Preston North End headed into this pre-season on the back of their first full campaign under the management of Ryan Lowe last time around, in which they eventually finished 12th with 63 points from their 46 matches, having managed 17 victories while also suffering 17 defeats.
They were certainly in the mix for a playoff place, too, heading into their final five matches in seventh spot following three straight wins, but a loss to fellow playoff chasers Millwall derailed their top-six push, as the Lilywhites would eventually lose four and draw one of those last five outings.
Following that disappointing final month which saw them quickly drop five places, the Lancashire outfit turned their focus to improving in the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, and they began pre-season with a 7-0 win over Bamber Bridge before beating Bruno’s Magpies 3-0 in Spain.
Back on English soil, Lowe’s side then travelled to take on fourth-tier Barrow and suffered a 1-0 defeat, as David Worrall hit the only goal of the game, before they most recently welcomed Ipswich Town to Deepdale on Wednesday.
Conor Chaplin and George Hirst had their visitors 2-0 up going into the final 10 minutes, and while 16-year-old Felipe Rodriguez-Gentile pulled one back soon after, they were unable to draw level late on and will now look to make a return to winning ways on home turf as their Championship curtain-raiser away at Bristol City nears.
They welcome an Aberdeen side also hoping to gain momentum ahead of the new campaign after enjoying a successful season last time around, as they secured a third-placed finish in the Scottish Premiership for the first time in five years.
The Dons started the term under the management of Jim Goodwin, and after his January departure, Barry Robson stepped into the hot seat and led an eye-catching upturn in form, as they finished the first phase with
seven straight victories, and while they only managed one more win from their five matches in the Championship phase, Aberdeen had still had enough to seal the top-three spot and a place in the Europa League playoff round.
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On their return to action for pre-season earlier in July, and with Robson having been given the job on a permanent basis, they began in style in a trip to Turriff United with a 9-0 victory, as debutant Ester Solker found the net four times alongside goals from Findlay Marshall, Leighton Clarkson, Ylber Ramadani, Duk and Shayden Morris.
The Dons then travelled to Bellslea Park to take on Fraserburgh last weekend, and they again came out on top as Alfie Bavidge opened the scoring in the 38th minute before Solker netted his side’s second of the game from the penalty spot early in the second half.
Now with two games under their belt and having put up two dominant displays, Aberdeen will ramp up their preparations with the trip to Deepdale on Saturday and bid to keep building confidence ahead of the beginning of their new domestic campaign away at Livingston in early August.
