Preston vs Stoke prediction 20.03.2026 | Championship

After barely surviving in the Championship last year, Preston should feel much more comfortable in the current season. With six rounds left and 10 points more than the drop zone, the team from Deepdale shouldn't have significant problems. The only concern is Preston's terrible form, with two draws and five defeats in the last seven matches. In the most recent outing, Paul Heckingbottom's team lost 2-0 on the road against Norwich. Interestingly, the guests doubled opponents' xG, but their inefficiency cost them points.

Preston's manager, Paul Heckingbottom, was disappointed with a defeat in the previous round. He said, "The big frustration is that we didn't score. If we'd have taken any one of those chances, we'd have made it much more difficult for Norwich because we were the team in the ascendancy in terms of territory and chances in the second half, but we never made them feel that tension and anxiety that can come if we'd have got a goal."

Preston will be without Alistair McCann on Friday night, while Lewis Gibson and Callum Lang are questionable.

Like Preston, Stoke are much more comfortable this year than last year. They are 12 points ahead of the drop zone, and it is hard to imagine a scenario in which they get into trouble. However, Mark Robins' team won only two of the last 13 matches across all competitions. In the previous game, they won 3-1 at home against Watford. The teams were pretty even for most of the match, but the hosts found a way to pick up a valuable victory.

Stoke's manager, Mark Robins, was pleased with the victory over Watford. He commented, "Honestly, I think the game was a tough game. It's a transition game, wasn't it? Because that's how they play. They're the best in the division by data, and you can see why."

Stoke have big problems with injuries. They will be without Gavin Bazunu, Ato Ampah, Lewis Baker, Robert Bozenik, Aaron Cresswell, Viktor Johansson, Bosun Lawal, Divin Mubama, and Ben Wilmot on Friday night.