Aiming to bounce back at the conclusion of a difficult seven-day period, Preston North End will welcome relegation-threatened Stoke City to Deepdale for a Championship battle on Saturday afternoon.
The Lilywhites have suffered both FA Cup and second-tier losses since returning from the March international break, whereas the Potters are on course to build up some positive momentum.
Match preview
Following a narrow 2-1 victory over strugglers Portsmouth prior to the international pause, Preston North End have returned to competitive action in worrying style, with Saturday’s Deepdale hosts losing back-to-back contests by an aggregate scoreline of 5-0 recently.
Whilst highly disappointing, a three-goal defeat at the hands of Champions League-competing Aston Villa last weekend in the FA Cup quarter-finals could have been predicted, however a lacklustre showing at Pride Park was not on the agenda last time out, when Derby County picked up a 2-0 success over their visitors to the East Midlands.
Paul Heckingbottom‘s troops displayed signs of promise during a goalless first period and enjoyed over 60% possession on Wednesday night, although a lack of defensive concentration during a four-minute spell in second half cost the Lancashire outfit dearly, with Craig Forsyth and Jerry Yates finding the net for the hosts.
After being butted by the Rams during the week, Preston missed out on a glorious opportunity to move completely away from danger near bottom of the Championship standings, with the Lilywhites remaining in 14th position, seven points ahead of Cardiff City in the highest of the relegation spots.
With only seven games left to play before the curtain drops on another dramatic second-tier season, Preston know that one more win should probably do the trick as they look to dismiss any lingering worries of relegation, and Heckingbottom’s side should be confident of earning such a result at Deepdale, where they have lost just twice across 19 league matches this term.
Having won just one of their last six games ahead of last weekend’s return to action following the two-week hiatus, Stoke City have now been victorious in two of their last three matches after a much-needed maximum over Queens Park Rangers at bet365 Stadium, where attacking inspiration arrived from an unlikely source.
Failing to find the net and providing just the single assist across his previous 53 Potters appearances, right-back Junior Tchamadeu bagged a goal and an assist last Saturday afternoon versus the R’s, with Joon-Ho Bae and Million Manhoef also getting onto the scoresheet in a 3-1 triumph.
After extending their unbeaten run at their Staffordshire base to three matches in the second tier, Stoke have propelled themselves up to 18th spot in the Championship table ahead of this weekend’s trip up the M6 to Deepdale, two points ahead of the dreaded bottom three.
With four of their last seven fixtures away from the bet365 Stadium, Mark Robins‘s men will need to improve on their recent away form if they wish to enjoy a comfortable conclusion to the season, with Saturday’s visitors currently in the midst of a four-game losing run on the road.
Whilst the January departure of Leicester City loanee Tom Cannon left a gaping hole in the attacking armoury of Stoke, the Staffordshire outfit still possess a number of dangerous forwards, including Ali Al Hamadi, who joined on a temporary deal from Ipswich Town over the winter.
Team News
Returning to captain Preston at Derby on Wednesday night following suspension, Ryan Ledson should retain his spot in the hosts’ engine room this weekend.
The Lilywhites continue to fight on without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who suffered a campaign-ending ankle injury in the gym during the international break.
There are a pair of defensive issues for Heckingbottom battle against this weekend, with both Brad Potts (hamstring) and Jack Whatmough (calf) sidelined.
Stoke are similarly short on options for their backline as Ben Gibson (leg), Enda Stevens (knock) and Josh Wilson-Esbrand (leg) all occupy spots in the medical room.
After putting QPR to the sword last time out, the Potters could name an unchanged XI, meaning that forward prodigy Nathan Lowe will have to settle for a place amongst the substitutes once again.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Cornell; Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson; Kesler-Hayden, Ledson, Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen, Brady; Jakobsen, Osmajic
Stoke City possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Tchmadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, Bocat; Pearson, Burger, Manhoef, Baker, Bae; Gallagher
We say: Preston North End 2-1 Stoke City
Last losing a Championship home contest in early November, Preston should be confident of earning a positive result on Saturday despite back-to-back defeats over the past week.
Stoke were excellent at their own place last Saturday but have been notoriously poor on the road recently, and we are envisaging another tough away afternoon for the Potters in this one.
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