Preston North End

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Ben Whiteman says Wrexham's ambition to reach the Premier League was a key driver in his decision to join the club from Preston North End.

Ahead of the current campaign, the central midfielder signed a three-year contract with the Red Dragons, who hold the option to extend Whiteman's deal by a further 12 months.

The 30-year-old also revealed Ben Sheaf and Ollie Rathbone played a role in his decision to move to the Racecourse Ground.

"I think it was the ambition of the football club wanting to get to the Premier League, that was something that I wanted to do in my career," he said of his switch to north Wales.

"From the outside looking in, everything's done properly, really.

"If you look at the football club, I spoke to a couple of the boys that I know here in Ollie Rathbone and Sheafo [Ben Sheaf], they told me what an exciting project it is.

"But I think the ambition was the main goal really."

The midfielder has featured in each of Wrexham's five matches across all competitions so far this season.

Before Wrexham's contest at Swansea City on Saturday night (20:00 BST), manager Phil Parkinson admitted he was "really pleased" with Whiteman's performances so far.

Despite an encouraging start to life with Wrexham, Whiteman - who made more than 200 appearances for Preston - admits it was a difficult decision to leave Deepdale in the summer.

"I've got great memories from that football club, I captained it and it was a huge honour for me," he said.

"I've still got loads of mates there now. They've had a really disappointing start, but I'm sure they'll turn it around.

"They've got some great people at the football club and hopefully they can do that.

"But now I'm a Wrexham player and my full focus is on getting us to the Premier League."

Whiteman left the Lilywhites on a sour note - with North End boss Paul Heckingbottom questioning the midfielder's conduct just two days before he secured a transfer to Wrexham.

"Ben knew there was a line I didn't want him to cross and unfortunately he has," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire in early August.

Despite his somewhat bitter exit from the Lancashire side, Whiteman stated he had no control over what others said about his situation.

"It's football and I can't control what people say," added Whiteman.

"There's a few people that knew what happened and that's all I can say."

Preston North End are seeking their first Championship points as they welcome Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Lilywhites are yet to get their season started after four games, while Rovers are sitting in the midtable five points ahead.

• Preston are winless in six home league games against Blackburn Rovers (D3 L3) since a 3-2 victory in October 2019 under Alex Neil.

• Blackburn have won each of their last three league games against Preston, last winning four in a row against the Lilywhites in August 1919.

• Preston are the only Championship side to lose each of their opening four matches this season, and are looking to avoid losing their opening five of a league campaign for just the third time, after 1924-25 and 1929-30.

• Blackburn Rovers have only lost one of their last seven away games in the Championship (W3 D3), a 0-3 defeat to Southampton in April.

• No side has had fewer high turnovers in the Championship than Blackburn this season (11), with Rovers also the only side yet to have a shot from a high turnover.

Tom Sandells
BBC Radio Lancashire

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Preston North End are approaching what could already be a pivotal week for the course of their whole season.

A strong claim just a few weeks into the campaign - but with discontent growing amongst their support leading into this term, they have done nothing to quell worries with their start.

They remain winless across 90 minutes from their five games so far and are currently rooted to the bottom of the Championship table - behind a team who started with negative points, mind.

A late equaliser and penalty shootout win against lesser-ranked Huddersfield Town - at Goodison Park - is the only source of joy so far for the Lilywhites' faithful who have spent recent weeks watching their club toil both on and off the pitch.

All eyes were on one particular executive box at Deepdale on Tuesday as the transfer window closed, amidst a disappointing 3-1 defeat by Bristol City, a game in which North End were admittedly the better team.

In that room were PNE CEO Peter Ridsdale, as well as other club officials, as deals were hashed out.

In came Johnny Kenny and Liam Gibbs, for a reported £3m and a season-long loan respectively.

Although perhaps unfair to the players who have yet to step foot beyond the lines in blue and white, the double deal was met with an underwhelming response from PR1 as the deals were announced on the big screen mid-match.

Former club captain Alan Browne, linked with a return, remained on Wearside with Premier League Sunderland, a deal largely out of North End's control.

But as the season continues, the importance of Saturday's Lancashire derby with Blackburn Rovers only grows.

Frustration mounts among supporters and Paul Heckingbottom's record at PNE does not rank him highly over recent incumbents.

His side's start to the season has not done anything to win back dissenters and he now faces a much-depleted Rovers side in a derby.

Football fans are hard to win back once they have made their mind up and Preston fans are no different in that respect.

Apathy amongst Lilywhites fans is often a death rattle for the man in charge of their club and that grows with each passing defeat.

A defeat against a local rival, who are struggling to fill their bench, could prove insurmountable for the support Heckingbottom would want from his side's fanbase.

The board at North End are not renowned for snap decisions, more the opposite, but another lacklustre weekend will only intensify desire for change from the outside.

It could, however, also be argued that Heckingbottom has left the summer with a weaker squad than he entered it with as the 2025-26 season drew to a close.

The PNE boss has spoken often about wanting to play four at the back this campaign - he has a squad ill-equipped for such a system and early showings this campaign suggest that doing it anyway may not yield the desired results.

There have been some good acquisitions, going off early impressions. Caleb Wiley impressed in his first league start for the club, so too Stan Mills.

Leo Leroy looks an astute addition to replace want-away captain Ben Whiteman, Harry Clarke looks a dynamic addition to the backline; with Alfie Devine's pedigree proven last campaign.

The jury remains out on Delano Burgzorg and Jusef Erabi, with Lee Nicholls ideally not being needed much as a back-up.

