Top-six fight will be intense says ex-Preston North End captain Ian Bryson

Bryson captained the PNE side which won the Third Division title in 1995/96, while he scored at Wembley in the 1994 play-off final defeat to Wycombe.

The Scotsman has long since made Preston his home and works as a matchday ambassador in the Deepdale hospitality lounges.

Bryson told the Lancashire Post: “I think it has been a good season for Preston so far.

“Year on year there has been an improvement and we have a better squad now.

“When the season does get going again, I think the current top two Leeds and West Bromwich will go up.

“Then it’s about who goes up through the play-offs. There are some big, strong teams with higher budgets than Preston’s, competing for the top six.

“But I’m not saying that means they have better players than Preston.

“When you look at some of the clubs in that top group, a lot have been in the Premier League before.

“They have been able to fund buying players from being there, whereas Preston haven’t been.

“That shows how well Alex Neil and the squad have done.

“Whether Preston can stay up there, only time will tell.

“The opportunity is there for them though, they have put themselves in that position to challenge.

“They’ve got nine games of the season to go, 27 points to play for. It’s how they come back from this unknown, this strange time.”

Bryson has liked what he has seen from Ben Davies this season and over the last couple of years. He thinks the centre-half could push on to play in the Premier League.

Bryson said: “Davies and Patrick Bauer are very good together, I like that pairing.

“I remember speaking to David Lucas and Barry Nicholson about Ben when he was on loan at Fleetwood.

“They were desperate to keep him and at the time I don’t think Simon Grayson fancied him here.

“Then there was the change of manager, Alex Neil liked what he saw of Ben and thought he suited the way he wanted to play – playing out from the back.

“Sometimes that happens in football, you get a change of fortune.

“Ben has got things about his game which could take him to the next level.

“He had a good partnership last season with the young lad Jordan Storey, then Bauer came in and they’ve formed a great partnership.

“Those two are definitely a big strength for North End.”

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