 L1), though both of those victories came at the Riverside Stadium.

• Preston are unbeaten across their past seven home league games (W2 D5), last enjoying a longer run at Deepdale between April and November 2019 (11 games).

• Middlesbrough lost 2-1 at Portsmouth in their last away league match, last losing consecutive games on the road back in December 2023.

• Preston's Emil Riis has struck six goals across his seven league games against Middlesbrough, his most goals against any side in his English league career. Five of those strikes have also come at Deepdale.

Millwall boss Alex Neil is preparing a bid for 22-year-old Wolves midfielder Luke Cundle, who has also been linked with Preston North End, Swansea City and Bristol City. (South London Press, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip page.

New Preston North End signing Jayden Meghoma grabbed his first assist for the club when he set up team-mate Milutin Osmajic for an opener in their 2-1 win over Watford.

"It's an amazing feeling," Meghoma told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The main thing for me is to impress the fans and to give them a show, to make sure we get the three points all the time."

The Brentford loanee joined North End on Thursday and has featured in both of Preston's Championship matches since linking up with the squad.

The Lilywhites also claimed a point in a goalless draw at Luton Town last Saturday.

The move from the Bees has given the teenager his first taste of life in the Championship and, so far, it has appeared seamless.

"It's been fantastic," Meghoma added. "Everybody's been brilliant so it's an easy place to settle into."

Ross Heaton
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Montenegrin Milutin Osmajic returned to the dressing room at full-time with team-mate Ryan Ledson leading a rendition of a terrace song sung by Preston North End fans – a clear sign of the appreciation of his match-winning performance.

His strength and power were simply too much for the Watford backline who could only resort to fouling him in order to prevent his progress.

He scored two goals with different finishes...

Firstly, a sublime left-footed cross from debutant Jayden Meghoma saw Osmajic dart into the six-yard box to apply the decisive touch from close range.

His second, after the break, came from a move he started - outmuscling his man, he laid off the ball neatly to Mads Frokjaer-Jensen before spinning in behind and emphatically smashing it home at the near post.

Brains and brawn combined on a night he moved into double figures for the season.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston assistant Stuart McCall stood in for Paul Heckingbottom at the post-match press conference following the manager's red card at half time.

He said the win was built on solid preparation work and a fine defensive display, telling BBC Radio Lancashire:

"We trained this morning and discussed how we wanted to come and play and overall it was another strong defensive performance.

"There was a little slip - you don't let (Rocco) Vata come inside on his right foot, and it was a really good goal by the kid.

"But we're delighted with the victory but obviously with the level of performance as well."

Watford ended a run of four league games without a win (D1 L3) when they won 2-0 at Derby County on Saturday and are only outside the Championship play-off spots on goal difference.

The Hornets welcome a Preston North End side who have not won in three, including a goalless draw at Luton Town at the weekend, and are five points above the drop zone.

• Watford have lost one of their past seven league games against Preston (W3 D3 L1), though that defeat was the reverse fixture in October (0-3).

• Preston have failed to win any of their past seven away league games against Watford (D4 L3), since a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road in August 2005.

• Watford have won both of their home midweek league games this season, beating Bristol City 1-0 in November and Portsmouth 2-1 in December.

• Preston have lost one of their seven midweek league games this season (W3 D3 L1), though that defeat (a 3-1 loss) came in the most recent game against West Brom on New Year's Day.

• Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom has won two of his three previous EFL meetings with Watford (W2 L1), though his only defeat came at Vicarage Road in August 2022 with Sheffield United, losing 1-0 on the opening day of the 2022-23 campaign.

Preston North End are interested in 23-year-old left-back Bryan Hein, who is out of contract with 2. Bundesliga club Jahn Regensburg.

North End are also closing in on a new contract for defender Liam Lindsay, 29, who has made 24 appearances for the club across all competitions this season. (Lancashire Post, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

West Bromwich Albion look set to sign Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price after reported interest from Preston North End. (Lancashire Post), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Lancashire following his side's 0-0 draw against Luton Town.