This is the most PNE have spent in a single transfer window, of that there is no doubt.

They have bested their previous transfer record from before the summer window at least three times and have their most expensively assembled squad in the club's history.

Regardless of how it has been spent, the investment in the playing squad this summer is historic and should be commended.

With that, they are 24th and relegation worries are very real.

All eyes will be on Deepdale on Saturday lunchtime.

It's a game that could kick-start North End's season, or, already, derail it.

We asked for your thoughts after Preston North End succumbed to a third loss in the Championship, leaving them the only side still seeking a point this season.

Here are some of your comments:

Will: Preston's midfield and build-up looked good and better than last season but the defence was shaky. However, there was little up front, indeed some laughable attempts on goal, a real pity. This must be addressed - and quickly.

Colin: Ironically for 70 minutes we played the best football in a long time. Then we just ran out of steam and Bristol's subs changed the course of the game.

We are very low on confidence and when the second goal for Bristol went in heads dropped and we faced the inevitable.

No rub of the green tonight, though small comfort in the fact if we continue with the new brand of football seen tonight a win is just round the corner.

Sean: Our problems have been with the defence for the past two seasons. We have not addressed this in terms of the central positions as was once again evident tonight.

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Noel: Lots of new players signed, look promising. Can Paul Heckingbottom get them to gel and save his neck? We have to score twice at least to win a game because we can't keep a clean sheet.

Neil: No well-organised football club should ever need to make last-minute panic signings. The fact we have tried to sign five players in the last two days of the window tells you everything about how Preston North End is being managed.

Clare: This dreadful start to the season is a continuation from last January. We have lost shape, players petrified of taking responsibility and a complete lack of confidence.

How the manager keeps mentioning the finer points is so far off the mark.

This team needs a complete shake-up. We have known for at least three seasons that Lindsay, Storey, Hughes and Potts are not good enough for this level, and the likes of Small and Gibson are hanging on by a thread.

No need to go on about the manager's very poor win ratio, which is starting to make Westley look better. Once again a new broom may just keep us up this season.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after their 3-1 loss to Bristol City made it four successive league defeats to the start of a season for the first time in 70 years. For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

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Transfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.

The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST, so we might have some late night scrambles to get deals over the line.

There has already been plenty of movement this summer and whether it's a busy or quiet day for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our EFL deadline day live text coverage throughout the day here

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We asked for your thoughts after Charlton Athletic rose to the top of the Championship table following their win against Preston North End on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Charlton fans

Harry: Charlton have a great fan base, a skilled and disciplined team and an outstanding manager. All they need is some money! A shrewd investor could see that there is a great deal of money to be made if the team return to the Premiership. Who is going to step forward?

Dave: Three wins out of three, not a bad start to the season. Charlton looked pretty comfortable, Nathan Jones made a wise substitution to take Carey off and bring Alli on. Leaburn was excellent and Grant deserved his goal. It won't last but it's good to see the Addicks top!

Graham: It wasn't pretty but we fought hard to get a deserved win. What a prospect Mwamba is, he looks like he has a great future in front of him. Injuries are a worry though.

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Preston fans

Ryan: The stats don't lie, we were toothless again. Hecky has lost and gained players late in the day but those who are playing look devoid of ideas and more worrying, confidence. I think he has the Bristol game to demonstrate some plan, purpose and a goal threat. All missing thus far, and long before this season started too.

Gary: Unfortunately, Heckingbottom's time is up. Not only do we need another three or four new players, we could be also looking at a new manager if performances don't improve.

Harry: Worst manager Preston has ever had. He has to go now, or PNE's season is doomed. A new face surely won't be any worse.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom admitted the 1-0 defeat at Charlton was tough to take.

Karlan Grant's goal was enough to give the Addicks the points.

"That one hurts, I'll be honest. I felt we were in a really good place before the goal, controlling the game," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I would have liked to carry more threat, but we still had the best chances. And we should do better with the goal. We know that.

"But they (Charlton) are willing the ball into the net, whether it's the centre-backs at set-plays or on the counter - a scruffy goal like that.

"For all the control we had, we haven't got that killer instinct at the top end of the pitch at the minute. That's the difference. That's what's cost us today.

"There were some good individual performances. It's not one of those where I'm coming off saying anyone's had a bad game.

"Large parts of the performance were good. But like I've said many times, the game's about winning both boxes."

Charlton Athletic are one of only three sides with a 100% record in the Championship after the opening two games of the season.

Preston North End are among four sides yet to register a single point, although Southampton are bottom of the table having started the season with a four-point deduction.

• Charlton have lost five of their past seven home league games against Preston (W1 D1), failing to score in four of those matches.

• Preston have won each of their past six league games against Charlton, their longest ongoing winning run against any current Championship side.

• After beating Derby County and West Ham United so far this season, Charlton will be hoping to win their opening three matches of a second-tier campaign for just the second time in club history after the 1992-93 season.

• Preston won their last away league game in London 2-1 against Charlton in April and will be looking to win consecutive such matches for the first time since October 2020.

• Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom is unbeaten in four previous league meetings with Charlton manager Nathan Jones (W3 D1), only facing Nigel Pearson and Dean Smith (5 each) more times without losing in England's top four tiers.

Preston North End are interested in a loan deal for Nottingham Forest defender Zach Abbott. The 20-year-old has made 11 first-team appearances for Forest and is also reportedly a target for Watford. (Alan Nixon - Patreon), external

Find more of Tuesday's EFL gossip here.