With a game against fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United next on the agenda, Simon Grayson has highlighted the importance of a regularity to their positive results and performances.
This Saturday's encounter could very well prove to be fundamental in achieving the ultimate goal come the end of the season, with Sheffield United among Preston in the stakes for promotion.
But Grayson has admitted the pressure of this weekend's game is what he and the players want with standards set high prior to the 2014/15 campaign even getting underway.
On the high expectations of Saturday’s fixture, Grayson said “We put that pressure on ourselves – we’re not just happy to settle for being in the Play-Offs.
“We want to get promotion to the Championship as do Sheffield United, Bristol City and half a dozen clubs, so it’s a situation where you can’t do much about being favourites with the bookies - you’ve just got to make sure you’re consistent with your performances and being the team that can replicate good performances until May time, and that’s going to be the key to promotion.
Similarly to Preston a year back, Sheffield United find themselves with renewed optimism this year following a rejuvenation of results after Nigel Clough was appointed manager half way through last year.
And the 44-year-old isn’t surprised that the Blades are tipped to do well this year after an excellent end to the season for Nigel Clough and his side.
When asked whether the game was one of the biggest games of the season, Grayson continued “On paper yes, but you don’t get any extra points for beating Sheffield United on Saturday.
“But it’s two big teams going head to head to get into the Championship – you look at the squad and the turnaround Nigel’s had with players in and out, and he’s starting to bring his own players in.
“They’re financially backed and it’s a big club so rightly so that they’re favourites for the division.
“Nigel’s done a fantastic job since he’s been there in turning the football club around after a poor start to last season.
“But if we can replicate the same performance as we did here last year against Sheffield Untied where we were unfortunate to not pick up three points after being the better side throughout then we’ve got a great chance, but they’ve got a strong squad of experienced and young players so it’s got the ingredients of being a decent game.”
But Grayson has admitted the pressure of this weekend's game is what he and the players want with standards set high prior to the 2014/15 campaign even getting underway.
On the high expectations of Saturday’s fixture, Grayson said “We put that pressure on ourselves – we’re not just happy to settle for being in the Play-Offs.
“We want to get promotion to the Championship as do Sheffield United, Bristol City and half a dozen clubs, so it’s a situation where you can’t do much about being favourites with the bookies - you’ve just got to make sure you’re consistent with your performances and being the team that can replicate good performances until May time, and that’s going to be the key to promotion.
Similarly to Preston a year back, Sheffield United find themselves with renewed optimism this year following a rejuvenation of results after Nigel Clough was appointed manager half way through last year.
And the 44-year-old isn’t surprised that the Blades are tipped to do well this year after an excellent end to the season for Nigel Clough and his side.
When asked whether the game was one of the biggest games of the season, Grayson continued “On paper yes, but you don’t get any extra points for beating Sheffield United on Saturday.
“But it’s two big teams going head to head to get into the Championship – you look at the squad and the turnaround Nigel’s had with players in and out, and he’s starting to bring his own players in.
“They’re financially backed and it’s a big club so rightly so that they’re favourites for the division.
“Nigel’s done a fantastic job since he’s been there in turning the football club around after a poor start to last season.
“But if we can replicate the same performance as we did here last year against Sheffield Untied where we were unfortunate to not pick up three points after being the better side throughout then we’ve got a great chance, but they’ve got a strong squad of experienced and young players so it’s got the ingredients of being a decent game.”