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Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom admits he "suffered" during his two-match touchline ban as he prepares for a return against Coventry on Saturday.

Heckingbottom missed draws Burnley and Millwall this week after being punished for a red card in the win at Watford on January 21.

He will return to the touchline for this weekend's trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena.

"I'm the one who suffers," Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We do all the work in the week. Game day, I feel helpless.

"The biggest thing is I'm not as emotionally involved in the game as I am on the sidelines. When you are detached you feel like you've lost your right arm.

"After the game, too. It is the not the same highs and lows. People say you can get more insight [from higher up in the stands] but I'm pretty good at that because your work gets done during the week.

"You know what is coming. I just want to be on the side of the pitch."

Heckingbottom says Frank Lampard has not changed Coventry's approach since replacing Mark Robins but expects them to come out fighting.

"It seems to be the same players, same system. They seem to have more confidence and have more energy. They pass the ball with an intent to create and win the game.

"We know it is going to be difficult, going there."

Coventry picked up their sixth win in seven Championship games last time out against Sheffield Wednesday after Ellis Simms' stoppage-time winner. A win that proved significant against a fellow play-off chaser as they are just now a point behind the top six.

Preston earned a 1-1 draw against Millwall in the their last outing missing the chance to put them four points off the play-off places in the Championship table.

Lilywhites boss Paul Heckingbottom completed the second of his two-match touchline ban following his red card in the win at Watford in January, meaning he will be back on the bench at the CBS Arena.

• Coventry City have failed to win any of their last 22 league games against Preston North End (D8 L14), keeping just two clean sheets in that time since a 2-1 win in September 2007.

• Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Preston North End have beaten Coventry City nine times in 11 attempts – their most joint-league wins against any side in that time.

• Since Frank Lampard's first Championship game in charge of Coventry, only Leeds (37), Burnley (32) and Sheffield United (32) have won more points in the division than the Sky Blues (30 – W9 D3 L4)

• Preston have won two of their last three away league games (L1), more than they managed in their previous 18 combined (W1 D7 L10).

• Coventry's Jack Rudoni has 10 Championship assists this season, the most by a Sky Blues player in a league season since 2022-23 when both Gus Hamer and Viktor Gyökeres assisted 10. His assists have won Coventry 14 points, the most of any Championship player this season.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom said his side were the dominant team in the draw with Millwall on Tuesday.

Emil Riis Jakobsen's long-range strike earned North End a point at Deepdale, cancelling out Mihailo Ivanovic's first-half free-kick, but Heckingbottom believes his side deserved all three.

"We were certainly the dominant team but it's a positive point," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"There were some good performances from a lot of the players and we come away from that positively, or maybe it's the fact I'm not up in the stands anymore I'm feeling good."

Heckingbottom completed the second of his two-match touchline ban following his red card in the win at Watford in January, meaning he will be back on the bench for Preston's trip to Coventry on Saturday.

"I bet we've doubled their shots, I bet we've quadrupled their touches in the box," the former Sheffield United manager added.

"We were the more dangerous team, so, I'm pleased with that but not pleased we haven't got the three points."

In-form Preston, in 15th, welcome 14th-placed Millwall on Tuesday (19:45 GMT) with the Lilywhites hoping to extend their unbeaten home league run to 11 games.

Paul Heckingbottom's side picked up a point against Lancashire rivals Burnley in a stalemate at Deepdale last time out on Saturday.

The Lions also go into the game on the back of a draw after being forced to settle for 1-1 at home to West Brom on the same day.

With both sides on 41 points, victory for either side would move them to within four points of the play-off places.

• Preston North End are winless in their last 11 league encounters with Millwall (D4 L7), including a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in September.

• Millwall haven't lost an away league game at Preston since a 3-2 defeat in December 2018, winning on three of their five trips since (D2)

• Preston have only won one of their last 12 Championship games against London clubs (D3 L8), a 2-0 win at QPR in April 2023.

• Millwall have won two of their last three away league games, although lost their last 5-1 at Plymouth – the first time they had shipped 5+ goals in an away game in the Championship since May 2021 at Coventry (1-6).

• Millwall manager Alex Neil has lost three of his four previous league meetings against former side Preston as a manager, though did win his only such trip to Deepdale with Stoke City in October 2022 (2-0).

Record-breaking Burnley will have their defensive prowess tested in a Lancashire derby at Preston North End on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Clarets became the first team in second tier history to keep 10 straight clean sheets when they overcame Hull City 2-0 on Wednesday and have not conceded a league goal in 910 minutes dating back to 21 December.

Scott Parker's side are third, three points adrift of Sheffield United in the second automatic promotion place while Paul Heckingbottom's Lilywhites lie 15th, though only seven points shy of the play-off places.

These sides will also lock-horns in the FA Cup fifth round in a fortnight's time.

• Preston are winless in their past four league games against Burnley (D2 L2); they haven't endured a longer league run without a win against them since March 1979 (8 games).

• Burnley are unbeaten on each of their past three trips to Preston in the league (W2 D1), after losing six of their prior seven league visits to Deepdale (D1 L6).

• Preston are unbeaten at Deepdale in their previous eight league games (W3 D5); it's their longest run since November 2019 (11 games).

• Burnley have kept eight clean sheets in their last nine away league games, including each of their last five (W6 D3); since the rebrand in 2004-05, only Bournemouth in October 2021 (7) and Stoke in December 2020 (6) have enjoyed a longer run of successive away clean sheets in the Championship.

