14-08-2025, 18:50
As with last season, our first two home games are against sides that were relegated from the Premiership, City knocked out of the League Cup on penalties on Wednesday by Huddersfield were not overly convincing in beating Sheff Wednesday last Sunday.
Not convinced that new boss Cifuentes, is the man to get them promoted, although after his lengthy gardening leave spell at QPR may be able to give you tips who to grow roses.
Fans are also not in tune with John Rudkin, so possibly may be the best time to play them although given the amount of injuries may not be.
Lost 3-0 both times we played them season before last, they got promoted after the win at Deepdale another one of Lowe's epic surrenders.
https://www.lcfc.com/pages/en/home
MANAGER
Martí Cifuentes Corvillo (Catalan pronunciation: [məɾˈti siˈfwɛntəs kuɾˈβiʎu], Spanish pronunciation: [maɾˈti θiˈfwen.tes koɾˈβi.ʎo]; born 7 July 1982)[1] is a Spanish football manager who is currently the manager of EFL Championship club Leicester City.
Think he has 100% record against us, sort of a Spanish Gary Rowett who is also unbeaten against us
![[Image: 500px-Mart%C3%AD_Cifuentes_26042025_%281...ped%29.jpg]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Mart%C3%AD_Cifuentes_26042025_%281%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/500px-Mart%C3%AD_Cifuentes_26042025_%281%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
NEWBIES
![[Image: Screenshot-2025-08-14-173832.png]](https://i.ibb.co/GQfr1D8D/Screenshot-2025-08-14-173832.png)
Done little or no business, however think the majority will be outgoings of the better players
T'OTHER GAMES
![[Image: Screenshot-2025-08-14-174243.png]](https://i.ibb.co/FLPb9psW/Screenshot-2025-08-14-174243.png)
Team News
Mads Frøkjær, who went off with a groin injury in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Barrow, will miss Saturday’s game, although manager Paul Heckingbottom is hopeful the Dane could return for the visit of Ipswich Town next weekend.
None of those missing from the season opener against QPR are expected to be available, with Brad Potts, Daniel Jebbison, Jordan Thompson, Robbie Brady and Will Keane all still sidelined.
The Visitors
After winning the Championship title during the 2023/24 season, Leicester City couldn’t avoid the drop in their first campaign back in the Premier League and once again have the aim of returning to the top flight.
Martí Cifuentes has taken over as manager and enjoyed a winning start to life in the dugout on the opening weekend of the campaign, beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on home turf.
During the week, a much-changed Foxes side were beaten on penalties in the Carabao Cup by Huddersfield Town, so it's likely changes will be rung again as they look to build on their positive start to life back in the Championship.
Match Officials
Referee: Gavin Ward
Assistant Referees: Hugh Gilroy and Mark Dwyer
Fourth Official: Sebastin Stockbridge
Experienced official Gavin Ward will take charge of Saturday’s fixture. Ward last refereed PNE in February 2025 when North End came out 1-0 winners at Carrow Road.
We’ve Met Before
PNE’s last victory over Leicester City came in September 2009 when Neil Mellor and Richard Chaplow scored in a 2-1 win.
HECK
Paul Heckingbottom wants everyone to be together – players, staff and fans – as the home campaign begins on Saturday.
After an opening day draw to Queens Park Rangers and a midweek Carabao Cup victory over Barrow, North End are at Deepdale for the first time this season on Saturday, taking on Leicester City.
With almost 12,000 season cards sold this summer, the manager is hugely grateful for the support from the club’s fanbase, who he hopes can have a big part to play in 2025/26.
Hecky said: “There were times last season when I felt they helped us get over the line with the noise in the last ten minutes when we were one in front. We want that from minute one to 90 or when we're behind to get us over the line or get us back in the game.
“I was talking after QPR because there's been a lot of questions to me around budget, sort of what we've not got. One thing we have got is a group of people here who are going to work their socks off and a fanbase that are really passionate about their team.
“So we have to show that every week – fans and players – we have to make sure that we all turn up, especially at Deepdale. Let's get the fans right on side and making the noise. We talk about performance of the players a lot, let's have our fans outperforming the opposition fans.
“We have to create that siege mentality. I don't want people moaning when they see news that they perceive is bad or this club's signing this player or this club's got this. Forget that. Like I said, we've got some good qualities within our group.
“We know one of the things we have to do is be really tight and together in order to perform at our best and likewise to help us do that we want the fans to create that atmosphere and understand how hard we're working to get over the line.”
With the Foxes coming to Deepdale, North End are taking on one of the teams tipped for promotion this season, following their relegation from the Premier League.
Martí Cifuentes’ side began their campaign with a victory over Sheffield Wednesday, although they were defeated by Huddersfield Town during the week in the Carabao Cup.
While PNE have a frustratingly lengthy injury list, there’s no focus on that for Heckingbottom and his players. All attentions are on the task at hand and getting three points on the board.
Hecky said: “We want to win the game. That's it. We're looking forward to it.
“You have to recognise what the opposition have got and where their strengths are. Then we're looking at how we think we can hurt them.
