Everything but the Prem is back and looking at both ends of the Championship table this week. Chris Holt is joined by George Hodgson to find out how Preston have managed to get to the top after seven games, while at the bottom Sheffield Wednesday's troubles continue and Joe Crann is here to tell us if there is any way out of it for the Owls
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 It's fair to say, I think if people were to make a prediction at the start of the season,
00:04 they would probably put Preston somewhere around about mid-table, I would have thought.
00:09 Steady championship outfit.
00:10 Last season we saw, very good at the back but couldn't score any goals.
00:17 That seems to have been rectified this season.
00:22 And now you've found yourself seven games in and top of the table.
00:26 What has been the difference?
00:28 I think the summer business has been really good at the club.
00:33 I don't think the goal threat was there last season.
00:36 You mentioned the clean sheets and stuff, which is great.
00:38 But Preston didn't have enough players in the team capable of scoring goals.
00:42 And I've seen a stat yesterday.
00:44 I think from the summer signings already, there's been 10 goals and seven assists,
00:49 which is just brilliant.
00:50 There wasn't much optimism heading into the season.
00:53 If anything, I think fans were a bit worried that maybe the league looks tougher than ever.
00:58 Maybe we'll be down there for the first time since coming up in eight years or whatever.
01:03 But to be top of the league is just incredible.
01:05 And a couple of favourable fixtures coming up, I would say.
01:10 And if Preston can be still up there by October,
01:13 you just don't know what they can go on to do.
01:16 But it's very much one game at a time, I think.
01:18 We're going to go into that in a minute.
01:22 Because I can tell you what, we're going to do it now.
01:26 And I really don't want to be disparaging here.
01:28 However, having looked at the results that Preston have had so far,
01:32 there haven't been many huge challenges.
01:36 If you look at who they've played, Sunderland probably the best of them, maybe.
01:43 Obviously, the biggest challenges are ahead.
01:48 But there's nothing wrong with that, really, is there?
01:51 Because I think if you talk to any team,
01:53 building up momentum at the start of the season is a really important thing to do.
01:57 Yes, and sometimes those games that look easier have been where Preston have struggled.
02:03 In recent years, going to the big boys sometimes, when they come flying at you,
02:07 it can suit Preston to hit on transition and stuff.
02:09 But I think Sunderland was a big win, yes.
02:12 I think a lot of people fancied them to go well.
02:14 Going to Stoke and winning felt really good at the time.
02:17 And yes, it's been really good.
02:20 Four-two-one wins.
02:21 So Preston are just finding that little edge.
02:23 I don't think their underlying numbers are anything amazing.
02:27 But I just think early points are priceless because it means Preston can afford maybe
02:30 to have a little blip and they could still find themselves in the seventh point clear
02:34 of seventh already.
02:35 So, you know, if Preston end up in the playoffs, it'd be an unbelievable season.
02:39 I still don't think many people expect them to be there, including fans.
02:42 But why not?
02:44 Why not just see how it goes?