The big picture

Preston North End come in 24th on the ladder with 8 points; Stoke City are 3rd on 29. Stoke City are the side higher up the table.

Preston North End are 1–11–2 in EFL Championship 2026-27, averaging 0.9 goals for and 2.1 against.

Stoke City are 9–4–2 in EFL Championship 2026-27, averaging 1.6 goals for and 1.2 against.

Form

Preston North End have won zero of their last five and most recently lost to Sheffield United 2–3.

Stoke City have won four of their last five and most recently beat Portsmouth 2–1.

Stoke City arrive on a 3-game winning streak.

Head to head

These sides have met 111 times on our records since 1888: Preston North End 48, Stoke City 37, 26 drawn.

Last time out (2026-27), Stoke City won 2–0 at bet365 Stadium.

Biggest margin between these two: Preston North End by 10 goals in 1889-90 (10–0).

Players to watch

For Preston North End, watch Callum Lang (0.3 goals a game in 2026-27) and Johnny Kenny (0.3 goals a game in 2026-27).

For Stoke City, watch Jack McGlynn (0.5 goals a game, 2 assists in 2026-27) and Ethan Galbraith (0.2 goals a game, 4 assists in 2026-27).

At Deepdale

Preston North End have won 4 of their last 19 at Deepdale.

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Stoke City go in as clear favourites.