On Saturday, last season's League One play-off winners hosted promotion chasing Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale.

Carlos Carvalhal's Sheffield Wednesday went into the game as strong favourites, after accumulating 23 points from their last 10 games.

However, the Lilywhites managed to take all three points from the high-flying Owls to put them just eight points off of sixth position.

Preston's main aim this season was to avoid relegation but can they, against all odds, make a late bid for the play offs?

Simon Grayson has got his side playing some excellent football, and ultimately they are coming up against some of the best sides in the division, yet are playing without fear.

Here's THREE things that we have learnt from Preston this season that suggest that they may be capable of a late play-off surge.....

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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE THREE REASONS!

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Taking points from teams at the top

Preston are one of the teams who were expected to struggle this season and for a portion of the season, they did seem to be struggling.

However, they have recently turned themselves around and part of this reason is by taking points from the teams looking for promotion.

North End have managed to take points off all of the current top six and have beaten three of them.

If Preston were to make it to the play-offs, who's to say that they couldn't beat them again?

 

Solid at the back

In the last few seasons, the Lilywhites have held a fantastically small number of goals conceded.

However, that was in League One.

But the step up doesn't seem to have affected them as they still have conceded just 29 goals in 32 games which is the 7th best record in the division.

If Preston keep up the good work at the back and add a few more goals up top then they will have a real chance at making the top six.

Recent run of form

In Preston's last 21 league games, they have lost just four and have also won their last three league games.

This run has been strung together due to fantastic team performances, and the North End fans will be hoping for more of the same in the last few months of the season.

If all of these pointers were to continue then Preston could easily close the eight point gap between them and the top six, and find themselves competing for the ultimate prize: a place in the Premier League.

Preston fans... Do you think your team has what it takes to make it into the Play-Offs? Let us know in the comments below!