HECKY THUMP

Survival game trumps all for Paul

- by DAVID ANDERSON

PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM claims Preston’s relegation showdown at Bristol City is the biggest game of his managerial career.

Heckingbottom has taken charge of promotion deciders, play-offs and FA Cup semi-finals in his nine years as a boss and says today’s clash with the play-off-chasing Robins tops them all.

Preston are a point above the survival line, having won just one of their last 14 league games, and the pressure is on as they bid to avoid dropping down to League One for the first time in 10 years.

“We will not get a bigger game,” said the North End boss. “The games I've been involved in, whether it’s been promotion games to get to the Premier League, play-off finals, FA Cup semi-finals, this feels bigger to me.

“I know the size of the game, the task, what's at stake. It feels huge.