Lancashire

Watch January signing James Ward-Prowse speak to BBC Radio Lancashire about his move from West Ham, the relegation battle, and "feeling respected" at his new club.

"You can sense there is a real freedom and a togetherness," the midfielder said.

"That's the one thing I was surprised with coming through the door.

"It's difficult to know how the group is going to be considering the league table but everyone is positive and pulling in the right direction.

"It was a difficult few months [at West Ham] for reasons I'm still not sure of. I wanted to get out and focus on what I can do. Coming into an environment where you feel respected, wanted and appreciated has gone a long way."

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Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford at Turf Moor (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On a win at Crystal Palace and draw at Chelsea in the Clarets' last two games, Parker said: "It's done a lot really. Some real positive results. We're in a good place and the players feel that and certainly round the place as well. We need to maintain that now, we have a massive game at the weekend where we want another result."

• On the relegation battle: "There's always challenges and there's been many this year. We're trying to take stock of every game as it comes. We've been able through a real determination and unbelievable resilience to pick up points and be hugely competitive really. There have been some bumps but the mindset and everything about us has been spot on."

• Parker said: "The difference between us and the other two promoted teams is home form. Our home form has been nowhere near as good and we certainly haven't picked up enough points at home for many reasons and you can see that in the last few weeks in terms of the stadium and our performances."

• On giving the fans something to cheer for: "Our home stadium needs to be exactly that. It's our responsibility to give our fans that hope and energy but for sure we're gonna need them as well. I hope the fans come with optimism and understanding of what this group has been through and how they've come out of that. I'd like to hope, well demand actually the fans come and get behind this team."

• Parker issued a rallying cry before the weekend's match: "It's a massive game for us. Let's bring some others involved into this [relegation battle]. We've been chasing this down for some time now, and been in this position a long time, and we've always had our gloves on and been punching away. At times we've not really got a knockout and at other times we've hit the floor but we're always in this. Let's stick together and go and get a result at the weekend. Get a result and suddenly it's a different story and others get bought into this."

• How has he viewed Bees boss Keith Andrews' start in management?: "Massively impressed. I know Keith pretty well - he's an intelligent guy and somebody who has earned the right to be at his level. This is someone's who put in the had yards. I have huge respect for Keith and he has done a fantastic job. I look forward to seeing him at the weekend and having a chat."

BBC Radio Lancashire have commentary of Burnley v Brentford on Saturday. It'll be on 95.5FM with Scott Read & David Unsworth

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End midfielder Ali McCann is concerned his side's inability to go the distance is costing them this season.

Twice in successive matches - in defeat against Blackburn last Friday and a draw at Swansea on Tuesday evening - North End have conceded goals in added time.

Having also seen winning positions snatched away by Ipswich and Middlesbrough, that is seven points down the drain which would have moved Preston in the Championship promotion play-off places.

Only Norwich, with eight, have a worse record in the division for dropping points through goals conceded in the 90th minute and later.

"We have to just try to find a way, when it gets tough, to see these games out to the last minute," McCann told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's disappointing. That's a few points we've let slip away.

"Through to half-time against Swansea I thought we were the better side and thought we deserved to be ahead but they created a few chances in the second half and it's disappointing on our part not to see it out in the end.

"We were a little bit untidy and invited pressure. They threw everything at it.

We just let it slip at the very end which was annoying."

It is an unfortunate habit as Preston have slipped to 10th, five points out of the play-off places before Saturday's home game against Millwall.

"We're still right in the mix - we just need to turn these good moments into three points. If we can do that at the weekend we're still in a really strong position," said McCann.

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom praised his players despite the disappointment of conceding a 95th-minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Swansea on Tuesday night, which was attended by Swans co-owner Snoop Dogg.

"I'm pleased with lots of things, pleased with the performance, just obviously really frustrated, upset with not taking three points," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"How we started the game, the work rate without the ball was excellent.

"It allowed us to win the ball a lot and make a team that's been playing really well here look average, but then we were also really good with the ball as well.

"We kept them quiet, that's how we played. We only let them have their occasion at the very end by conceding the equaliser."