Months after close shave with relegation, North End face Blackburn on Friday night with second spot in their sightsThere is a refreshingly unfamiliar feel to the Championship top six. None of the incumbents have played in the Premier League this decade, a rarity in the modern-day second tier where those in receipt of parachute payments tend to rule the roost. In fact, of the top 11, only seventh-placed Ipswich have featured in the past seven top-flight seasons.Preston are one of the few in that group never to have graced the Premier League, this their 11th consecutive Championship campaign. Unfancied and unfashionable in the current climate, they were widely tipped to struggle after a disastrous finish to last season, but under Paul Heckingbottom they sit fourth going into a crunch derby with Blackburn on Friday night and would rise to second with a win. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/nov/20/preston-north-end-surprise-surge-championship-unfancied-contenders">Continue reading...</a>

يحتل نادي بريستون نورث إند، بعد أن نجا من الهبوط في الموسم الماضي، المركز الرابع في دوري البطولة ويستهدف المركز الثاني عندما يواجه بلاكبيرن مساء الجمعة. تتكون المراكز الستة الأولى في دوري البطولة من فرق لم تلعب في الدوري الممتاز خلال هذه العقد، حيث يعد بريستون واحدًا من القلائل الذين لم يشاركوا في الدوري الممتاز، مما يمثل موسمهم الحادي عشر على التوالي في دوري البطولة.

Preston North End, tras una estrecha salvación del descenso la temporada pasada, ocupa actualmente el cuarto lugar en el Championship y busca el segundo puesto al enfrentarse a Blackburn el viernes por la noche. Las seis primeras posiciones del Championship están ocupadas por equipos que no han jugado en la Premier League en esta década, siendo Preston uno de los pocos clubes que nunca ha participado en la máxima categoría, marcando su undécima temporada consecutiva en el Championship.

Preston North End, après avoir échappé de justesse à la relégation la saison dernière, est actuellement en quatrième position dans le Championship et vise la deuxième place alors qu'il affronte Blackburn vendredi soir. Les six premières équipes du Championship n'ont pas joué en Premier League cette décennie, Preston étant l'un des rares clubs à n'avoir jamais participé à l'élite, marquant sa 11e saison consécutive dans le Championship.

Preston North End, after narrowly avoiding relegation last season, is currently in fourth place in the Championship and aims for second spot as they face Blackburn on Friday night. The Championship's top six features teams that have not played in the Premier League this decade, with Preston being one of the few clubs that has never participated in the top flight, marking their 11th consecutive season in the Championship.

In-form Preston lead surprise surge for Championship’s unfancied contenders

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