Leeds United welcome a familiar face to Elland Road on Saturday, with former boss Paul Heckingbottom arriving with his Preston North End side.
A lot has happened since Paul Heckingbottom spent a brief spell in charge of Leeds United in 2018.
He was replaced by Marcelo Bielsa who finally lifted Leeds United out of the Championship and into the Premier League, only for the Whites to be relegated in 2023 and then to lose the Championship play-off final last season.
Daniel Farke has the Whites back on track, albeit having endured a bit of a bumpy ride in recent weeks with Leeds United’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the week taking them from 3rd to 1st place of the Championship table.
On Saturday they welcome a Preston side who currently sit in 16th place of the table after a tough campaign under Heckingbottom who replaced Ryan Lowe in the August.
Preston have now won just one of their last 10 in the Championship after drawing at home to Cardiff City in midweek, whilst Leeds United have lost only once since the end of November, albeit having drawn three of their last four.
Paul Heckingbottom blames ‘time of season’ for Leeds United’s poor form
Speaking to the press ahead of Saturday’s game in West Yorkshire, Heckingbottom was asked to give his thoughts on Leeds United’s mixed form of late, and the 47-year-old seemed convinced that the reason for Leeds’ patchy form was simply because it’s the end of the season.
Heckingbottom said: “It’s the time of season. Time of season. Exactly what it is. 100%, top or bottom, and how that’s projected onto players… you protect the players from it, within a stadium that’s tough, the mood, it’s the time of season. That’s just exactly what happens.”
On Friday night, 2nd place Burnley host Norwich City in the Championship whilst Sheffield United head to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, kicking off at 12:30pm along with Leeds United.
Paul Heckingbottom’s record vs Leeds United
As Leeds United manager, Heckingbottom lasted just 16 games, winning four of them to eventually leave with a 25% win rate in June 2018.
And his record with Preston is only slightly better than his record at Leeds with a 28.26% win rate after 46 games in charge (13 wins).
As a manager against Leeds United, Heckingbottom has only ever beaten the Whites once, losing three out of five.
What’s more is that Heckingbottom is winless as a manager against Farke with two draws and one defeat in three games against the German.
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