Preston North End

Preston North End have a lot of work ahead of them to put things right, says new head coach Graham Alexander.

The Lilywhites were thrashed 4-0 at Birmingham in the Championship on Tuesday night and had midfielder Stan Mills sent off.

"It was an extremely difficult night," said Alexander. "I thought we started the game well with some good attacking moments.

"We concede a goal but I was reasonably content going in at half-time at 1-0 thinking we've got a right chance in the second-half but then we implode two minutes before half-time with the two goals."

Preston are bottom of the Championship with only one win from their opening nine games and have managed just one point from their past five matches with Alexander replacing Paul Heckingbottom as boss at the end of last month.

"None of them quit, we weren't good enough to get back into the game but 10 men makes it extremely difficult," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"But whatever we're feeling, in the second-half with that defiance to compete we now have to show it every single minute of every game and every day in training and I don't think we have been.

"We know there's so much to improve, so much to work on and no-one has got a magic wand so we have to work."

Listen to more Preston North End interviews and content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Opta

Birmingham City will hope to continue their climb up the Championship table when they welcome bottom side Preston North End to St Andrew's on Tuesday night.

Blues have won two of their past three games (D1), including a 1-0 win at West Brom in the West Midlands derby on Saturday, to move up to seventh.

The Lilywhites have won just once all season (D1 L7) and new boss Graham Alexander is seeking his first win after losing 1-0 to Millwall in his first game in charge at the weekend.

• Birmingham City have won each of their previous three league meetings with Preston, and could win four in a row for the very first time, with this their 101st clash.

• Preston have lost both of their past two league visits to Birmingham City, last losing more in a row in March 1970 (4).

• Birmingham have drawn all four of their Championship home games this season. The only sides to draw their first five at home in a season in the competition since it began in 2004 are both the Blues themselves in 2018-19 and Ipswich in 2018-19.

• Preston are without a clean sheet in 14 away league games for the first time since November 2012 (also 14). They last went 15+ without one on the road in March 2011 (26).

• Birmingham's Jay Stansfield has scored in three of his four league appearances against Preston, including two in two at home.

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End boss Graham Alexander spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after his side's 1-0 defeat against Millwall.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here: Preston North End 0-1 Millwall.

Image source, Opta

The Graham Alexander era begins at Deepdale with the visit of Millwall, led by former North End boss Alex Neil, on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Lilywhites have taken four points from their opening eight Championship games and are only off the bottom on goal difference, lying ahead of Lancashire rivals Burnley.

The Lions are two points off the play-off places in 11th, with one victory in their past six matches, having begun the campaign with back-to-back wins.

• Preston North End have not won in 14 league games against Millwall (D6 L8) since a 3-1 away win in February 2019.

• Millwall are looking for consecutive away league wins at Preston North End for the third time, also achieving it in 1967-68/1968-69 and 2019-20/2020-21.

• Preston have gone 23 league games without registering a clean sheet – they've only had two longer runs without a shutout: 26 games (October 1969 – March 1970) and 25 games (September 1984 – March 1985).

• Millwall have conceded 15 goals in their past six Championship games, the most of any team across the last six matchdays, while only Sheffield United (112) have faced more shots from MD3 onwards than the Lions (98).

• This will be Graham Alexander's first Championship match in charge of Preston, with Alexander taking charge of 410 EFL games in his managerial career but all have been in either League One (207) or League Two (203). Five of those were with Preston as caretaker manager in League One in the 2011-12 season (W2 D2 L1).

Graham Alexander to Preston North End, Robbie Savage to Peterborough? It's a big week for managerial movements in the EFL.

Two high-flying managers in League Two join Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff to analyse and debate the latest talking points.

Bristol Rovers' Steve Evans is fresh from celebrating a new club record in the supporters' bar, while table-topping Barnet's Dean Brennan reveals all on his regular arguments with the owner, his love for Irish breakfasts and how the Bees have risen back up.

The team discuss Alexander's move from Bradford to Deepdale, what Savage's arrival would do for Peterborough and Danny Ings' instant impact for Wycombe.

Listen to the full episode above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Earlier, we asked what North End fans thought of the decision to bring Graham Alexander and assistant Chris Lucketti back to the club in a bid to help them climb away from the Championship relegation zone.

Here are some of your responses:

Bill: Quite honestly, I find this appointment underwhelming to say the least. The fact it's taken so long to make an appointment after Paul Heckingbottom's departure suggests that Alexander was not the first choice, or maybe not even second choice.

Having said all that, there's no doubt he has a real affinity with the club and if he fails, it won't be through the want of hard work. All we, as supporters, can do is get behind him and the players and hope for a rapid rise up the table.

Gary: Glad to see him back, what a great guy and PNE through and through, but only time and a good January transfer window will say if this is the right appointment. There's a lot of hard work and long weeks ahead.

Image source, Getty Images

Jim: Unproven in the Championship but the new management team have Preston North End running through them. We have huge problems at the back and Grezza and Chris were both defenders for us which bodes well. A risky appointment perhaps but given the last five years they have nothing to lose. I'm sort of optimistic I think. Attack is the best form of defence, however, and this is something we have been starved of for years so I'm hoping, once the type of system he opts for is addressed, that we might be entertained.

Martin: Top appointment: club legend Graham Alexander will get us where we want to be. I believe he's got the job on merit too. He's been a great manager so far. Bringing Lucketti as his assistant is just the icing on the cake, great to see.

Graham: Pleased with the appointments, now is the time to get behind the team and let's forget about all the negativity surrounding a few of the previous managers.

Pete: Grezza has always been a natural born winner and leader. He adores the club, fans adore him. Bags of management experience in different leagues and different situations. Now is the perfect time to bring him back. A truly exciting appointment and absolutely the right one. The club has badly needed a character like him in the set up for a number of years.

