Freddie ready to gatecrash play-offs with Preston push

PRESTON shot-stopper Freddie Woodman is quietly confident the club can sneak into the play-offs.

In-form North End have climbed to eighth in the table, two points off the top six, having lost just one of their last 10 games.

After four wins from their last five and with six games remaining in the campaign, former Newcastle United keeper, 26, is backing a late charge for possible Premier League promotion. “This season is still alive, it’s the Championship so anything can happen,” said Woodman ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Reading.

“We’ve just got to make sure we take care of our business and keep coming away with the results. I always knew we would be in the mix and if you look at past seasons there’s always a team that comes from nowhere to get in the pack.

“I remember when I was at Swansea we were 12th when lockdown hit but we still managed to sneak into sixth spot.

“I don’t think it’s ever over but we’re just concentrating on our business and trying not to get too carried away because we know we have some tough fixtures coming up.

“If we can keep playing the way we have been doing we should give ourselves a fighting chance.”

The misfiring Royals have not won in their last seven matches and last triumphed away in the league almost five months ago.

Paul Ince’s side are third from bottom and a point adrift of safety but they drew 1-1 at home to Birmingham on Friday.

The former Manchester United star said: “I’ve told the players they will have to fight and fight to see if we can do something special.”