City and North End are separated by just four points with nine games to go for the Tigers and 10 for the Deepdale side

Preston North End’s Ben Whiteman battles with Hull City’s Fabio Carvalho at Deepdale 

Former Preston North End boss Alex Neil believes his old club are firmly in the play-off mix alongside Hull City having watched the goalless draw between the two sides at Deepdale earlier this month.

City produced a resolute display in the North West rain to keep out Ryan Lowe’s side and ensure the Lillywhites remained below them in the table, before going on to draw against Birmingham City and Leicester City.

Since that game, North End saw their game at Southampton postponed after a nearby fire and then lost at home to struggling Stoke City at the weekend, another of Neil’s former clubs and the Tigers’ next opponents on Good Friday when they resume their Championship campaign after the extended international break.

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North End are four points adrift of City but do have that game in hand at St Mary’s to come next month and Neil, who was present on March 2, believes if the Tigers are in the mix then so are his former club amid what is a thrilling race for both automatic promotion and the play-offs.

“Hull spent huge money and I think the situation with a lot of clubs in the Championship is unknown to other teams’ (supporters), because they don’t really care about them – they only care about their own team,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire as reported by the LEP.

“But, when you actually sit down and go through it; people have got a misconception sometimes, of teams having spent so much and other teams having not spent a lot. What you will find is that’s a bit of a myth, so it’s not particularly true.

“I watched Hull against Preston – I was at the game – and I thought Preston were better on the day. So, if Hull are in the mix, I don’t see why Preston wouldn’t be in the mix for the play-offs.

I think my only concern, with Preston, would be whether they have enough goals in the team – I think that’s the biggest thing. I think you’ve got to score your way to the play-offs, I don’t think you get there by chance.”