Preston North End manager Simon Grayson is looking to extend his side’s unbeaten league start to 2017 on their trip to Cardiff City.
The Lilywhites made the trip to the Welsh capital looking to do the double over Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds, but the gaffer is well aware it is a very different City side to the one his tem overcame at Deepdale back in September.
“It is always a tough task whenever you play against a Neil Warnock team,” said the PNE boss as he previewed the trip to the principality. “They will be hard to beat; you know Neil gets every last bit out of his teams. They ask questions from set pieces and have a good work ethic.
“They have changed their systems two or three times over the last few weeks, so we can’t be sure what formation they will go with.
“They have got some good players. If you look at the squad, it has some good strength in depth and knowing Neil he will probably still be trying to do deals to bring a few in before the window closes.
“We will go there and try and build off the run we have been on recently and try and get three more points.”
North End’s away record of late has been positive, with two wins and two draws from their last four matches on the road and the North End chief is hoping to extend that run.
“There is no reason why we can’t win any game in the Championship, whether it is home or away,” he continued. “I thought we did okay on Saturday without being at our best.
“We showed the real character and spirit we have in the group and that was highlighted even further having come from 2-0 down the week before against Villa - we have got that in abundance.
“Let’s go to Cardiff, work hard, do all the good things we are capable of doing and try and get another three points, which would make the journey back on a cold wet Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, that bit sweeter for everybody.”
The game falls on the last day of January, which also means the same day as the transfer window closing, something Simon finds an odd decision.
“It is a strange scenario, with us and the Premier League teams playing as well.
“The window shuts at four of five o’clock for me tomorrow, because I have to concentrate on the team and what we have to do to try and achieve three points.
“It would have been nice for every manager to have a clear run at things, so it is not ideal, but you just have to get on with it,” he added.
“It is always a tough task whenever you play against a Neil Warnock team,” said the PNE boss as he previewed the trip to the principality. “They will be hard to beat; you know Neil gets every last bit out of his teams. They ask questions from set pieces and have a good work ethic.
“They have changed their systems two or three times over the last few weeks, so we can’t be sure what formation they will go with.
“They have got some good players. If you look at the squad, it has some good strength in depth and knowing Neil he will probably still be trying to do deals to bring a few in before the window closes.
“We will go there and try and build off the run we have been on recently and try and get three more points.”
North End’s away record of late has been positive, with two wins and two draws from their last four matches on the road and the North End chief is hoping to extend that run.
“There is no reason why we can’t win any game in the Championship, whether it is home or away,” he continued. “I thought we did okay on Saturday without being at our best.
“We showed the real character and spirit we have in the group and that was highlighted even further having come from 2-0 down the week before against Villa - we have got that in abundance.
“Let’s go to Cardiff, work hard, do all the good things we are capable of doing and try and get another three points, which would make the journey back on a cold wet Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, that bit sweeter for everybody.”
The game falls on the last day of January, which also means the same day as the transfer window closing, something Simon finds an odd decision.
“It is a strange scenario, with us and the Premier League teams playing as well.
“The window shuts at four of five o’clock for me tomorrow, because I have to concentrate on the team and what we have to do to try and achieve three points.
“It would have been nice for every manager to have a clear run at things, so it is not ideal, but you just have to get on with it,” he added.