MATCH FACTS

THE OPPOSITION

After a nightmare start 12 months ago, Preston have enjoyed a far better opening half-dozen games this time round. North End have been perfect on home soil thus far, dispatching Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, and Sheffield Wednesday, scoring eight goals in the process. Progress has also been made in the Carabao Cup with Lancashire neighbours Manchester City now lying in wait in Round Three.

Daniel Johnson's four goals last month earned him the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month prize but behind him the goals have been shared around. Billy Bodin has two while five other players have chipped in with a goal each.

In terms of player movement, it was fairly quiet in the North West over the summer months. David Nugent, Tom Bayliss, and Josh Ginnelly joined permanently with Andre Green arriving on loan. In the other direction, Callum Robinson joined Sheffield United while Andy Boyle, Marnick Vermijl, and Chris Maxwell also departed.

THE MANAGER

Alex Neil joined Preston North End in July 2017 to manage his second Sky Bet Championship club at the age of just 36.

Neil has already enjoyed success as a manager, winning promotion on two occasions, most notably to the Premier League with Norwich City in 2015.

Neil's career as manager follows a playing career that saw him win the Scottish Football League First Division in 2008 while at Hamilton Academical, before taking the role of player-manager at the club.

During his playing career, Neil also represented Barnsley and Mansfield Town before making his move to Hamilton in 2005, where he spent ten years.

Last season he led North End to a 14th-placed finish, having narrowly missed out on the Play-Offs during his first season in charge.

TEAM NEWS

Dru Yearwood, Mads Bech Sorensen, and Nikos Karelis are all getting closer according to boss Thomas Frank with the rest of the squad ready for action.

Alex Neil faces a raft of injury concerns with Andrew Hughes, Tom Barkhuizen and Sean Maguire all likely to be missing. Darnell Fisher should be available but David Nugent is not fit.

THOMAS' PRE-MATCH PRESS

PRE-MATCH FEATURES

🆚 Hot off the Press: Dave Seddon of the Lancashire Evening Post preview North End

🚆 Travel Guide: Plan your trip to Deepdale

LAST MEETING

TICKET INFO

There's Pay on the Day from the Bill Shankly Kop ticket office (duplicates/collections from same place) after 1pm, cash or card, no price increase

HOW TO FOLLOW

iFollow Brentford will be live from 2.30pm with Billy Reeves and Chris Deacon bringing commentary of our trip to Deepdale.

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