Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe will take on Southampton’s Russell Martin for the first time since a fracas in April.
PNE return to Championship action tonight, with the second part of a home double-header coming up.
North End drew 1-1 with Millwall on Saturday afternoon and have now gone five games without a win.
A home clash with relegated Southampton is hardly ideal for trying to get back to winning ways but that’s the nature of the Championship – you’re never far away from facing a recent Premier League club.
Ryan Lowe to face Russell Martin tonight
The Saints have been a mixed bag this season; they went unbeaten for four games, lost four games in a row and have now gone four games unbeaten again.
Southampton have claimed two away wins in a row and will now be looking to make it three against PNE.
This game means that we will now see Ryan Lowe and Russell Martin lock horns for the first time since a huge brawl between PNE and Swansea back in April.
Martin was in charge of Swansea at the time and PNE were looking to keep slim play-off hopes alive.
With the scoreline at 3-2 to Swansea, all hell broke loose as players and staff were involved in a huge brawl.
We saw Lowe and midfielder Joe Allan clash on the touchline after a strong challenge from PNE midfielder Ryan Ledson, before Martin exchanged verbals with Ledson as well as Lowe.
Lowe and Allen were both sent off and Martin indicated to Lancs Live that he felt Lowe instigated the fracas by pushing Allen.
Martin added that he wouldn’t judge Lowe but didn’t expect to have a friendly drink with the PNE boss after the game.
Martin later admitted that Lowe called Swansea to apologise, adding that they had a good chat and that the situation was pretty much finished, appreciating Lowe’s contact.
The former MK Dons left Swansea for Southampton over the summer and will now take on Lowe once again tonight.
The relationship appears to have been repaired since that night in South Wales but Lowe would no doubt love to get back on track with a win over Martin this evening.