There is no shortage of respect for Rovers, and manager Tony Mowbray, from Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe ahead of Monday’s meeting at Deepdale.

Lowe remembers a previous meeting with Rovers, when caretaker manager at Bury in 2017, where he took on advice from Mowbray.

Rovers beat Bury 3-0 at Gigg Lane, but following a conversation post-match with Mowbray, Lowe’s side went out to beat league leaders Shrewsbury Town the following week.

Lowe has made a promising start to life as a manager, the 43-year-old winning promotion with Bury, after taking permanent charge, and then Plymouth Argyle who were riding high in League One when he made the switch to North End in December.

Then he replaced Frankie McAvoy whose final game in charge of the Lilywhites was the 1-0 defeat at Ewood Park.

The teams meet again infront of the Sky Sports cameras on Monday, with Lowe praising Rovers, and their manager, ahead of the game.

He told the Lancashire Evening Post: "I've got full respect for Tony Mowbray, he's a fantastic bloke. I remember coming up against him when I was caretaker for Bury and they beat us and got promoted that year.

"He said to me 'look, son, I'm not telling you how to suck eggs but to get results just play a nice solid 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 and you'll get the lads working hard for you.’

"The next game I played a 4-2-3-1, which was a 4-5-1 and we beat top of the league Shrewsbury Town. Thanks to Tony for that.

"I've got the utmost respect for him, what he's done and where he's been. He's done a fantastic job at Blackburn for the many years he's been there, up and down.

"They've been within touching distance of getting in the play-offs or promotion - people were talking about them getting automatic promotion.

"I'm sure Tony will be trying to get points on the board to get back into those play-off positions to take the club forward.

"I have massive respect for him, the club and the players because they have some fantastic players there.”

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