Leicester

Leicester City are just 90 minutes away from securing promotion straight back up to the Premier League and they know a win against Preston North End on Monday night would be enough to reinstate their top-flight status.

Indeed, should Leeds lose at Queen's Park Rangers on Friday night, a quickfire return to the Premier League will be confirmed.

Former Leicester City academy graduate Ian Baraclough believes the Foxes will need to rise above the outside pressure once again to reach their objective of promotion.

"All of the teams have shown it [struggling under pressure]. Ipswich and Leeds could have gone above Leicester, and they did, but then dropped back because they didn't get the results," he said on the When You're Smiling podcast.

"I think Leicester have shown, especially over the last two games, that they are set fair and their minds are on it [winning promotion and the title].

"I think they have got good experience in the team in the likes of Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard, Jamie Vardy, and Harry Winks although he's not an old one, have got really good experience and they are used to these occasions.

"I think Leicester will go and get the job done. They will go and make it a celebratory day and night at home to Blackburn. I think they will have too much for Preston and they will get the job done without relying on anybody else."

After climbing the football pyramid with Scunthorpe United during his playing career, Baraclough also explained how it feels to be so close to promotion.

"You just cannot wait for the next game.," he said. "In all honesty, you don't worry about anyone else.

"They will perhaps watch the Leeds game and let's hope my old team QPR can help Leicester get over the line. That way it will become two celebratory fixtures - away and at home - so the fans can savour it for the two games [that are left].

"However, the players will be expecting the results to go the way of Leeds and Ipswich. They will be fully focused on what they need to do, preparing throughout the weekend and looking forward to the game.

"At this stage of the season, training is at a minimum to be honest. It's about going through processes, looking at analysis and not doing so much on the legs.

"They will just be getting themselves ready to rock and roll on Monday [against Preston North End]."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester boss Enzo Maresca is pleased that his side only need one more win, but is still expecting a "tough game" on Monday.

The Foxes face Preston North End in their penultimate game of the season and it is in their own hands to confirm promotion back to the Premier League with three more points.

They sit top of the table on 94 points, four points ahead of Leeds United and five ahead of third-place Ipswich Town.

"It's a good feeling, to be honest," Maresca said in his pre-match news conference.

"As we said many times, it is a very long season, so to be in the place that we are in now is a good feeling.

"Before Southampton, we didn't know how many points we needed, but now we know, we're just one win from promotion. It's a good feeling but now we need to win one more.

"It's just about the Preston game. We know it will be a tough game. They beat Leeds, beat Ipswich, beat Coventry. So it's a tough game, but we are going to try and prepare like we have all season."

By the time Leicester travel to Deepdale, they could already be guaranteed their top-flight spot if Leeds were to lose to QPR on Friday, but the Foxes boss will not be watching.

"Friday night I usually watch my son's session," he added. "Then, because it is the weekend, we have a pizza with the family, so we will do the same. Yes, I will be checking sometimes but it is good [that we need just one more win]."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes their 5-0 victory against Southampton on Tuesday night was a "real statement win".

The success took the Foxes to the top of the Championship - two points clear of second-placed Leeds and five points clear of third-placed Ipswich. Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling Podcast Piper said: "Coming into this game a lot of fans were nervous - I certainly was.

"Southampton are a good team, fourth in the table, looking to get a little higher and they came here with some really good players and good manager.

"Naturally you felt nervous because it was a pressure game for Leicester City. It was a huge game for Leicester City. A must-win game for Leicester City.

"They're all the phrases that we were hearing but this team really turned up and that's what champions do."

Leicester only need to win one of their two remaining games but they could also be promoted as soon as Friday if Leeds lose at QPR.

Piper added: "I know we're not quite there yet, but after a performance like that - it was a massive step closer to going back to the Premier League.

"A wonderful performance from our football club."

Listen to the whole episode here