Seeking to cling to the top-six positions in the league, Preston North End will face off against relegation-threatened Stoke City this Saturday afternoon at Deepdale in the Championship.
The Lilywhites had their match against promotion-chasing Southampton postponed on Wednesday evening, while the Potters were unable to stop the Leeds United momentum at Elland Road the day before.
Preston’s chance to stretch their unbeaten streak to eight games in the Championship was thwarted on Wednesday night. Their match against Russell Martin’s Southampton was called off due to a fire at a nearby warehouse, deemed unsafe for the fixture to proceed.
As a result, the Lilywhites had a full week of rest after their clash at Deepdale against Hull City last Saturday, where despite Hull’s flurry of attacking signings in January, they couldn’t get past Freddie Woodman, resulting in a goalless draw.
The memory of Preston’s rough patch, marked by just three wins in 17 matches, has faded with their unbeaten run throughout February. This has led to a notable decrease in calls for manager Ryan Lowe’s dismissal, with the Liverpudlian now even nominated for February’s Manager of the Month award alongside Marti Cifuentes and Liam Rosenior.
The cancellation on Wednesday leaves Preston with one game less played compared to their playoff competitors. Their upcoming opponents this Saturday sit at ninth in the Championship standings, trailing Hull City by four points, who themselves have stumbled in their last two matches.
Despite Preston’s historical struggle to find the back of the net at a promotion-chasing rate, Will Keane is having his best season in terms of goal-scoring in the second tier. In the 2023-24 season, the 31-year-old has already scored 12 times in 27 league appearances, matching his tally from last season at Wigan Athletic.
Preston vs Stoke Head To Head
Here’s a summary of the head-to-head record between Preston North End and Stoke City:
- Overall: Stoke City leads the series with 37 wins to Preston’s 11, with 24 draws.
- Recent Form: Preston is unbeaten in their last five home games, winning three and drawing two.
- Goals: On average, both teams score 2.29 goals per match in head-to-head encounters.
Prediction
Preston has been in good home form of late and they have the advantage here. We are going with the double chance market, Preston to win or draw.
Preston to win or Draw
Correct Score: 2-1
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