• Burnley's Zian Flemming has scored five goals in his past six away Championship games, while he's scored six goals in five Championship games against Preston.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom was pleased with his side's performance in their win against Norwich City.

Milutin Osmajic's goal earned Preston only their third away win of the season and dented the Canaries' hopes of moving into the Championship play-off places.

Heckingbottom's side have now lost just one of their past eight games in league and FA Cup.

"I'm really pleased, Norwich are a talented group and to win there you've got to get a lot of things right," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The players were magnificent for the whole game and Freddie [Woodman] only had one shot to save and that was from distance. That shows how well the team defended.

"The one critical thing was we didn't take our chances at the other end and make it more comfortable so that shows how well we played."

The draw for the FA Cup fifth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Championship teams left in the competition.

Games will be played over the first weekend of March.

• Aston Villa v Cardiff City

• Crystal Palace v Millwall

• Manchester City v Plymouth

• Preston North End v Burnley

You can find the full draw here.

Norwich City will look to move into the Championship play-off spots when they welcome Preston North End on Tuesday night (20:00).

With both Blackburn and Middlesbrough not in action until Wednesday evening, the Canaries will climb into the top six with victory.

The Lilywhites are 15th and lost for the first time in five league games (W2 D2) in the 2-1 defeat at Blackburn last time out in the league.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past four league games against Preston North End (W2 D2), only once in the EFL recording a longer run against the Lilywhites – five matches between February 2002 and May 2004.

• Preston North End have lost just one of their past eight away league games against Norwich City (W2 D5), with their most recent visit to Carrow Road last season ending in a goalless draw.

• Norwich have won two of their past three home league games on Tuesdays (D1), scoring 4+ goals in each victory (4-2 vs Watford in February 2024, 6-1 vs Plymouth in November 2024).

• Preston North End have lost just three of their past 15 Championship matches (W5 D7) and although they lost last time out to Blackburn, they are yet to lose consecutively under Paul Heckingbottom.

• Brad Potts has scored three goals in his past four Championship appearances, as many as he'd scored in his previous 54 games combined. He's looking to score in three matches in a row for the first time.

Image source, Getty Images

On Wednesday we asked what you made of Preston North End's business in the transfer window.

North End brought in Lewis Gibson from Plymouth Argyle to shore up the heart of the defence, while 18-year-old left-back Jayden Meghoma joined from Premier League side Brentford.

Scotland defender Ryan Porteous arrived on loan from Watford, while Ryan Ledson, Emil Riis, Freddie Woodman and Milutin Osmajic remained at Deepdale despite reported interest from elsewhere.

Here are some of your responses:

Al: 7/10. Hopefully the problem left-back position has now been filled, and Gibson looks a solid addition. Also think that Porteous will add some much needed competition at the back. Winter recruitment has been much better than the summer which, loan signings aside, was pretty dreadful!

Jim: Gibson was a good signing but only time will tell with the others, as they are not in it for the long haul. Deeply frustrating season with some poor games where they have been bullied and outfought. Other times they have looked clueless going forward and seem content to defend their own box. A real lack of consistency and some shocking results against teams around or below them. Unfortunately, I don't see these signings changing a lot and it looks like the season is fizzling out already.

Gren: Decent transfer window for North End to be fair, I do however think we will be doing well to finish in the top 10 of the Championship this season!

Adam: I would have preferred to see an additional striker added to the team; however, I am pleased with the recent signings, particularly Gibson, who has made a remarkable impact in defence. My primary concern lies with the loan players, whose contributions have been exceptional. It is crucial that we secure their contracts in the upcoming transfer window. Alternatively, Preston should consider reviewing its financial strategy to increase salary offerings, which would enhance our ability to attract top talent. I'd like to think this approach will provide us with a better chance of remaining competitive in the upper half of the league.

Charlie: Positive window for helping seal the back door that has been low on confidence and seems to concede several goals after conceding one. Now it looks a little more settled and the addition of a natural LWB is much needed. Hopefully Meghoma grows each game and the long-term solution is found in the summer. Missing the natural goalscorer for when Osmajic is unavailable is going to show as Riis seems to miss lots of chances. Championship strikers should score more often than not.

Mo: We needed a better keeper and missed out. I'm sure we could could have the money from somewhere.

Fin: Glad we finally got a left-back, Gibson is a good signing and I'm glad we got cover following Jordan Storey's injury. Some cover in central midfield would've been good after Ben Whiteman's injury. Would've loved another striker to play alongside Osmajic but we can only hope for the summer.

Preston North End welcome League One high-fliers Wycombe Wanderers to Deepdale for an FA Cup fourth round tie on Saturday afternoon (15:00 GMT).

• Preston have won two of their three FA Cup meetings with Wycombe, though the exception was a 4-1 defeat in the most recent such encounter (2020-21 third round).

• After a 13-game winless run against Preston between 1996 and 2020 (D4 L9), Wycombe have won both of their past two meetings with the Lilywhites (both in 2021).

• Wycombe Wanderers have reached the FA Cup fourth round for just the fourth time, also doing so in 2000-01, 2016-17 and 2020-21. Only in 2000-01 have they gone beyond this stage, eventually reaching the semi-final before losing to eventual winners Liverpool.

• Preston are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2014-15, with this just their third fourth round appearance since then (0-1 v Sheffield United in 2018, 0-3 v Tottenham in 2023).

• Wycombe's Luke Leahy has been involved in nine goals in his past 12 FA Cup appearances (7 goals, 2 assists), although only one of those goals or assists has come away from home, scoring for Shrewsbury in a 5-1 win at Stratford Town in November 2021.