Lancashire

Burnley boss Scott Parker has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Turf Moor (kick-off 17:30).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Parker will put out the same squad as he did last weekend, with no new injuries.

• He took "massive encouragement" from the intent his team showed during the Newcastle defeat, particularly seeing "a fight, a spirit and a doggedness" in his players.

• On the role that senior players play in his young squad: "I lean on them a lot. There's always a big emphasis on those boys to step forward at certain moments and show leadership qualities, to bring a young group together, and educate on the pitch as well as off it."

• On whether his team are coming together quickly enough: "The cold hard reality is along any season - or any journey in life - there's some bumps and some adversity. Maybe the modern day world has not allowed us to embrace that adversity. We want a quick fix, an instant click of a finger, for things to be put right. Speaking with experience, that's not reality."

• Parker added: "I've got a group that look up, face up, and go again. With that attitude, that desire, you have a chance, in terms of progressing and becoming better. I see that in this group."

• On the role of the home crowd on Saturday: "I understand there's a hard-working fan base that come into the stadium to support this team and are desperate for a result. We are equally as desperate. We need their full backing. We need them right behind this young group - through thick, through thin. we need to make Turf Moor a real difficult place to come."

• On the absence of Kyle Walker: "His quality, his experience, his understanding of certain situations will be a big miss. But it gives another person an opportunity."

• On his final message to players before a game: "We need to be fighters, to represent what this club represents. Full-hearted commitment - that's the main message."

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5Live reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

Twenty games into the season and Preston North End have lost only four times in the Championship. A sturdy summer recruitment drive - a strategic reset after a narrow escape from the drop last season - set them up for this season, so far, of hope and prosperity.

They have become ultra-resilient under Paul Heckingbottom and their gutsy effort to garner a draw under severe pressure from Coventry underlined such a notion.

It also highlighted how worthy they are of the lofty position they find themselves in.

The Championship leaders and top scorers tested North End's resolve on countless occasions only to be denied by blocks, tackles and one incredible save from Daniel Iversen, the North End goalkeeper brought back to the club in the summer. A trusted barrier who regularly excels.

Heckingbottom and his coaching staff took a measured approach to playing with 10 men from the 39th minute onwards. Switching things around astutely, using a strong bench to help not only restrict Coventry, but retain an attacking threat. Streetwise management, and not for the first time in this campaign.

Daniel Jebbison is another recruit with passion and endeavour. He made the most of his chance to equalise in some style.

North End deserved something from this latest test of their promotion credentials.

The fight to end the long wait for top-flight football at Deepdale heads on into the deep winter. This North End group might just have the stamina required to do something amazing.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire: "We've had two top performances, in different ways, and we only get two points.

"It's always about winning but I couldn't be any prouder of the players today, they were magnificent. They showed what we're all about.

"When we had the ball they recovered well and we found it hard to break them down, but I always felt when we were trying to press they were getting their players in behind us, [Jack] Rudoni and Haji Wright, that was their threat.

"It didn't lead to a goal but it led to a sending-off. Both teams were playing the conditions - it was windy, gusty, bobbly, scrappy and the sending-off changed the dynamic of the game totally and the pattern was set.

"We went 5-3-1 to keep that coverage across the pitch so it was a tough shift for Jebbo [Daniel Jebbison].

"We defended really really well and Dan [Iversen] had his moment with the save, their [deflected] goal was the only way he was going to get beaten."

Natalie Bromley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Scott Parker claimed that Saturday's performance against Newcastle was the "best performance of the year".

What is he measuring that on?

As I have said over and over this season, I remain frustrated at the defensive frailties in the side, the lack of attacking threat, and the gulf in class between us and the rest of the Premier League. Last week I lamented that Sunderland had managed to get themselves a point against Arsenal owing to their ability to drive and attack in the dying seconds. This week it was the turn of Leeds, who refused to give up and won themselves an incredible point against Liverpool. Burnley's points tally against the big sides in the league? Zero.

Parker claims we are showing a fight. But the problem is that we only seem to show fight when the game is already lost. I can't remember the last time I saw us come out and dictate the flow of the game ourselves. To have put another team under pressure. To make them have to change their gameplans. We are just so painfully cautious and defensive and offer up not much more than a training game.

And, for the third time this season, we conceded the stupidest of penalties. Like the challenge isn't big enough?

Giving up is not in my nature, but I just feel so very fed up with this season and can't see us getting out of this. Everyone just seems to have given up.

So, you know what I would do? Get this team on an FA Cup run and win a trophy. Give us all a trip to Wembley and something to cheer for. Wouldn't that be something this season?

Find more from Natalie Bromley at No Nay Never podcast, external