Paul Heckingbottom is very confident that Preston North End has the ability to beat Derby County the next game if they were to give it their best. This week, the Lilywhites will also wrap up the international break and return to Deepdale to begin a hectic spate of fixtures with the Rams. Although both teams are not in their best performance, it may be said that North End needs a win more than Derby does.
After six straight defeats in all the competitions, Town is now eighty-sixth on the Championship table, but occupies the seventeenth position in the relegation zone strictly by goal difference. Derby which was promoted early this year is at present occupying the 12th place in the League, which is better compared it to other teams of League One promotion. The Rams had a recent away win at Coventry City before the break making it clear their plight on the road unlike their home matches where Heckingbottom’s men have only been defeated twice; Bristol City being one of them.
Heckingbottom does not underestimate Derby but he singles out one key area where he feels that they have been efficient, and this is in the use of set-pieces. Although Derby has got five headed goals in this championship season of the new year, North End must be extra careful on the defensive side as Yates is their leading scorer. Thus, after acknowledging the efforts of their opponents, Heckingbottom insists on his wards to work on the victory themselves.
Heckington has faith in his players and said North End have the capability of beating Derby and should not focus on how the team approaches the game. Stressing with their best performance, he reckons that concentration to their own strategy will be crucial in the match against Derby for a good result.