Preston North End boss Alex Neil fears extension of crowd ban will be ‘damaging blow’

Deepdale will be empty again when the Lilywhites host Stoke tomorrow (3pm) and that looks set to be the norm for another six months.

Neil says his players got a real lift from playing in front of a crowd of 1,000 at Norwich last week, the game a pilot to test a return of fans.

Within three days, though, the rug was pulled from underneath sport by tougher measures to curb Covid-19, those including a halt on having stadiums running at a smaller capacity.

“My biggest worry is that this becomes a bit of normality,” said Neil.

“We might end up losing a generation of fans who would generally go to the football on a weekly basis. At the moment they will be finding different things to do with their lives.

“The worry we have got is that when they are allowed back, they don’t all return.

“You can go and sit in the pub as long as you are away for 10pm, you can go to the gym but you can’t sit outside in a 30,000-seat stadium about six rows apart from each other.

“Professional sport is based around the fans.

“When I’m no longer here and the players are no longer here, they are the guys who will still be here supporting their club.”

Neil admits his PNE side have not been at their best in behind-closed-doors games but knows he has to find a way to change that, bearing in mind the fan ban could last until at least March.

Last week’s pilot games raised hopes of an October return but those were swiftly dashed.

Said Neil: “It was a damaging blow, I’m not 
going to lie about that. Between the Norwich game and Brighton playing here, there was a big difference in atmosphere.

“Our lads’ physical stats at Norwich were absolutely through the roof.

“I know people will ask why can’t we get them to run when there is nobody there.

“It’s just not the same, that atmosphere and tension which builds up when fans are there leads to a whole different ball game.”

For Stoke’s visit, Neil is set to revert to something closely resembling the side which drew at Norwich.

He made nine changes for the Brighton game, only Joe Rafferty and Patrick Bauer starting both matches.

Daniel Johnson will be missing again with a groin injury sustained a week ago.

Neil said: “DJ was just doing a bit of shooting in last Friday’s session, he had two or three shots and then had to pull out. There was something there which showed on the scan, he’s got a grade one.”