'I definitely wouldn't' - Ex-Watford and Middlesbrough men assess Preston North End's play-off credentials

Preston North End have every chance of making the play-offs this season.

That is the view of Sky Sports EFL pundits, and former Championship stars, Tommy Smith and Jobi McAnuff. The Lilywhites head into their home double header against Derby County and Hull City in fourth spot, having collected 43 points from the first 26 games of the season.

PNE are only one point adrift of third placed Ipswich Town - who have a game in hand - and three adrift of second placed Middlesbrough. The Lilywhites head to the Riverside on January 24. McAnuff has been hugely impressed by Preston but feels the top two spots will probably prove out of their reach.

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“Yeah, I think when it comes to automatic promotion, definitely,” said McAnuff. “But that is nothing against the job he has done. I think he’s done an incredible job. You only have to look at where they were last season, a real scramble towards the end of it to stay in the division.

“They are a club I think a lot of other EFL teams should look at, in terms of how to do business without a massive budget. They have used the loan market incredibly well - Dobbin and Devine two examples of that. Mixed with a nice sprinkling of experience and, obviously, a manager who has been there, done it and seen it all.

“I just love Paul Heckingbottom’s way. He doesn’t need to come out and say they are the best team... in fact he’s said they aren’t one of the best teams in the league, but they’ve been one of the most consistent. I think that is something that gets overlooked. Can you compete? Can you be in games? Can you give yourselves a chance to win?

“I think they have, certainly, been one of the best teams at doing that, along with Millwall this season. And again, the job he’s done, if they get into the play-offs that is a remarkable season for Preston North End. It’s something that has eluded them for a long time. They’ve had good first halves of seasons, previously, and fallen off.

“The real challenge for him and driving factor will be, can we just maintain this form? I do think their squad is deeper than it has been in recent years. Clearly, not as strong as the top two or three. I think that is something that could really help them down the stretch this year. I definitely wouldn’t bet against them ending up in those play-off places.”

Tommy Smith on North End

The former Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town defender said: “One thing to add as well... this isn’t a case of them being quite lucky, 10/11 games in when you are still sort of working out where the league table is. We are over half way now and Preston find themselves where they are. So, what they are doing certainly isn’t by luck, or by chance.

“They’ve got a very efficient way of playing and they are doing it incredibly well. A lot of credit has to go to the manager, as Jobi has just touched upon there. The job he’s done since he came into the football club... they are play-off contenders, that’s what they are. I do expect them at the end of the season to be in and around it, just because of the way they are managing games.

“They went to Bristol City away from home and won two-nil - that’s not an easy thing to do. Bristol City have been a very good side this year, very well organised, a threat and Preston go there and win two-nil. It just shows the level that Preston are now operating at and I think the manager deserves a huge amount of credit for that.”

On the back of that, McAnuff added: “I just want to touch on the defensive side of things - a brilliant goals against record and the fact they’ve only lost five games this year. Only Coventry have lost less. That just shows you that anytime you’re going up against a Preston team, how difficult it is to get three points. For me, getting the team in that mindset of not losing games is the big, big thing he has done really well down there.”

Your next PNE read: Incomings, double exit and Harrison Armstrong discussed by Paul Heckingbottom