Alfie Devine finds positive Preston North End comparison in his last relegation fight

Alfie Devine has been in a relegation fight before and escaped. He believes Preston North End have the same attitude to do so as well.

Things are looking bleak for Preston. After enduring the second-worst start in their history, behind only 1924, they are already incredibly short odds with the bookmakers to be relegated to League One.

Graham Alexander's arrival has not resulted in an upturn in results, with three successive defeats leaving North End effectively six points from safety.

Devine was in a slightly different relegation battle in 2024 when he joined Plymouth Argyle on loan for the remainder of the Championship season.

Instead of being in the bottom three and climbing out, they were at risk of falling in. Plymouth were in a steady position when he joined but gradually dropped down the table until they were a point above the relegation zone going into the final day.

A 1-0 win at home to Hull City ensured they stayed up at the expense of Birmingham City.

Devine says the attitude was always positive at Plymouth in those difficult times, and he sees the same energy within the squad at Preston.

"When I was at Plymouth we had a similar situation where we stayed up on the last day," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's the same situation here to do with the team we had there. Everyone was together. There was no one that isn't together.

"Listen, no one wants to be in this situation that we're in. Definitely no one in there, none of the fans, none of the staff, none of the club wants to be in this position that we're in.

"I can confidentially say we're a strong group together, there's no bad egg. Everyone is stronger together, and I think that's what going to help us."

Devine shares the mood in the squad

With just a single victory in 11 games, it would be understandable if morale was low in the squad.

Yet, while there is understandably a sense of disappointment, Devine insists everyone remains committed and hopeful of a turnaround.

"Obviously, there's a lot of disappointment from the weekend because I think the goals we conceded, obviously, we know were poor," he said of the mood in the squad.

"I thought first half we were in the game and that makes it even more frustrating for us. It's been about regrouping and refocussing because we've got an important game on Saturday."

He continued: "One thing I can say is that no one has chucked it in.

"No one's given up hope or anything like that. I think each game you can see we're all running for each other, it's just not clicking for us.

"Whether that's individual mistakes that happen or as a team collectively, everyone's a bit disappointed.

"We know the players we have in there, we'll be able to turn it around."