ASSISTANT manager Brian Horton says most of the Championship promotion hopefuls can't understand why Preston North End are rooted to the foot of the table.

But he accepts a quick look at the Lilywhites' fixture list provides the cold hard truth.

North End have undoubtedly improved since Horton and former Hull City boss Phil Brown took charge at Deepdale in January.

The fact though the duo are yet to sample a win in 12 games at the helm explains why hopes of second tier survival are now hanging by a thread.

"I still can't believe we haven't got our first win because some of our performances have deserved so much better," said Horton.

"It's an incredible run we're on, maybe we just need a bit of luck to go our way or get a decision we haven't had yet.

"Saying that, you make your own luck and I'm sure a good performance will be rewarded with a win soon.

"When we've spoken to the coaching staff from QPR, Leeds and Norwich in recent weeks, they all asked 'Why are you down there?'

"To be perfectly honest, we're sick of hearing that, we just want to be talking about wins and three points."

Horton was at Glanford Park on Saturday to watch the Iron's 3-0 defeat by Leicester City.

Given both sides' current predicament, he rates the Lilywhites' trip to the same venue as 'massive'.

With another struggling side, Coventry City, on the horizon on Saturday, the 62-year-old wants Preston to capitalise on the chance to bring themselves back into survival contention.

"It's a massive game for us at Scunthorpe," added Horton.

"We've then got Coventry at home on Saturday, so if we were to get back-to-back wins going into the international break, it would be a great boost."