The Season So Far

Preston North End remain unbeaten in league games for 2016 after a good start to the New Year. They have won two games and drawn one. The one defeat came at London Road in the FA Cup Third Round. Their upward curve after initially struggling in the Championship has been their home form, having been beaten only once since September at Deepdale. They lie in 13th place but a win will move The Lilywhites above us.

Simon Grayson has made two signings in the January transfer window, both from Manchester United. Ben Pearson and Liam Grimshaw arrived at Deepdale within seven days of each other.

Their summer transfer dealings were mainly British and Irish-based. They signed Irish forward Eoin Doyle on loan from Cardiff City in addition to Scottish striker Stevie May from Sheffield Wednesday. The Lilywhites also welcomed Chris Kirkland [Sheffield Wednesday]; Jermaine Beckford [Bolton Wanderers] and Greg Cunningham [Bristol City]. Adam Reach is also on loan from Middlesbrough.

Thorsten Stuckmann [Doncaster Rovers]; Lee Holmes [Exeter City]; Keith Keane [Cambridge United]; Jack King, Scott Wiseman and Scott Laird [Scunthorpe United]; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake [Chesterfield] and Kevin Davies [unattached] all left the club last summer.

Daniel Johnson is their current top goalscorer with eight in the league so far.

The Gaffer

Simon Grayson is in his fourth season at Preston, putting him sixth in the list of longest-serving Championship managers. The former Leicester City and Aston Villa fullback took charge in February 2013, in place of Graham Westley.

He rescued North End from the brink of relegation in his first season, before defeat in the Play-Offs a year later. This is Grayson’s fourth managerial role, after Blackpool, Leeds United and Huddersfield Town.

Preston lost only one league match from February onwards last season to give them a Play-Off spot, and a 4-0 victory over Swindon Town at Wembley saw them return to the Championship last summer.

The Match Officials

Referee: David Webb

Assistant Referees: Billy Khatib and Ravel Cheosiaua

Fourth Official: Carl Boyeson

Ticket news

You can pay on the day for Saturday's game. Visit the Preston North End ticket information page for more details on ticket prices.

Bees Player

You can hear live match commentary on Bees Player from 2.30pm on Saturday, with commentator Mark Burridge.