Alfie Devine has pointed to his experience surviving relegation with Plymouth Argyle as the blueprint for Preston North End's current fight. The midfielder sees the same collective spirit at Deepdale that he believes can spark a turnaround for the Championship's bottom side.

Preston's situation is dire, sitting 24th in the league table with only four points from their opening 11 games. It is the club's second-worst start in its history, behind only the 1924 season. Graham Alexander's arrival has yet to change fortunes, with three consecutive defeats leaving the side six points from safety. Their last outing was a 4-1 loss at Wrexham, where Devine scored a consolation goal.

Plymouth's survival blueprint

Devine joined Plymouth on loan for the second half of the 2024 Championship season. The team was in a steady position when he arrived but slid down the table, entering the final day just a point above the drop zone. A 1-0 home win over Hull City secured their status at Birmingham City's expense.

"When I was at Plymouth we had a similar situation where we stayed up on the last day," Devine said. He insists the attitude within the Preston squad mirrors the positive energy that drove Plymouth's escape. "It's the same situation here to do with the team we had there. Everyone was together. There was no one that isn't together."

The 22-year-old is adamant that no one in the dressing room has given up. He said everyone remains committed and hopeful, believing that strength as a unit is the key to turning results around.

Recent setbacks and squad morale

Preston's form makes for grim reading, with no wins in their last five matches. They have conceded 24 goals this season while scoring only nine, leaving them with a -15 goal difference. The heavy defeat at Birmingham City a week before the Wrexham loss further dented confidence.

Despite the results, Devine insists collective commitment remains strong. The squad must now prepare for a key home fixture against West Bromwich Albion this Saturday, a key next fixture for the club. A positive result at Deepdale is vital to close the gap to safety.

Preston's next chance to change their fortunes comes against West Brom on 24 October. The team's poor goal tally of just nine, against 24 conceded, shows the scale of the challenge they face in the coming weeks.

Further reading: Lancashire Evening Post