My boys will dig Deep, says manager

ZANDER DIAMOND: fit and set to return.

PAUL Dickov insists there is no reason his Athletic side can’t rise to the occasion against promotion hopefuls Preston North End tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The Scot acknowledged the majority of his charges will be experiencing Deepdale for the first time in their careers, but said there is little chance of them being daunted by the occasion.

He added: “The boys relish new experiences like the trip to Preston. Regardless of the opposition or venue, we set them up to go out and play their own game in every single match.

“I used to love playing at Deepdale. It is a brilliant place to go, especially under the floodlights. It should be a good atmosphere and if the pitch is a bit wet the ball will be zipping around, which suits us.”

Dickov is wary of the threat of a ‘wounded animal’ — the Lilywhites enter tonight’s clash having lost four matches in a row. And the Athletic chief holds opposite number Phil Brown and his number two, Brian Horton, in high regard.

He continued: “Phil and Brian are two experienced men I look up to and they have put together a good team. It is a big playing surface and the game will be played in front of a large crowd, so we know what to expect. They are a danger, but it is down to us to go out and build on our 2-0 win over Wycombe.

“It is a North-West derby, but it is a big game because it is our next game. It is as simple as that.

“Our standards have dropped at Colchester, Exeter and Tranmere and I don’t want it to happen again.”

Dickov expects to welcome back Zander Diamond and Filipe Morais from injury. Diamond is likely to replace Jean Yves Mvoto at the heart of the defence, while Morais will hope to keep his place on the right wing after limping off in the dying minutes against Wycombe.