Sky Bet Championship: Simon Grayson discusses Leeds and Preston

Leeds dispatched Preston 3-0 at Elland Road to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and stretch their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship to three points.

Preston sit 23rd in the table after only mustering one win from their opening eight games, which came in their first match of the season, stretching their winless run in the league to seven on Tuesday night.

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Lack of reinvestment for Preston

The Lilywhites have only managed to record seven goals thus far, which could be down to the lack of resources that they have up front and the possibility of not re-investing their money into proven goalscorers in this division.

"We used to bring in a certain player for a certain amount of money," Grayson told Sporting Life.

"They lost Jordan Hugill last season for £9m and Greg Cunningham for £4m in the summer and only went and replaced them with Graham Burke, and then Lukas Nmecha from Manchester City.

"They haven’t really gone and made a statement of spending £3m/£4m on a striker which I think the supporters are a little bit frustrated by."

Preston 2018/19 betting odds (via Sky Bet)

• Preston to get relegated - 9/1
• Preston to finish in the top half - 5/4
• Preston to finish in the top-six - 6/1

Although Alex Neil’s men are lacking in the goals department, they have also conceded the most goals in the league with 15, averaging slightly over two per game.

Grayson believes Preston need to improve on one thing in particular and only then should they expect to see a difference in results.

"They’ve had a little bit of indiscipline over the last few weeks. Ben Pearson got sent off after the whistle against Bolton, getting a three match ban, Ryan Ledson got sent off against Leeds," said Grayson.

"The lack of discipline at the minute is costing them, as it is tough enough in the Sky Bet Championship with 11 players on a game-by-game basis, but when you’re down to 10 men and your confidence goes a little bit, it’s hard to get out of at times so I’m surprised they’re down there but nothing can surprise you in this league."

Grayson on Bielsa’s Leeds

Leeds United made many joyous memories for Grayson, and they have started the season in scintillating form, winning five matches and drawing three.

Despite the string of good results, the former Leeds manager believes that Marcelo Bielsa is not doing anything ground-breaking, yet is reaping the rewards for adopting that particular style.

"You look back over a number of years and he is doing no different to a lot of teams I’ve played in or managed in the past," explained Grayson.

"You want to get the ball back as quickly as possible and that means adding a little more intensity to your play."

Leeds 2018/19 betting odds (via Sky Bet)

• Leeds to win the Sky Bet Championship - 10/3
• Leeds to be promoted - 6/5
• Leeds to finish outside the top 6 - 2/1

"What they’ve done differently this year to last year is keeping the ball a little bit more and more possession-based football, but he’s not reinvented the wheel.

"He has some great ideas but it’s nothing new. High pressing is something managers, coaches and players have done for many years.

"He’s given them opportunities to go and express themselves."

One thing Grayson knows first-hand is that it is important to have the backing of the Leeds faithful, which was the case during his spell at Elland Road.

The former Whites boss said: "I think the biggest thing at Leeds is that he’s got the supporters believing in something that could potentially happen and they are enjoying it."

"All Leeds fans want to see is them having a right go and getting the ball back, putting balls in the box and creating chances, trying to win the game rather than drawing games 0-0 and 1-0 and I think that’s what he has brought to the club at this moment in time."

Odds correct at 1650 BST (19/09/18)

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