Former Preston North End midfielder Sean Gregan says that Tuesday night is the perfect opportunity for the Lilywhites to cause an upset over Leeds United by taking inspiration from their EFL Cup triumph at Elland Road.
The two teams will face each other in the Championship on Tuesday on the back of contrasting fortunes, with Marcelo Bielsa’s men still unbeaten and leading the pack, compared to Preston languishing second from bottom in the table.
However, it was the Lilywhites who emerged victorious when the two sides met in the second round of the EFL Cup last month, when the visitors held on for a 2-0 win at Elland Road, despite being reduced to 10 men.
Gregan, who turned out for both Preston and Leeds during his playing career that lasted for over two decades, admitted that Alex Neil’s men should take inspiration from their win over Leeds last month to try and cause an upset on Tuesday night.
“Who knows, the trip to Leeds on Tuesday night could see things turn”, Gregan wrote in his column for the Lancashire Post.
“That sounds a bit daft, with Leeds top of the table and Preston second bottom. But this could be a free hit for North End, it could be a coupon-buster.
“Leeds have got a few players missing themselves at the moment – Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford and Pablo Hernandez are three who will be sitting the game out.
“Something that Preston can cling to is that they won at Elland Road three weeks ago in the League Cup.
“Both teams made some changes that night but it was still a great victory for Neil’s side, especially playing with 10 men for an hour after the red card for [Ryan] Ledson.
“Neil will be able to use that in his team talk, and build something from that.
“If North End can stay solid and work to a gameplan, they could frustrate Leeds and who knows?”, he concluded.
Preston succumbed to a 3-2 loss at home to Reading in their last outing and are currently in desperate need of results if they are to climb out of the lower rungs in the table.