“No matter how much detail you go into in a gameplan or the work you do in the week, if the mentality and approach to the game is not right, then it's irrelevant. But we are preparing to play against one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
“We know we’re welcoming one of the best squads in the Championship, if not the best. A really strong, dangerous team. Whatever XI Martí wants to put out, they're going to be dangerous and we're going have to play well.”
MACS VIEW
Extremely tough game although the transfer window may have an impact, we are still short up top, may struggle to score but this is a good test to start with
Not convinced that new boss Cifuentes, is the man to get them promoted, although after his lengthy gardening leave spell at QPR may be able to give you tips who to grow roses.
Fans are also not in tune with John Rudkin, so possibly may be the best time to play them although given the amount of injuries may not be.
Lost 3-0 both times we played them season before last, they got promoted after the win at Deepdale another one of Lowe's epic surrenders.
https://www.lcfc.com/pages/en/home
MANAGER
Martí Cifuentes Corvillo (Catalan pronunciation: [məɾˈti siˈfwɛntəs kuɾˈβiʎu], Spanish pronunciation: [maɾˈti θiˈfwen.tes koɾˈβi.ʎo]; born 7 July 1982)[1] is a Spanish football manager who is currently the manager of EFL Championship club Leicester City.
Think he has 100% record against us, sort of a Spanish Gary Rowett who is also unbeaten against us
NEWBIES
Done little or no business, however think the majority will be outgoings of the better players
T'OTHER GAMES
Team News
Mads Frøkjær, who went off with a groin injury in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Barrow, will miss Saturday’s game, although manager Paul Heckingbottom is hopeful the Dane could return for the visit of Ipswich Town next weekend.
None of those missing from the season opener against QPR are expected to be available, with Brad Potts, Daniel Jebbison, Jordan Thompson, Robbie Brady and Will Keane all still sidelined.
The Visitors
After winning the Championship title during the 2023/24 season, Leicester City couldn’t avoid the drop in their first campaign back in the Premier League and once again have the aim of returning to the top flight.
Martí Cifuentes has taken over as manager and enjoyed a winning start to life in the dugout on the opening weekend of the campaign, beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on home turf.
During the week, a much-changed Foxes side were beaten on penalties in the Carabao Cup by Huddersfield Town, so it's likely changes will be rung again as they look to build on their positive start to life back in the Championship.
Match Officials
Referee: Gavin Ward
Assistant Referees: Hugh Gilroy and Mark Dwyer
Fourth Official: Sebastin Stockbridge
Experienced official Gavin Ward will take charge of Saturday’s fixture. Ward last refereed PNE in February 2025 when North End came out 1-0 winners at Carrow Road.
We’ve Met Before
PNE’s last victory over Leicester City came in September 2009 when Neil Mellor and Richard Chaplow scored in a 2-1 win.
HECK
Paul Heckingbottom wants everyone to be together – players, staff and fans – as the home campaign begins on Saturday.
After an opening day draw to Queens Park Rangers and a midweek Carabao Cup victory over Barrow, North End are at Deepdale for the first time this season on Saturday, taking on Leicester City.
With almost 12,000 season cards sold this summer, the manager is hugely grateful for the support from the club’s fanbase, who he hopes can have a big part to play in 2025/26.
Hecky said: “There were times last season when I felt they helped us get over the line with the noise in the last ten minutes when we were one in front. We want that from minute one to 90 or when we're behind to get us over the line or get us back in the game.
“I was talking after QPR because there's been a lot of questions to me around budget, sort of what we've not got. One thing we have got is a group of people here who are going to work their socks off and a fanbase that are really passionate about their team.
“So we have to show that every week – fans and players – we have to make sure that we all turn up, especially at Deepdale. Let's get the fans right on side and making the noise. We talk about performance of the players a lot, let's have our fans outperforming the opposition fans.
“We have to create that siege mentality. I don't want people moaning when they see news that they perceive is bad or this club's signing this player or this club's got this. Forget that. Like I said, we've got some good qualities within our group.
“We know one of the things we have to do is be really tight and together in order to perform at our best and likewise to help us do that we want the fans to create that atmosphere and understand how hard we're working to get over the line.”
With the Foxes coming to Deepdale, North End are taking on one of the teams tipped for promotion this season, following their relegation from the Premier League.
Martí Cifuentes’ side began their campaign with a victory over Sheffield Wednesday, although they were defeated by Huddersfield Town during the week in the Carabao Cup.
While PNE have a frustratingly lengthy injury list, there’s no focus on that for Heckingbottom and his players. All attentions are on the task at hand and getting three points on the board.
Hecky said: “We want to win the game. That's it. We're looking forward to it.
“You have to recognise what the opposition have got and where their strengths are. Then we're looking at how we think we can hurt them.
“No matter how much detail you go into in a gameplan or the work you do in the week, if the mentality and approach to the game is not right, then it's irrelevant. But we are preparing to play against one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
“We know we’re welcoming one of the best squads in the Championship, if not the best. A really strong, dangerous team. Whatever XI Martí wants to put out, they're going to be dangerous and we're going have to play well.”
MACS VIEW
Extremely tough game although the transfer window may have an impact, we are still short up top, may struggle to score but this is a good test to start with
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?