Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your reactions to Bolton's 2-1 win over Lancashire rivals Preston on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Bolton fans

Paul B: Superb collective performance and it could have been more. All of the new squad members fitted in well and will undoubtedly add more as they adjust. Great start to the new season.

Raymond G: Excellent start in this league against a so called decent side. Need another striker though. Well played Gale and Erhahon. Hopefully we will get fitter and make it less nervous in the last 15 minutes.

Richard: Was very worried after the game against Sheffield Wednesday but thought the team played well as a unit. Gale had the game of his life in the first half and glad both he and Dalby got on the scoresheet. Thought McAtee was as the unsung hero for Bolton though.

Stuart: Comfortable win against a poor Preston. Not sure why Bolton needed to make four subs in the last 15 mins which unbalanced the defence and midfield and nearly cost two points.

Mike: Dominated the game for 86 mins, then subs upset the balance and cohesion of the team leading to a goal back for the visitors, who grew in confidence and probably should have equalised in the dying minutes. But on the balance of the game Bolton earned their victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Preston fans

James: It feels like Preston have started the season a bit undercooked and lacking some firepower. Devine is a quality signing but still think we are missing some pace to support his precision.

Mike: Very poor performance from PNE. We've spent a lot of money by our standards, but after watching the game it's the defence which is in need of strengthening.

Ryan: Every aspect poor. Goalscorer only bright spark alongside Leroy. Subs too late after giving the starters time to do better, as they couldn't be worse. They were. Subs were ok. Good luck Trotters but you'll face tougher opposition!

Pete: A very lethargic first game for PNE. Bolton looked brighter all round the pitch and all the match apart from last 10 minutes.

Bill: Not up for it during the first 30 minutes. Can't miss 3 easy chances! Hecky sort it out or they will be the end of you!

Noel: Pathetic. Heckingbottom is so negative. Time for a change.

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with West Ham United on their return to the Championship on Sunday.

Zian Flemming scored two late goals - including a 92nd-minute equaliser to earn the Clarets a point.

Burnley fans have been having their say on the result and here is a selection of their thoughts:

Pete - A really encouraging start albeit the defensive frailties of last season are still evident. Otherwise, forward passing and movement much, much better already. It will only get better as the players get used to Hayen's system. It does depend who is left and who arrives by 1 September but the signs are good - UTC!

Gav - We need to sort our defence out, cheap goals again but we looked a lot more fluent going forward. Better than the sideways and backwards approach of last season.

Thomas - My hopes were high starting the season. After this exciting match against West Ham they are sky high.

Ian - Far better spirit and determination from the midfield and forwards. Some players were obviously fired up by the manager at half time, which was good to see. Still lacking a 'get to the ball at all costs' defender. A tall centre back would give us presence in both boxes.

Dickie - It takes a lot to fight back from 2-0 down particularly in this division. Encouraging signs from the Clarets.

Image source, Getty Images

Shaun - I thought overall it was a decent performance, the fact we didn't lose is massive in the grand scheme of things. Even this early a loss and our fans would have been baying for blood again but that recovery is massive.

Shayne - First game and we've come out of it with a draw against the favourites. We have lots of areas to improve, excited for Hayden and the squad for the season.

Tim - Better than a lot of performances last year and with more luck we could have won it. Defence is still weak but hopefully will improve.

Joe - Thought Burnley were on top throughout, especially in the second half. Clarets seem to have been underestimated by many so far.

Richard - We played with greater intensity and belief than at any time under Scott Parker. Although it's early days with our new manager, the performance was very encouraging. Need to hang on to Walker and Flemming though.

Preston North End are close to signing Liverpool's English academy midfielder James McConnell, 21, on loan for the season. (Liverpool Echo), external

For more EFL transfer news, read Monday's full gossip column here.

Burnley are trying to sign 19-year-old winger Marcel Regula from Polish top-flight club Zaglebie Lubin in a deal worth up to £7m. (Meczkyi), external

For more EFL transfer news, read Monday's full gossip column here.

