Heckigbottom calls for 'realism' from disillusioned fans

Preston North End boss Paul Heckingbottom has called for "realism" amongst fans amid a difficult spell at the club. The Lilywhites were fourth in the Championship table in January, but are now 17th after winning just one of their past 12 matches. And while Heckingbottom understands the fans' anger, he also feels the expectations were raised too high during the first half of the season.

"If we are a team who are bottom three budget and bottom three in terms of net spend, why should we be expected to beat the teams that aren't? " the 48-year-old told BBC Radio Lancashire. "I've always said it's not about money and it's not.

If we look at the teams at the bottom, some of them have huge wage bills. But we need to make sure we are going in the right direction about that. "There's other teams still fighting, there is other teams spending, there is other teams still chasing what we are chasing.

We have no right to be any better than the other teams we are playing against. " Striker Milutin Osmajic has trained and will be available for Friday evening's game against Stoke City (20:00 GMT) after spending their defeat by Norwich City on the bench. But both midfielder Ali McCann (ankle) and defender Lewis Gibson (shoulder) will need to wait until after the international break to make their respective returns.