Paul Heckingbottom makes 'huge' admission as Preston boss dealt blow ahead of Bristol City clash

Preston North End could be relegated out of the Championship if they are to lose to Bristol City at Ashton Gate this Saturday

16:06, 02 May 2025Updated 16:06, 02 May 2025

Preston North End and Paul Heckingbottom travel face Bristol City on Saturday(Image: Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Paul Heckingbottom admits Preston North End’s final day clash with Bristol City “feels huge” but the Lilywhites boss will now not take to the Ashton Gate dugout having been handed a two-match touchline ban and a £6,000 fine.

Preston travel to the West Country on Saturday lunchtime to face the Reds in what will be their final game of the Championship season. Heckingbottom’s side are without a win in their last eight matches in all competitions and sit just a point above the relegation zone. While they could lose and still avoid the drop should results elsewhere in the division go their way, the only way they can guarantee their spot in the second tier next term is with a win over City.

However, Heckingbottom won’t be joining Liam Manning on the side of the BS3 pitch for the crucial game after the FA confirmed he had received a two-match touchline ban after it was alleged he “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insultung words towards a match official” during Preston’s clash with Hull City last month.

Few would have expected the Lilywhites to have found themselves in this position when Heckingbottom replaced Ryan Lowe early in the season. While it is impossible to ignore the run of form that has put Preston in this position, the head coach wants his players to focus completely on their current situation rather than what has come before.

“Listen, we’d rather not be in this position,” the Lilywhites boss told the club’s media team. “We know that. It’s there, it’s clear for all to see. We will not get a bigger game. The games I’ve been involved in, whether it’s been promotion games to get to the Premier League, play-off finals, FA Cup semi-finals, this feels bigger to me.

“I know the size of the game, the task, what’s at stake. It feels huge. Everyone gets that and we have to focus on that. Forget why we’re here, how we’ve got here, just focus on those 90 minutes at the weekend.

“We’re not naive enough to ignore the possibilities of needing to understand situations in other games,” Heckingbottom continued. “You get to this stage of the season and when there are so many clubs involved, it can always come down to that.

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“So, we need to be abreast of things that are going off in other games without a doubt because that can dictate how the last few minutes of a game pans out.”

As the Lilywhites face Liam Manning’s Robins, Hull City will travel to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth, Luton will take on West Brom at The Hawthorns while Derby County and Stoke City will meet at Pride Park. Ultimately, if the Tigers lose against John Mousinho’s side it will matter very little what happens in the other matches as Ruben Selles’ team will be relegated alongside Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City.

At the other end of the table, City know that a win over Preston will guarantee their place in the top six. Similarly to Heckingbottom’s side, the Robins could still finish in the play-offs with a defeat should Blackburn Rovers and Millwall both lose and Middlesbrough drop points, but the Reds will be desperate to ensure their destiny remains in their own hands.

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As has been the case over the last few weeks, Ashton Gate is again expected to be close to capacity for Saturday’s clash. Although Heckingbottom knows the home crowd will be doing all they can to try and get Manning’s side over the line, he wants the travelling supporters to help his players to safety.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of fans this week, in and around the club, people who are going down as well, so we really appreciate that,” he explained. “Anyone who’s going down, get behind us, we want to hear you.

“Obviously, Bristol City fans are going to be making their noise for their reasons, but as I say, we want it more, we need it more. We appreciate anyone travelling down there. We welcome it. We need that support and hopefully we celebrate together afterwards.”

Paul Heckingbottom makes ‘huge’ admission as Preston boss dealt blow ahead of Bristol City clash

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