MATCH PREVIEW: BURNLEY V PRESTON NORTH END

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Clarets host North End at Turf Moor

2024-10-04T18:00:00.000Z

MATCH PREVIEW: BURNLEY V PRESTON NORTH END

Clarets host North End at Turf Moor

2024-10-04T18:00:00.000Z

Clarets host North End at Turf Moor

Burnley are back at home again this Saturday (12:30pm) entertaining Lancashire rivals Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship live on Sky Sports Main Event.

Scott Parker's side are still unbeaten at Turf Moor this season with three wins and a draw and the Clarets extended their undefeated run in the league to five matches on Tuesday night following the victory over Argyle.

The Clarets go into Saturday in 2nd place having taken 17 points from the first eight games of the 2024/25 campaign, whilst Saturday's opponents Preston sit 21st with eight points.

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How to watch

A limited amount of tickets are still available for the fixture against Preston and can be purchased online or in person at the ticket office.

The game is available to watch in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football and to find out the EFL rightsholders countries showing the game live click here.

Live audio commentary will be available as usual via Clarets+ from 12:15pm on the day, with former striker Chris Iwelumo as the co-commentator.

Full match highlights, goals and interviews will be available to view after the match on Clarets+ and across all social media channels.

Click here to view all our Clarets+ packages.

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The opposition

Preston are competing in their 10th consecutive Championship season this year, following promotion back to the second tier in 2015 following a play-off final win over Swindon Town at Wembley.

Despite the Lilywhites finishing in the Championship play-off places three times across 2005-2009, North End were relegated to League One in 2011 following a 10-year absence from the third tier.

After two disappointing campaigns upon return to League One, Preston secured a play-off place once again in the 2013/14 season, but lost to eventual winners Rotherham United in the semi-finals over two legs.

However, promotion was sealed the following year as Preston were winners at Wembley against Swindon Town, as Jermaine Beckford’s hat-trick ensured the Lilywhites were back in the Championship.

A 7th place finish in the 2017/18 season is the highest since their return and 14th place the lowest, with many mid-table finishes in-between the last nine years.

Preston bolstered their squad in the summer with the permanent additions of Jeppe Okkels from FC Utrecht and Stefan Teitur Thordarson from Silkeborg. Midfielder Sam Greenwood signed on loan from Leeds, alongside defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden from Aston Villa and Josh Bowler arriving from Nottingham Forest.

North End saw the likes of Alan Browne leave for Sunderland, Ben Woodburn sign for Salford City and defender Greg Cunningham join Galway United.

Following an opening night defeat to Sheffield United, the Lilywhites lost three of their first four league games, before back-to-back draws against Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers.

A 3-1 defeat to Millwall two weekends ago, was followed up by an impressive 3-0 win over Watford on Wednesday night at Deepdale, in what was their second victory of the campaign.

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In the dugout

Paul Heckingbottom's first role in coaching came with Barnsley in the 2014/15 season, with the former Tykes defender originally working with the development squad, before being appointed caretaker boss of the first team for three games in February 2015.

A year later, Heckingbottom took over in a caretaker role once again following Lee Johnson's departure to Bristol City and his successful spell in charge saw the Yorkshireman win the Football League Trophy at Wembley and gain promotion to the Championship via the play-offs, which led to Heckingbottom being appointed Head Coach permanently.

Following exactly two years as Barnsley boss, Heckingbottom departed Oakwell to join Leeds United as Head Coach, but a brief four month spell at Elland Road saw him part ways in the summer of 2018 and it was announced he would then take charge of SPL side Hibernian in February 2019.

The former Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday man spent nine months at Easter Road, including a Manager of the Month award and Edinburgh derby win over Hearts at Tynecastle, before leaving in November of that year.

Heckingbottom then had a lengthy break from management, before joining Sheffield United as U23s Head Coach in July 2020 and following Chris Wilder's dismissal in March 2021, he was appointed as interim boss of the Blades' first team initially and then took on the role of manager in November.

United missed out on promotion back to the Premier League after suffering defeat in the play-off semi-finals to Nottingham Forest, but an impressive campaign in 2022/23 saw the Blades return to the top-flight in 2nd place, finishing behind the Clarets.

Heckingbottom's departure from Bramall Lane was announced in December last year, before being appointed Preston manager in August 2024.

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Last time we met

11/02/2023 – Burnley 3 – 0 Preston North End (Turf Moor)

Burnley: Muric, Roberts, Beyer, Ekdal (Taylor 80), Maatsen, Brownhill (Twine 80), Cullen, Gudmundsson (Cork 73), Tella (Obfaemi 73), Zaroury, Barnes (Foster 61)

Unused Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Taylor, Vitinho

Preston North End: Woodman, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Browne, Ledson (Whiteman HT), McCann, Brady, Delap, Woodburn (Parrott HT) Cannon

Unused Subs: Cornell, Fernandez, Cunningham, Onomah, Potts

Goals: Tella 14’, 55’ 58’

Attendance: 21,528 (2,247)

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What Scott Parker said

"There's always room for improvement, whether it be before the season starts or with one game of the season left, things evolve and change and there's always ways you can get better.

"We've lost one game this season, we're showing real signs of threat and you could see that on Tuesday, but overall I'm more than pleased with where we are and the boys have been first class."

Parker added: "I understand derbies and rivalries and what they mean. I have been involved in many and we face another this weekend, we all understand what games like this mean to the fan base.

"This weekend will be no different, 12:30 kick-off, a packed out Turf Moor and we will be prepared for what's to come."

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Officials

Referee - Gavin Ward

Assistant Referee 1 - Lee Venamore

Assistant Referee 2 - Greg Read

Fourth Official - Daniel Middleton

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