Thierry Small has called on Preston North End's squad spirit to be the catalyst for a change in fortunes, insisting that as long as the group sticks together the results will eventually turn their way.

The defender spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after what has been a difficult stretch for the Deepdale side, with recent headlines reflecting a wobble in form that has tested both players and supporters. Small, though, was adamant that the dressing room remains united and that confidence in the collective has not wavered.

Why unity matters in a difficult spell

It is easy, during a poor run, to look for fault lines inside a squad. Results at this level can expose individual errors and tactical shortcomings, and the temptation for players to look inward rather than outward is real. Small's message pushed back directly against that narrative.

"We know that we've got a tight group," the Preston left-back said, in comments aired on BBC Sounds. The brevity of the remark is worth sitting with. It is not a claim that the problems have been solved, nor a promise of a specific number of wins. It is a statement about the condition of the squad, and in that sense it is the most honest kind of reassurance a player can offer.

Whether squad unity actually translates into better results is another question entirely. We do not have the numbers to settle it definitively. What the evidence from second-tier football does suggest, however, is that teams which fracture internally during a run of poor form tend to compound their problems; sides that hold shape off the pitch at least give themselves a fighting chance of holding shape on it.

Context: what Preston are dealing with

The recent run has been well documented. A defeat to Watford, a draw against Charlton that prompted Vukčević to call for immediate improvements, and a broader sense that the performances have fallen below the level Preston need to compete in the top half of the Championship table. The fixtures have not been kind, and the margin for error in this division rarely is.

Small himself has been one of the more consistent figures in a Preston side that has at times struggled to find its rhythm. His perspective carries weight precisely because he is operating at full-back, a position that requires constant communication with those around him and a clear read on the collective mood of the group.

The bigger picture for Deepdale

Preston are not, by the evidence available, a side in crisis. They have shown in patches this season that they can compete and press effectively. The concern is whether those patches become something more sustained. Comments from manager Paul Schumacher in recent weeks have suggested a belief that the squad's quality is sufficient; the job now is consistency.

Small's message slots neatly into that framing. This is not a rebuild. It is, by the players' own account, a group that knows what it is capable of and is backing itself to rediscover that form. The Championship will not wait: the table moves quickly, and Preston will need points sooner rather than later to stay in contention for the upper reaches of the division.

For now, the message from the dressing room is clear. Stick together, and the results will follow. Whether the pitch delivers on that promise is what the coming weeks will answer.

Frequently asked

What has Thierry Small said about Preston's recent poor form?
Small has said that Preston have a tight group and that as long as the squad sticks together, the results will come good. He spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after a difficult run of Championship fixtures.
How has Preston North End been performing in the Championship?
Preston have endured a difficult recent spell, with defeats and draws prompting questions about their consistency, though the players insist confidence and squad unity remain intact.
Who is Thierry Small and what position does he play for Preston?
Thierry Small is a left-back who plays for Preston North End in the Championship.