Manager Simon Grayson spoke ahead of the tip to Norwich City and said he was looking for a bit of déjà vu.
The Lilywhites boss is looking for his side to make it seven games unbeaten in all competitions, six in the EFL Championship, but face a tough test with the trip to the Canaries, who currently occupy one of the two automatic promotion slots.
But he acknowledges, that of late, every game has been a test: “We keep saying that the next game is a tough test,” said the gaffer after games against the sides fourth and third in the league in the last two games.
“We said it before Huddersfield and before that before Brighton, but we are going to a very difficult place in Carrow Road, against a team full of Premier League players, who only got relegated from there in the summer.
“They are as good as any team going forward, with major threats. They have some very talented players and it is the next test coming our way. We have to make sure we keep doing the things that have got us to where we are now.
“We have to stop the opposition from having an easy game, but ultimately cause the opposition problems. We are looking forward to it – the players are going there full of confidence, but they have to keep a level head and keep replicating the performances of late.”
The Lilywhites utilised a 4-4-2 formation to overcome the Terriers on Wednesday night, having also played 4-1-4-1, 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 in recent weeks, and he is happy that his side know their jobs and can adapt to whatever is needed in order to get a result.
“For two or three years we have been comfortable changing between formations,” he continued. “I would like to think that not many teams could second guess our team.
“I was speaking to the Huddersfield analyst on Wednesday night, who does a lot of work, and used to work with me and the first thing I said to him was ‘I bet you don’t know what system we are playng?’ and he didn’t!
“We know that our players can adapt. We could change the personnel on Wednesday night to a different system if we needed to and that’s why our recruitment has involved brining in some versatile players, but it also owes a lot to the work we do on the training pitch.
“The players take it on board, do the work we ask them to do and full credit to them, that they understand what we are asking and get better with every game they are involved in.”
But he acknowledges, that of late, every game has been a test: “We keep saying that the next game is a tough test,” said the gaffer after games against the sides fourth and third in the league in the last two games.
“We said it before Huddersfield and before that before Brighton, but we are going to a very difficult place in Carrow Road, against a team full of Premier League players, who only got relegated from there in the summer.
“They are as good as any team going forward, with major threats. They have some very talented players and it is the next test coming our way. We have to make sure we keep doing the things that have got us to where we are now.
“We have to stop the opposition from having an easy game, but ultimately cause the opposition problems. We are looking forward to it – the players are going there full of confidence, but they have to keep a level head and keep replicating the performances of late.”
The Lilywhites utilised a 4-4-2 formation to overcome the Terriers on Wednesday night, having also played 4-1-4-1, 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 in recent weeks, and he is happy that his side know their jobs and can adapt to whatever is needed in order to get a result.
“For two or three years we have been comfortable changing between formations,” he continued. “I would like to think that not many teams could second guess our team.
“I was speaking to the Huddersfield analyst on Wednesday night, who does a lot of work, and used to work with me and the first thing I said to him was ‘I bet you don’t know what system we are playng?’ and he didn’t!
“We know that our players can adapt. We could change the personnel on Wednesday night to a different system if we needed to and that’s why our recruitment has involved brining in some versatile players, but it also owes a lot to the work we do on the training pitch.
“The players take it on board, do the work we ask them to do and full credit to them, that they understand what we are asking and get better with every game they are involved in.”