Former Preston goalkeeper and coach Alan Kelly says the club's appointment of new boss Graham Alexander and assistant Chris Lucketti is "a very wise choice".

The former North End team-mates have returned to Deepdale with the Lilywhites sat second-bottom of the Championship with four points from eight games, in the process leaving their roles at Bradford City, who are top of League One.

Alexander made more than 370 appearances across two spells with North End as a player, nearly 200 of them in the same side as his now assistant Lucketti.

Kelly told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's an excellent appointment. A very wise choice. I don't see it as a bad selection, it's only good news.

"They know what it's like to run out at Deepdale, they know what the crowd expect, what to give the supporters, if you understand that it gives you a head start and an advantage."

Kelly predicted Alexander will "want to get down to business" on the training pitch before his first game, at home to Millwall on 10 October - which will be his 55th birthday.

He added: "I'm sure when they walk out against Millwall the pride they'll have walking down that touchline, having been there as players, will shine out.

"Deepdale will rise to him, welcome back a former hero - two of them.

"When he walks out that tunnel for the first time to take that applause, I don't think he shows his emotions very easily, Graham, but I think he'll have a lump in the back of his throat.

"Thinking wow, all those years ago I made my debut as a player for Preston to now be walking out and leading the club, that has to tug at your heartstrings."

Graham Alexander returns to Preston North End in a bid to help them climb away from the Championship relegation zone.

The 54-year-old made 400 appearances for the Lilywhites as a player across all competitions and is now in the Deepdale dugout after a successful spell at Bradford City.

But even with all his history at the club, is he the man you would have wanted?

Let us know your thoughts here and come back later to see some of your responses.

We asked for your thoughts after 10-man Queens Park Rangers came back to snatch a late 2-2 draw at home to Preston North End.

Here are some of your comments:

Queens Park Rangers fans

John: A determined team effort in the second half with only 10 men after 15 minutes. Well deserved point. There's a togetherness about this squad that hasn't been there for a number of seasons.

Barry: Thrilled with that. QPR finally look to have a sense of self-belief. They're now playing good possession football from the back, not aimlessly hoofing it up the park. Skill levels in tight situations have improved out of sight and more steel in their game. Think they do need a striker though. Ten men for almost all of the game, great comeback.

Malcolm: Ridiculous decision re the red card, desperately hope QPR appeal. Showed fighting spirit to get a point but horrendous again how many shots we have and how many are on target - 30 shots only 6 on target - that's just nowhere near good enough and it's a consistent weakness.

Peter: Can we get some more shooting practice, and give the opposition something to think about. That and a bit of variety with the free-kicks.

Alan: Much being made of the second half fight and determination, team spirit etc. Shouldn't that be the case at 14.59pm?

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End fans

Chris: Preston capitulated after 60 minutes, obvious majority of players weren't fit enough and QPR's energy levels were superior. PNE couldn't cope with wave after wave of attacks. Two good goals and some woeful defending by Preston. If it wasn't for Daniel Iverson PNE would have lost this game. PNE's stand in manager got his tactical subs wrong. Too little too late. Get working on fitness and appointing a manager who can make a difference at this level.

Roy: Preston's Achilles heel in evidence yet again, even against 10 men. Can never hold on to a lead and specialise in giving up midfield domination to invite far too much pressure from the opposition when leading a game. We've seen this for so many matches.

Fred: It's a point against a side near the top, away from home. Very frustrating at the end though.

Carl: This is starting to look like an expensively assembled train wreck for PNE, players who cannot manage a full 90 minutes without folding. The new manager will have his work cut out for him!

Paul: Change is needed quick and a new manager and whole back room staff. 15 million down the toilet as we are bound for League One. It took us nearly four years to get out last time.

Preston North End interim manager Jason Euell spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after Paul Smyth's late equaliser denied the Lilywhites only their second win of the season.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston interim manager Jason Euell says he is "excited" to take charge of the team against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 BST) - North End's first match since the exit of boss Paul Heckingbottom.

The club sacked Heckingbottom on Sunday after six defeats in their opening seven Championship games.

"All eyes are on me as the man at the front but I've got no issue with that," Euell, 49, said.

"I've got big shoulders. It's not like I've not lead a team before - yes, it's at a different level, a different stake.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend in a way of putting things right that haven't been good."

However, while the former Jamaica international wants to make his mark, he is also looking to be selective about what he adjusts as Preston bid for their second league win of the campaign.

"From me getting the call on Sunday knowing there is a game on Saturday, yes, you want to change some things but you can't change loads of things in a short space of time," Euell added.

"It's got to be a change for the players, not something I want. Is there something they might need to see different, hear different or do different?"

Watch the full interview with BBC Radio Lancashire above or listen on BBC Sounds here.

Preston North End take on their first match since sacking boss Paul Heckingbottom on Saturday (15:00 BST) and it's a tough one.

They make the trip to Loftus Road to visit a Queens Park Rangers side two points off league leaders West Ham United after conceding just one loss in six games.

• QPR are unbeaten in six league games against Preston (W4 D2), although both meetings last season were 1-1 draws.

• Preston have lost four of their last seven league visits to Queens Park Rangers (W2 D1), failing to win their last three (D1 L2).

• Only Preston (9) have lost more Championship home games in 2026 than QPR (8). It's more home league defeats than the Hoops suffered in the entirety of 2025 (7).

• Preston have lost six of their seven Championship games this season (W1); never in their history have they lost as many as seven of their first eight matches of a league campaign.

• Preston (-4.2) and QPR (-2.7) are two of the four biggest underperformers when it comes to xG differential between goals scored and xG in the Championship this season, with Cardiff (-5.6) and Lincoln (-2.8) making up the bottom four.