For some of the lesser teams in the Championship, it can often be hard to break through the barrier of money and experience some rivals have, both on and off the pitch.
But one team to have really started to shine quite unexpectedly in recent weeks is Preston North End, who are enjoying a really fruitful run of form.
Last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa was the icing on the cake in a month of form that really saw them turn their season around.
It’s not easy supporting a club like the Whites, who are one that have little money to spend on high-profile signings. Simon Grayson needed to be pretty thrifty in the transfer market once again and he must be commended for his efforts in bringing 10 solid players to the club.
But in recent weeks, we’ve seen some of those additions really begin to shine, particularly the likes of Callum Robinson and Simon Makienok.
We agree, they’re probably not household names, but on the pitch, they’re really doing the business for the Whites and have been a big part of this recent surge in form.
Against his former employers on the weekend, pacy winger Callum Robinson ran the Aston Villa full-backs ragged. Often swapping flanks with fellow summer signing, Aiden McGeady, he made life extremely difficult for the likes of Alan Hutton and Aly Cissokho, both of whom have plenty of Premier League experience.
Despite Aston Villa spending over £60million on players this summer, young Robinson showed Roberto Di Matteo what might have been, getting forward on as many occasions as possible and really causing difficulty in his opponents’ defensive ranks.
Simon Makienok has also been good recently, too, bagging an impressive hat-trick as his side negotiated a tricky away cup tie at Premier League outfit Bournemouth. His treble helped Preston overcome Eddie Howe’s team 3-2 on the evening and it was really promising stuff, especially for the Whites contingent that had made the long trip down to the south coast.
North End are now unbeaten in four and are looking in good shape to continue climbing the table. Granted, they’re not going to be one of this season’s glamour sides who score goal after goal, but there is a real grit to Grayson’s team that could make them serious underdogs to watch out for.
What would success be, though?
Probably another top half finish. Preston finished 11th last time out and there is real optimism beginning to build regarding getting even higher.
We’ve seen bigger shocks in second division football and whilst not everyone might like Preston’s one-up-front style of play, it’s working and, in time, they could become this campaign’s surprise package.
