Tuesday's win over Scunthorpe was Brown's first in charge of Preston

Preston manager Phil Brown believes his players' fitness levels are now higher than any opposing team.

Brown, who replaced Darren Ferguson in January, believes the players have responded to his training methods.

"We've got statistics suggesting fitness levels are far greater than they were at the start of the season," Brown told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"And the players we've brought in on loan are slowly but surely getting up to pace with the Championship."

The 51-year-old explained: "We've got statitistics suggesting that fitness levels at the football club are far greater than one, the opposition and two, than they were at the start of the season.

"Maybe it's because of the cause. But my challenge to the boys from tonight and this coming Saturday [against Coventry] was to get as many points on board as we possibly can to get back in the pack.

I want the attitude from the players that if you work hard enough you put the opposition under pressure Preston manager Phil Brown

"If there's some distance between you and the pack nobody fears or respects you. But within two games we could possibly close the gap and get a little more respect as well."

Preston are still ten points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Championship, despite Tuesday's 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Scunthorpe.

But with only 10 games remaining Brown says the onus is firmly on his players to dictate the outcome of matches.

"We've not provided enough quality in that final third to get a victory of late," he said.

"I want the attitude from the players that if you work hard enough you put the opposition under pressure.

"Of late we've been making mistakes in our own half and getting punished. But tonight it was all about getting the ball into the opposition half with enough quality to cause Scunthorpe problems."

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