What we've learned from Preston North End in pre-season ahead of Championship opener

It ended in a 2-1 defeat for Ryan Lowe’s side, goals from Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes, though Ali McCann did pull one back for PNE.

But what have we learned from their efforts over the summer?

North End had six friendlies this summer, one behind closed doors and the other five could all be attended.

They won three and lost three and while results in pre-season do not matter, it would be a bit worrying if they were to lose every single game.

There were wins against Bamber Bridge, Accrington Stanley and Hearts and defeats to Tranmere Rovers, Getafe and Leicester.

You do tend to look at the opposition, even in pre-season, and find yourself expecting certain resutls.

Had North End turned over Leicester, bossed the game and look the better side, that would certainly have added to the optimism going into the opening league game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, even if it was just a practice game.

That would in part be because the Foxes sent a strong line up but also because it’s as much about what you see as it is the result.

In that regard, it has been a bit of a mixed bag for Preston. At times, they’ve looked excellent – on the front foot, pressing, working the ball quickly and with quality. Other times they have been a little of the pace and unable to play with the fluidity that you would hope to see in Lowe’s system.

That can happen with changing the team each game and also a bit of rust lingering from last season.

They do, however, look fit. Their energy when they do get the pressing right is impressive and there have been some standouts over the handful of weeks leading into the new Championship campaign.

One of those is Ben Woodburn, and as previously mentioned, particularly in his pressing. It is not surprise that the way he advances on the opposition is so effective when he has been at Liverpool until this summer, working under Jurgen Klopp, but from the centre of midfield he has provided a lot of energy and showed good control on the ball.

It is already a stacked area but he has shown already that he is a useful addition to the squad, and he finished pre-season as the top scorer, with two.

Fellow new boy and free signing Robbie Brady has also been a star turn in pre-season. Able to listen closely during the games, you can hear the Irishman talking teammates through the game and you can see with the intensity of his first couple of touches when he receives the ball that he always means business and is looking to hurt the opposition.

Both look like savvy pick-ups so far.

There seems also to be a change of system in the offing, when the occasion calls for it, with Lowe using two no.10s behind a striker instead of two up top and three in the midfield.

So far it has drawn teams onto them and not given them the results they’ve been after but it is something worth keeping an eye out for as the season progresses.