The season is over for Preston North End defender Bambo Diaby after being hit with a four-game suspension ahead of facing Blackburn Rovers.
Wednesday night at Swansea City felt like do or die for PNE but that really is the case this evening.
PNE host rivals Blackburn Rovers in the penultimate home game of the season.
Defeats at Millwall and Swansea City have severely dented North End’s hopes of a top-six finish.
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Today’s clash with Rovers really does feel like make or break for PNE and nothing less than a win will be enough.
PNE will be looking for a slightly less dramatic outing after the trip to Swansea.
The game was at 3-2 as PNE were mounting an incredible fightback when all hell broke loose.
North End boss Ryan Lowe clashed with Swansea midfielder Joe Allen, sparking a huge brawl between players and staff.
Both Lowe and Allen were sent off but there has now been retrospective action taken against PNE defender Bambo Diaby.
PNE have confirmed that The FA have spotted ‘violent conduct’ from Diaby during the brawl and have now hit him with a four-game ban.
That means Diaby’s season is over and he will miss this evening’s game against Blackburn.
Diaby made a difference in the second half against Swansea and his pace is always a real asset in the back line.
It’s unclear just what Diaby exactly did to earn this ban but PNE will now have to go into this crucial Lancashire derby without a potential starter.
This feels eerily similar to Ched Evans being hit with a ban just hours before the trip to Burnley in February.
Diaby’s ban will surely mean that Liam Lindsay starts in the heart of defence today despite a shaky display at Swansea.