Graham Alexander has spoken openly about the scale of the task facing Preston North End, telling BBC Radio Lancashire that the club must make "significant change" if they are to survive in the Championship this season.

North End sit bottom of the second tier with four points from 11 games, and they have lost all three matches since Alexander replaced Paul Heckingbottom in the dugout. The most alarming number on the board is defensive: 24 goals conceded, the worst in the division, with eight of those shipped across the past two fixtures alone, a 4-0 loss at Birmingham and a 4-1 defeat at Wrexham last Saturday.

Diagnosing the problem

Alexander is clear about where the bleeding must stop. "You can see the goals conceded and timing of goals are the main issue," he said. "You just have to look at the results and you can put your finger on it. Then you have to try to find what the cause was. If you can fix that, you can fix the issue."

He pointed to the limited runway available to him. With no pre-season behind him and the January transfer window still weeks away, Alexander cannot reshape his squad or embed a new structure at leisure. "Everything has to be done quickly in football," he said. "I have learned over the years the need for speed and preparation is essential. We have to do things quickly, but it doesn't happen overnight."

Despite the difficult early results, the manager said he can see day-to-day improvement on the training pitch and retains faith in the players he inherited. "I 100% believe these players can improve; it's my role and responsibility to help them do that," he said. "I know the time it takes to make a full improvement but certainly as a team you can make gradual improvements day by day."

Staff changes and the search for continuity

The departure of first-team coaches Andy Liddell and Peter Murphy, confirmed earlier this week, forms part of what Alexander describes as a deliberate reset. Rather than replacing the pair on a like-for-like basis, he confirmed he is searching for a single individual to cover both roles. "I wanted to give myself a little bit of time," he said, "but I think it's a natural course of action if you want significant change. We have to make significant change if we want to be a successful club."

He also revealed that weekly inter-squad matches in training will become a permanent fixture to keep the group sharp between competitive games.

Injury news ahead of West Brom

On the injury front, Alexander confirmed that midfielder Liam Gibbs will not return until the new year. Defender Lewis Gibson is also ruled out of Saturday's home fixture against West Brom, which kicks off at 15:00.

The visit of West Brom gives Preston an immediate opportunity to collect their first points of the Alexander era, though the manager was measured in his message to supporters who are understandably impatient. "I'm not expecting anyone to see the end product we're trying to put in place, but I do," he said. "I only need to focus players' minds on the next step in the process."

The maths surrounding North End's Championship status grows starker with every passing Saturday. Four points from 11 games leaves them adrift, and with the run of conceded goals showing little sign of slowing, the demand for those gradual improvements to translate into results has never been more urgent.

Frequently asked

Where are Preston North End in the Championship table?
Preston are bottom of the Championship with four points from 11 games as of mid-October 2026, and have the worst defensive record in the division with 24 goals conceded.
Why did Andy Liddell and Peter Murphy leave Preston?
Manager Graham Alexander said the departures were a natural part of seeking significant change at the club. He is looking for one person to take on the combined coaching responsibilities previously held by the pair.
When is Preston's next Championship match?
Preston host West Brom on Saturday at 15:00, with Lewis Gibson ruled out through injury and Liam Gibbs sidelined until the new year.