PREVIEW | Preston North End vs Stoke City - team news, lineups, predictions

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·03 de abril de 2025

PREVIEW | Preston North End vs Stoke City - team news, lineups, predictions

Preston North End host Stoke City this Saturday at Deepdale in Matchweek 40 of the EFL Championship.

Paul Heckingbottom's North End have 47 points to their name this season and occupy 14th position in the table, the Lilywhites smarting from a 2-0 defeat by Derby County last time out.

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Stoke, meanwhile, need points to pull away from the relegation zone, the Potters currently in 18th position with 42 points. Mark Robins' Potters enter the clash with a spring in their step after a 3-1 win over QPR.

The last meeting between the two teams was a rather drab affair, neither side able to muster a goal in a 0-0 stalemate.

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Martin Ryan (PNEFC Stats): A quick return to action after the midweek loss at Derby as another team looking to pull away from the relegation zone in Stoke City head to Deepdale.

Despite there being 7 teams between Preston and the bottom 3 there have been a few murmurings amongst supporters that we’re not yet safe, however a win on Saturday would surely clinch another season in the Championship.

Home form has been good under Paul Heckingbottom with only 1 home league defeat since he took over.

Despite this goals have been hard to come by with just 21 in 19 home games so far, only Millwall and Luton have managed less.

Sam Greenwood is available again after suspension. Ali McCann and Brad Potts are likely to miss out once again through injury.

Prediction: 1-0

Playmaker Stats on Stoke: It's very convenient for us to look at Mark Robins' short time as Stoke boss, as he took over for their 0-0 New Year's Day draw against Burnley (obviously they didn't score against the Clarets!) and you basically look at how they have fared in 2025. The answer is not great!

It's only been a short period in the Potters' dugout for Robins, but - while Frank Lampard has hit the ground running with his predecessor's Coventry side - life hasn't been such smoothly sailing for the 55-year-old former Man Utd striker.

Championship wins have been few and far between for Robins (4W, 5D, 6L) with the Potters, but back-to-back home wins in March and have provided some evidence that Stoke might finally find some form under him.

Robins himself has spoken about wanting to have a real go against Preston, as Stoke have only managed to record back-to-back Championship victories only once so far this season. We're not ruling a Stoke victory out...but a draw looks a more likely result.

Prediction: 1-1