Ex-Man United man's impact impressing Preston North End as Watford message sent

Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe thinks Tom Cleverley has done a ‘fantastic job’ as interim manager of Watford.

It’s the Hornets whom PNE face in the Championship on Saturday, away from home. North End are still very much in the play-off picture, but looking to get back on track after losing 1-0 at Birmingham City on Easter Monday.

Cleverley was handed the temporary reigns at Vicarage Road, after the sacking of Valerien Ismael in early March. After losing narrowly, at home to Coventry City, Watford went and won at Birmingham before sharing the spoils with Leeds United and West Brom.

"He has done a fantastic job," said Lowe. "Sometimes, when you go in after being a player you get that love off the players he's played with - and that respect, regardless of what he's done so far in his coaching career. With the games he's played in and the clubs he has played for, he's definitely got the respect - because he was a good player. And he's becoming a good coach and manager, as we sit here and speak. We've got to make sure we are on it from minute one. We have to nullify their strengths and hopefully we can pick up some points."

In the reverse fixture at Deepdale, PNE were thrashed 1-5 after heading in at half-time with the game one apiece. Watford netted four goals in the space of 25 second half minutes, to inflict a bruising defeat on Preston. Lowe and co have moved on and improved since then, but it is a result which hurt at the time and a performance he will not accept a repeat of.

"I thought the first half was probably the best we've played,” said Lowe. “And then, to come out and concede those goals in quick, consecutive minutes was really disappointing. We debriefed it, discussed it and - touch wood - it hasn't happened again. We don't want it to happen again. I would like to think they learned from it.

“But, as I've said many times, any team in the Championship can do that to you if you are not switched on. In those 45 minutes, we were not switched on - nowhere near. So, we are hoping that isn't the case again. We've got to go there, be solid, resolute, hard to beat and break down and create some opportunities ourselves. That is past, well gone - and this weekend we've got to perform to the levels we can.”