He said: "I'm really pleased - from minute one to the end.

"It became a little bit tricky when Luton made the change, so we didn't know what team they would pick or how they would set up tactically. But we just concentrated on ourselves .

"At times we have not managed games away from home well enough and that cost us points so I'd love it if that was the benchmark for every single away game between now and the end of the season in terms of the mentality and the approach.

"But we still want to be better in other areas."

Andy Bayes
Sports Editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End have addressed two areas that, from the outside, looked like they needed a refresh.

Paul Heckingbottom was able to make one addition in the last window following his appointment, but he's had time to assess what was needed over the last four months and left-sided players have come in.

Heckingbottom suggested to me this week that the squad he inherited are used to playing three at the back and largely, he's been happy to continue with that system, but now that Jayden Meghoma has arrived, it does look like they can comfortably play a back four with specialists on both sides.

Kaine Kesler-Hayden has switched from his favoured flank on the right to cover the left, largely because of a couple of injuries to Robbie Brady of late, but I think we can expect him to move back to his more natural position going forward.

Balance is key to any team and with Meghoma and Brady both fit and available to play, and Brad Potts not far off a return from injury, he'll have options to choose from on both sides without someone playing slightly out of their comfort zone.

Reflecting on the signings of Lewis Gibson on a permanent deal and the loan of Meghoma from Brentford, it's clear Heckingbottom would like to do more to mould the squad more to his liking but you sense that if there are more incomings, it could involve fringe players leaving to create the space.

Gibson's arrival leaves them with six senior centre-backs on the books. He's highly thought of and is here to play, you'd imagine he'll get a run of games to show what he's all about.

If they continue to play three centre-backs, it's direct competition in each spot, or is it too many to keep everyone happy? On a bench of nine, how many centre-backs do you realistically need?

A number of first-team players are out of contract in the summer. Some have been told that they won't be offered fresh terms for next year, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll leave this month in search of a new employer.

Andrew Hughes and Jordan Storey are the most recent two to extend their Deepdale stays, but we're waiting on key areas like the goalkeeping department, with Freddie Woodman's contract up in the summer.

Emil Riis is also out of contract and has been reportedly interesting clubs of late. Ryan Ledson, Liam Lindsay and Ched Evans – all Alex Neil signings - will also be free agents in the summer unless something is agreed.

There are others too, who have played their part in recent seasons, including Duane Holmes and, to a lesser extent, Patrick Bauer.

It's a key time for North End. We could see quite a turnover of personnel over the coming months, or deals may be struck to keep some of the players on who have served them over a number of years.

The feeling you get from talking to Paul Heckingbottom is that change might be a good thing.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford loanee Jayden Meghoma could make his debut for Preston North End in their away game against Luton Town at the weekend after joining the Lancashire club on Thursday.

The teenager has been brought into the squad to add to North End's attacking threat as well as providing relief for defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who has played all 90 minutes in 15 of his 24 Championship appearances this season.

"It gives us that opportunity now to have more competition, more cover and better balance to the team," boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's probably played more games at left-back in a back four. But, he's athletic, he likes to get forward. We want to push him and get him creating and scoring goals."

Preston are also boosted by midfielder Robbie Brady's return to fitness following a rib injury.

Matt Bloomfield's reign in charge of Luton gets underway with the visit of Preston North End to Kenilworth Road on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Only five teams have won more than Town's six at home this season, while Paul Heckingbottom's men have won only one of their dozen games on the road.

• Luton Town have failed to win any of their past three league games against Preston North End (D1 L2), with those matches witnessing just four goals scored in total.

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 at Deepdale in August, Preston North End will be looking to complete a first league double over Luton Town since the 1999-2000 season.

• Luton Town have lost each of their last four league games, last losing five in a row back in November 2019.

• Preston North End have won just one of their last 17 Championship away games (D6 L10), beating Cardiff 2-0 in December.

• Including caretakers/interims, none of the last six Luton Town managers have won the first game of a spell in charge (D5 L1), since Andy Awford's Hatters beat Exeter City 3-2 in December 2015.