Fan Focus: Preston fan Oli thinks ex-Sunderland man Paul Heckingbottom has been "refreshing"

Today at 01:00 AM

Ahead of tonight's match at Deepdale, we spoke to Preston fan Oli Hargreaves of the The Butter Pie Podcast, to find out more about the Lilywhites. Who should we be wary of?

After being linked with Sunderland this summer, Paul Heckingbottom replaced Ryan Lowe as Preston boss - how would you summarise his tenure so far?

I think Heckingbottom coming in has been totally refreshing.

The club needed an uplift from where we were at with Ryan Lowe and although slight changes have only been made you can see the real intent of how he wants his team to play and where he will be able to take this club.

Preston sit anxiously in 20th as things stand, is the mood that you're in a relegation battle or are you confident Heckingbottom can deliver more?

Yeah, obviously it isn't nice being down near the relegation zone.

But I have full belief in Heckingbottom and McCall to be able to guide us not just to safety but probably to our normal finishing place of 12-16th.

At home Preston are picking up points whereas you're yet to win away from home - what makes playing at Deepdale so difficult?

I'm honestly not too sure at the moment, it used to be a real fortress and I think some of that still remains.

The atmosphere needs to improve at home and then we will become a real force at home, especially when we are under the lights.

Alan Browne is set to start in his return to the club he spent 10 years with. It's always awful seeing a fan favourite in another club's shirt, isn't it?

Alan Browne categorically should never have left Preston North End.

It was an absolute travesty that we allowed a club legend to walk on a free due to his apparent despise of Lowe, who we then got rid of after a game. But that's PNE all over, I'm afraid.

Ex-Sunderland academy forward Sam Greenwood is Preston's top goal scorer this season with five goals - is he proving to be a great loan signing?

Yeah, really impressed by Greenwood. He has come in and proved his ability, especially at set pieces and dead balls he is superb.

He just needs to be able to affect the game a bit more in the final third, but I am sure that'll come when we have Osmajic back from suspension.

A really good deal and with the buy-out clause, I think the club would do a lot worse than activating it.

Preston are very much a side of experienced heads at this level - who would you say are the key players to be wary of?

I think the main players to look out for would be Mads Frokjaer, when on his day he is one of the best creative midfielders in the league, in my opinion. Relaxed but clinical in his passing.

Another would be Ali McCann, who covers every blade of grass and is turning into the Ben Pearson player we have needed ever since he left.

Sunderland will be without Jobe Bellingham and Anthony Patterson and haven't rotated much this season, do you think this midweek away fixture will be the best time to play us?

I think it's probably the best time to play you showing by Sunderland's start to the season, under the lights at Deepdale with a few players missing for your lot.

Could be hopefully a really good night at Deepdale for PNE.

How do you think Heckingbottom will set up against Sunderland tactically?

I think he'll probably stick to a 3-4-2-1 with the 2 quite narrow to the sole 9.

I think we'll look to try to overrun in midfield and press high to try to win the ball high up and hopefully grab a goal.

Just have to ensure we protect the wide centre-backs from being exposed too much to your wingers running at them as that will cause us a real problem.

Are any players missing and who do you think will start?

Osmajic still missing is a huge loss for us, Riis has been in really poor form and just can't seem to score to save his life at the moment.

Everyone else is seemingly fit for the game, besides Will Keane who I still think Osmajic would start over.

Overall, just missing the majority of our striking options which isn't the greatest.

Woodman (GK), Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Potts, Frokjear, Whiteman, McCann, Kesler-Hayden, Riis, Greenwood.

Sunderland have lost their last two visits to Deepdale, including earlier this season in the cup - what is your prediction for the final score?

I never like to be positive when it comes to predicting PNE, so I'll stick with the old trustworthy 1-1, which I would shake your hand for now if offered.