Championship · Matchday 13 
Our pick1–0Correct result
Preston aim to climb as Stoke’s home strength is tested
Preston head to Stoke City looking to move up the Championship standings after a difficult start. Stoke’s stronger recent form gives them the edge, but the recent head-to-head record has been tight.
📍 bet365 Stadium
Preview written:
All Matchday 13 matchesFull head-to-head
Match report
Stoke City beat Preston 2-0. Ben Wilmot opened the scoring in the 29th minute, assisted by Jack Mcglynn. Mcglynn then doubled the lead in the 53rd minute, with Ethan Galbraith providing the assist. Stoke City kept a clean sheet, and there were no red cards.
The statistics reflected Stoke City’s control: they had 60% possession and led 18-3 in total shots, with a 2.22-0.16 advantage in expected goals. J. McGlynn was the highest-rated player, receiving 8.4. The result matched the model’s predicted 1-0 Stoke City win in outcome, though the final score was 2-0; its pre-match probabilities were 43% for a home win, 28% for a draw and 29% for an away win.
Goals
- 29'Ben Wilmot · Jack Mcglynn · Stoke City
- 53'Jack Mcglynn · Ethan Galbraith · Stoke City
Cards
- 2'Brad Potts · Preston
- 43'Luca Bombino · Stoke City
- 76'Ethan Galbraith · Stoke City
- 90'Jusef Erabi · Preston
Match stats
⭐ Top-rated player: J. McGlynn (Stoke City) 8.4
Ratings and statistics: API-Football.
Confirmed lineups
Stoke City · 3-4-3
- 1V. JohanssonG
- 16B. WilmotD
- 18B. LawalD
- 5L. GrahamD
- 2B. JohnsonM
- 27El Hadji Djibril SoumaréM
- 8E. GalbraithM
- 21L. BombinoM
- 7J. McGlynnF
- 9R. BoženíkF
- 13J. DevennyF
Coach: M. Robins
Preston · 3-4-3
- 1D. IversenG
- 24O. OffiahD
- 14J. StoreyD
- 16A. HughesD
- 44B. PottsM
- 27L. LeroyM
- 15J. ThompsonM
- 3A. VukčevićM
- 10C. LangF
- 38J. KennyF
- 37D. BurgzorgF
Coach: G. Alexander
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke City | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Preston | 0.8 | 2.1 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Stoke City | 12 | +2 | 20 |
| 24 | Preston | 12 | -15 | 5 |
Last meetings
- 2026Preston3-1Stoke City
- 2025Stoke City0-0Preston
- 2025Preston1-1Stoke City
- 2024Stoke City0-0Preston
- 2024Preston1-2Stoke City
Absences
Stoke City
- OutA. Ampah · Knee Injury
- OutE. Bocat · Injury
- OutA. Cresswell · Knee Injury
- OutS. Gallagher · Injury
- OutS. Ingelsson · Muscle Injury
Preston
- OutH. Clarke · Knee Injury
- OutL. Gibbs · Muscle Injury
- OutL. Gibson · Inactive
- OutA. McCann · Hamstring Injury
- DoubtfulT. Carroll · Ankle Injury
- DoubtfulL. Lindsay · Injury
PreviaXI model
Model confidence: Open game
- Predicted score
- 1-0
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.45 – 1.14
- Double chance
- 12 · 72%1X 71% · X2 57%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 48%Over 1.5: 74% · Over 3.5: 26%
- Both teams score
- 53%
- Clean sheet
- 32% – 24%Stoke City–Preston
- Half-time result
- X · 43%1 33% · 2 24%
- Half-time / full-time
- 1/1 · 26%X/X 17% · 2/2 17%
- Expected corners
- 11.27.3 – 3.9 · Over 9.5: 67%
- Expected cards
- 3.81.4 – 2.4 · Over 3.5: 51%
- Most likely scores
- 1-113%
- 1-010%
- 2-19%
- 0-08%
- 2-08%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
Preston’s climb in focus
Preston have taken just five points from 12 Championship matches and sit 24th, making every opportunity to climb the standings important as they travel to Stoke City on Saturday. Stoke are ninth on 20 points, with a two-point positive goal difference, and will look to turn their stronger position into another home result.
The gap in the table is matched by a contrast in recent results. Preston’s last five have brought one draw and four defeats, while Stoke have won three, drawn one and lost one. But the visitors have already beaten Stoke this year, so the home side cannot take the matchup lightly.
Stoke arrive in better form
Stoke have scored seven goals and conceded five across their last five matches. Their season record is also balanced: six wins, two draws and four losses in 12 games. At home, they have scored 10 times in six matches and conceded six.
Preston have managed four goals and let in 12 over their last five. They have one win, two draws and nine defeats in the league, and have yet to win away: five losses and a draw from six trips. Their 25 goals conceded overall underline the challenge facing them at bet365 Stadium.
Recent meetings have been close
The last five Championship meetings have produced two draws, two Stoke wins and one Preston victory. Three ended level or with a one-goal margin, although Preston’s 3-1 win in March was the clearest result. The most recent meeting, in December, finished 0-0.
Absences on both sides
Stoke list A. Ampah, E. Bocat, A. Cresswell, S. Gallagher and S. Ingelsson as missing. Preston will be without H. Clarke, L. Gibbs, L. Gibson and A. McCann; T. Carroll and L. Lindsay are questionable.
Preston need more from their attack
Preston have scored 10 league goals in 12 matches, compared with Stoke’s 18. Their away scoring average is 0.8 per game, while Stoke have averaged 1.7 goals at home. That home output could put pressure on a Preston defence that has conceded 15 times on the road.
Our prediction
Stoke’s home scoring record and Preston’s winless away run point towards the hosts having the clearer route to victory. PreviaXI’s model favours Stoke, while the head-to-head history and Preston’s March win counsel against expecting a comfortable afternoon.
Stoke City 1-0 Preston
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