Stoke City can jump back into the Championship's automatic promotion conversation with a home win over Preston North End on Saturday. Mark Robins's side sit ninth with 20 points from 12 games, just five points behind leaders Middlesbrough, and have won three of their last five matches. Their record of six wins, two draws and four losses from their 12 games leaves them five points off the top.
Their recent form of three wins, one draw and one loss has propelled them up the standings. This sequence, which reads draw, win, loss, win, win from their last five, was interrupted by a goalless draw at home to Bristol City last Saturday 24 October. This run includes six victories from their past nine league games, a tally that matches their total from the previous 32 Championship matches combined. The sequence was interrupted by a goalless draw at home to Bristol City last weekend, a result that saw them drop to ninth. The team's strong run has been underpinned by a notable improvement in goal minutes, with a significant portion of their goals this season coming in the final 15 minutes of matches, a statistic that highlights their resilience and fitness. They have scored 18 goals and conceded 16 this campaign.
Preston's away struggles
Graham Alexander's team have lost five of their last six away league games, picking up just one point on the road this season. Only Watford have collected fewer away points among ever-present sides in 2026. The Lilywhites are winless in seven but did halt a run of three straight defeats with a 1-1 home draw against West Bromwich Albion in their last outing.
Historical context
Stoke face a significant psychological hurdle, having won just one of their past seven league meetings with Preston. The visitors are unbeaten in their last eight away league games against Stoke, a run stretching back years where they have conceded only one goal. The most recent encounter ended in a 3-1 victory for Preston at Deepdale on 20 March.
Stoke's push for the top six is built on a solid defensive record, having conceded 16 goals while scoring 18 this season. Luke Graham, who scored the winner in the 1-0 victory at Derby earlier this month, will be a key figure. He netted the only goal in the 49th minute against Derby on Saturday 17 October. Securing three points against the league's bottom side is seen as vital before attention turns to a demanding schedule, with the next fixture being a trip to face third-placed Norwich City at Carrow Road on Tuesday night. First, they must focus on the visit of 24th-placed Preston this Saturday 31 October.
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