Burnley manager Nicky Hayen was delighted with his side's character as they fought back to draw 2-2 with Championship favourites West Ham United.

Hayen spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after the draw with the Hammers at Turf Moor and for a written selection of quotes his click here.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire's Sport Editor

Image source, Getty Images

Not the start that Paul Heckingbottom would have wanted or the terrific following down the M61 from the Preston faithful.

The damage was done long before the final whistle. Two goals conceded, three yellow cards collected, countless offside decisions and barely a meaningful save required from Bolton goalkeeper Jack Bonham painted a picture of a side completely out of sync.

A switch to a back four was perhaps forecast during the week, when Heckingbottom suggested that he wants this season's squad to have more flexibility. It's fair to say that a groundswell of fan opinion has been calling for it quite regularly in recent years.

But, on the evidence of the first half, the defensive unit looked uncertain, disconnected and vulnerable whenever Bolton turned possession over and drove forward.

Heckingbottom found the first-half display a difficult one to explain. He told me: "We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb. I felt it was just something as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd. It seemed to catch us cold."

You can pick the bones out of both first-half goals. From a shot outside the box, the ever-reliable Daniel Iversen palmed the ball straight into the path of Sam Dalby, who finished, with Liam Lindsay caught napping.

The second goal came within two passes of a North End attack. McAtee found Gale, who isolated Pol Valentin, cut inside and smashed it home.

I fully expected changes at the break, but they came a little later.

All five substitutes made positive impacts. Jusef Erabi is already making himself a fans' favourite. As well as contributing on the pitch, he was orchestrating the noise levels from the supporters behind the goal. It's just a shame that it took so long to get what was, in the end, merely a consolation.

One substitute crossed for another as Vukcevic found Erabi, who beat his team-mate Small and the Bolton defence before heading in off the bar.

Lindsay should have levelled it in the dying seconds with a header and, before the goal, the most gilt-edged of chances had been missed.

Osmajic, who struggled to stay onside throughout, finally got a decision from the assistant referee and, one-on-one with Bonham, elected to try to square the ball to Erabi. The execution wasn't there with the pass and he may actually have played Erabi offside in the process.

Perhaps the most significant positive came in midfield.

Leo Leroy's debut was highly encouraging. When a technician of Paul Gallagher's calibre speaks highly of a player, people tend to listen.

From the moment he stepped onto the pitch, Leroy looked comfortable in possession, eager to receive the ball and capable of moving it intelligently. It was a cameo rather than a definitive statement, but it suggested Preston North End may have acquired a player capable of raising the technical standard of the team.

It's not like Preston to spend figures such as the £12m they have this summer, and there is more to come. Potentially, a takeover could follow further down the line too. It promises to be an eventful season at Deepdale.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with your club's latest news.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire following his side's 2-1 defeat by Bolton:

"I said at half-time to the players I thought we could win the game. We were poor first-half in terms of the goals that we gave away," he said.

"Whether it was the first game or not but they were certainly not the goals that we want to give away.

"We gave ourselves a real mountain to climb and it was as simple as their enthusiasm, their energy about being in this league and the crowd - it seemed to catch us cold.

"One or two [players] won't play like that again. We need to be better but there were also some good moments and I'm pleased with some of the new boys."

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End have signed Leo Leroy from Basel and Ipswich Town's Harry Clarke for undisclosed fees to take their summer signings to six.

Both defender Clarke and French midfielder Leroy have agreed three-year deals with Preston, who begin their Championship campaign at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Clarke, 25, came through the youth set-up at Arsenal before joining Ipswich in January 2023 and was part of their side which won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League in 2023 and 2024.

He told the club website: "I can't wait to get started and show the North End fans what I can do."

Leroy, 26, played in Ligue 1 for Montpellier before spending the last two years in the Swiss Super League with Basel.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom said Leroy will bring quality, calmness and experience to what he hopes will be a promotion push at Deepdale.

"He's a good technical player, with great experience and someone who's comfortable getting on the ball in deeper positions, but also someone who likes to join the attacks as well," he added.