Manager Simon Grayson looks ahead to the final game for the Lilywhites before Christmas, as they face Lee Johnson’s Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The Lilywhites stayed in the east midlands after Wednesday night’s clash with Nottingham Forest, which proved to be a sensible decision after the M6 was closed casing delays for the majority of supporters.
The gaffer admitted that a good night’s sleep and proper recovery were important way to prepare for the clash with the Robins.
“We just felt that with the game on Wednesday night, by the time we would have got back to Preston it would have been the early hours of Thursday and then we would have been back in within a few hours for a warm down, before travelling back down to Bristol, so it made sense to stay down,” said Simon, who will celebrate his birthday on Friday.
“The players got to bed at a good time, got their work done on Thursday morning and on Friday we are very grateful that we have been allowed to train at Leicester City’s training ground, before we make the shorter journey to Bristol.
“It is all about preparation and recovery. We have done it a few times over the past couple of years where we have stayed down after a midweek journey when we have another away game on the weekend, in close proximity, we felt it would benefit everyone in the group.”
The clash with City is one of many over the last few seasons, after the sides were promoted together in 2014 and continue their rivalry in the Championship, but the manager is hoping their form from recent games continues.
“We know they are a decent team, who made a good start, but who have had a few results not go their way at this moment in time,” he continued.
“I saw the game against Brentford on Tuesday night and they had some good opportunities to win it. We know a lot about their personnel, a lot of their squad is still the League One group that got promotion with ourselves and our group is very much the same.
“We go there in good spirits, looking to build on the four points we have earned against Blackburn and Forest and the performances, which have been very good in the last two games. We will be aware of their threats and how they play, but Lee, who was at our game on Wednesday, will be aware of how well we are playing.”
And the Lilywhites’ record at Ashton Gate has been good in recent seasons, something the PNE chief wants to see continue at the weekend: “There has been nothing in it in terms of the teams over the past few years and that is why we both ended up getting promoted and maintained Championship survival last season and we will both be looking to progress as football clubs.
“There isn’t much between us in terms of league position as this moment in time and we both know plenty about each other, but we go there in good spirits looking to replicate the performances we have had at Ashton Gate in the past couple of years,” he added.
The gaffer admitted that a good night’s sleep and proper recovery were important way to prepare for the clash with the Robins.
“We just felt that with the game on Wednesday night, by the time we would have got back to Preston it would have been the early hours of Thursday and then we would have been back in within a few hours for a warm down, before travelling back down to Bristol, so it made sense to stay down,” said Simon, who will celebrate his birthday on Friday.
“The players got to bed at a good time, got their work done on Thursday morning and on Friday we are very grateful that we have been allowed to train at Leicester City’s training ground, before we make the shorter journey to Bristol.
“It is all about preparation and recovery. We have done it a few times over the past couple of years where we have stayed down after a midweek journey when we have another away game on the weekend, in close proximity, we felt it would benefit everyone in the group.”
The clash with City is one of many over the last few seasons, after the sides were promoted together in 2014 and continue their rivalry in the Championship, but the manager is hoping their form from recent games continues.
“We know they are a decent team, who made a good start, but who have had a few results not go their way at this moment in time,” he continued.
“I saw the game against Brentford on Tuesday night and they had some good opportunities to win it. We know a lot about their personnel, a lot of their squad is still the League One group that got promotion with ourselves and our group is very much the same.
“We go there in good spirits, looking to build on the four points we have earned against Blackburn and Forest and the performances, which have been very good in the last two games. We will be aware of their threats and how they play, but Lee, who was at our game on Wednesday, will be aware of how well we are playing.”
And the Lilywhites’ record at Ashton Gate has been good in recent seasons, something the PNE chief wants to see continue at the weekend: “There has been nothing in it in terms of the teams over the past few years and that is why we both ended up getting promoted and maintained Championship survival last season and we will both be looking to progress as football clubs.
“There isn’t much between us in terms of league position as this moment in time and we both know plenty about each other, but we go there in good spirits looking to replicate the performances we have had at Ashton Gate in the past couple of years,” he added.