LIFE-LONG Preston fan Scott Barron is looking to dent their promotion hopes tonight.But the young Blues defender hopes that if Ipswich Town are not the ones going up via the play-offs then the Lilywhites make it instead.

By Derek Davis

LIFE-LONG Preston fan Scott Barron is looking to dent their promotion hopes tonight.

But the young Blues defender hopes that if Ipswich Town are not the ones going up via the play-offs then the Lilywhites make it instead.

Barron was born in the Lancashire mill town but his family moved from the area of Exton to Darlington when he was a three-years-old.

The 21-year-old, who has been with the Blues since he was a 10-year-old schoolboy, still has family in the Preston area and has had to pester skipper Jim Magilton for an extra 10 tickets to accommodate all the requests.

He has fond memories of watching the side, especially in the David Moyes' era as manager, and keeps close tabs on their progress.

Barron said: “I just kept supporting them and used to go and watch them whenever we visited. I had all the kits as a youngster and even though this will be the first time I have played at Deepdale, I have seen plenty of games there.”

The left-sided defender has recently signed a new two-year deal at Portman Road and is hoping to play in the Premiership with them. But if they don't go up this season he hopes Preston can go one better than last year and win in the play-off finals.

He said: “I want us to go up but if we don't make it then I would love to see Preston go up. I know Wolves have just overtaken them but you still have to fancy Preston to make the play-offs. It is still very much in Preston's own hands.

“If it means we get three points then I will be happy with that and for us to give it a good go at going up ourselves.”

Barron watched Preston in the play-offs last year as Billy Davies' side went out against George Burley's Derby County and feels they are still a top-quality outfit.He said: “Billy has done a brilliant job. He has had to sell players but he has brought in some real good-value players, such as David Nugent, and, more recently, Brett Ormerod.

“They have always played good football, maybe not as much as ourselves but more so than most Championship teams. They were very good when they came here earlier in the season. We were not very good that day but still Preston played very well.

“David Healy and Ricardo were always good to watch and Sean Gregan was an inspirational player. It is a bit surreal because I used to watch all those players and now I have played against a lot of them.”

Like the rest of the Blues side, Barron is looking to put Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Millwall behind them and feels they can still challenge for a top-six place if they can secure maximum points over the next few days.

He said: “Personally it started very well and I was enjoying it but then didn't play particularly well and I know a few of the other lads were disappointed with themselves too. Perhaps we were surprised at how well Millwall played in the second half, they probably surprised themselves.

“We know we can play a lot better and will need to against Preston and Palace. The other good thing is that even if we don't make it this season then it bodes well for next year, as we can get even better.

“We concentrated hard in not taking Millwall lightly because when you are chasing points a win, whoever it is against, is all that matters. Perhaps subconsciously we were still thinking about the Preston game. Now it is here and we know we have to win this and again on Saturday.

“Three games in quick succession is hard but it is a good opportunity to rack up points and if can still get seven points from the week that will put us in a decent position.”

Ipswich Reserves were 3-0 winners away to Watford Reserves in the Premiership Reserve League last night.