Maxwell wants PNE to be in mix

That is the view of goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, who believes the battle to finish in the top six could go right down to the wire.

Simon Grayson’s side head into Saturday’s game against Queens Park Rangers at Deepdale nine points shy of the final play-off spot in 10th.

With current occupants Sheffield Wednesday six points clear of Fulham in seventh, the current top six could well be the final one when the season is done.

But Maxwell believes plenty can still change with 13 games to go.

“If players say they don’t look at the league table, they’re lying a little bit,” said the 26-year-old.

“You do have a look now and again.

“How you look at the table is important though.

“Certainly myself and a few others were looking at the teams above us and not behind us.

“We’re not looking at teams that could dislodge us.

“We’re thinking about if we get three points where will it take us?

“We can go up to eighth on Saturday, which is just below the play-offs.

“Things can change in a couple of weeks and we’ve just got to make sure we give ourselves the best possible chance by winning games.”

The play-offs may be the ambition but Maxwell knows looking to far ahead is not a recipe for success.

“In the back of the lads’ minds we are aiming to get in the play-offs, of course we are,” he said.

“But we’ve got to be taking each game as it comes, picking up points on a regular basis, which we are, and putting the pressure on the teams above us.

“We’ve seen Sheffield Wednesday drop points this week (a 2-1 defeat at home to Brentford) and we’ve got to make sure that we jump at the chance if that occurs again.

“We face teams in and around us in the next few weeks and we’ve got to make sure we pick up points to be right in the mix come May 7.”

Many look at North End’s current position in the Championship’s top 10 and believe that is an achievement it itself, even if the play-off bid ultimately comes up short.

In a cash-rich second tier the Lilywhites are not one of the big hitters but Maxwell believes Grayson’s men upsetting the odds shouldn’t come as a shock.

“I don’t think a club like ours with the players we’ve got should be in any danger,” he said.

“If you talk to any of the lads about where they’re looking to be, it’s in the play-offs whether it’s this season or in the future.

“The media can talk about budgets and transfer fees and wages and all that but ultimately I don’t think it matters about that.

“It matters about the team spirit you have and the work ethic you have on the training field.

“We’ve got that in abundance at this club. It’s a recipe for success and I’m sure we will push on.”

Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Wigan was the second in a row on the road after the stalemate at Barnsley.

It may have been a frustrating afternoon at the DW Stadium as Jordan Hugill missed an early penalty but it was a good day for the PNE backline.

There has been plenty of talk about North End having more of an attacking edge this season, with Aiden McGeady and others to the fore, but it is clear that the defensive solidity that has been a signature of Grayson’s four years in charge at Deepdale remains.

“Ultimately my job is to keep the ball out of the back of the net,” said Maxwell.

“The other 10 players in the team and those that come off the bench contribute to that though.