It is far from common for Deepdale to come alive on a Sunday lunchtime, but there will certainly be a buzz about Preston North End’s historic home this weekend when they take part in their first FA Cup quarter-final in practically 60 years.
The prize is a big one: a coveted semi-final spot at Wembley. As is the opponent: Unai Emery’s in-form Aston Villa. And Paul Heckingbottom, the Preston manager, is relishing the chance for the club to put forward a good account of itself.
“Everyone is really on board with this. We had Fulham in the League Cup and Arsenal, and now we’re welcoming Aston Villa,” Heckingbottom said. “These cup games are for us to enjoy.”
They may have already hosted Fulham and Arsenal this season, but this is the biggest game for Preston in modern times and comes with the team sitting 14th in the Championship, not at threat of relegation but too far away for a push for promotion.
They are the only Football League club left in this season’s FA Cup, and although they are underdogs in the tie with Villa, who are positioned 24 places above them, the excitement is building.
“Obviously, we have to go all out to try and win the game. It’s here for us to relish amid the slog of the Championship season,” Heckingbottom added. “Our recent history hasn’t been at the top end of English football, but in the past, the club very much was.
“We are one game away from Wembley. If we win away against Derby on Wednesday night, we get three points, but if we manage to overturn Villa, it’s a totally different story.
“A trip to Wembley and an FA Cup semi-final doesn’t come around often. This week has taken care of itself — everyone is looking forward to it and excited for it.”
Preston have had a fluctuating season. It started with Ryan Lowe leaving his post as manager after the first game of the campaign back in August.
Heckingbottom took up the reins from there and although their league form has been steady if not spectacular — 17 of their 38 games have been draws — overcoming Charlton, Wycombe Wanderers and Burnley in the FA Cup has brought a new impetus to their season.
Osmajic put Preston in bad light
However, striker Milutin Osmajic has cast a perpetual cloud over the club in recent months. He was charged last week by the FA after being accused of racially abusing Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri during a fixture last month.
Osmajic “strongly refuted” the allegations but had already been banned for eight games in October for biting Blackburn Rovers’s Owen Beck. The Montenegrin striker has brought trouble along with 13 goals.
After scoring Preston’s second in the 3-0 victory over Burnley in the fifth round, he antagonised the travelling supporters with a celebration in front of them. Heckingbottom, though, would rather that victory be remembered for his side ending their neighbours’ 24-game unbeaten run and a streak of nine clean sheets.
The quarter-final being at Deepdale should give Preston some encouragement, too. Heckingbottom’s team are unbeaten at home in their last 15 matches across all competitions, conceding just nine goals.
“We want to be on the front foot and put pressure on Villa,” Heckingbottom said. “Depending on which team Unai picks, especially at the top of the pitch, it will determine how they build. We are guessing to some extent — a lot of the preparation will be focused on ourselves.”
Preston will be without four players because of suspension or ineligibility due to appearances for other clubs in previous cup games, and the expectation will be for Villa to reach their first FA Cup semi-final in a decade.
Manchester City remain in the competition but Villa will see this as their best chance of silverware this term. They still have plenty to play for given they are vying for a top-four spot and have a Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon.
Emery strengthened his resources in the January transfer window and the impacts of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have been impressive. The seven-times FA Cup winners will head up north with four consecutive wins.
“Any XI Villa puts out at the minute is unbelievably strong. I think it reflects how Villa has strengthened with every window,” Heckingbottom said.
“They recruited extremely well in January, and I don’t see them fielding a weak team against Preston. They will see this as being just a couple of games away from their first piece of silverware in a long time — and Unai’s first with the club.”
Whoever triumphs on Sunday will be a step closer to ending a sizeable wait. Preston last won this competition in 1937 whilst for Villa it was 1957. Deepdale will be alive to the occasion.
