Promotion-seeking Middlesbrough is set to pursue their fourth consecutive league win as they host Preston North End at Riverside Stadium this Saturday. The clash comes at a crucial time for both teams, with Middlesbrough aiming to solidify their playoff position and Preston looking to revive their bid for a spot in the Championship playoffs after suffering a series of recent defeats.
Middlesbrough heads into the match with significant momentum, having bounced back from a four-game winless streak to secure three straight victories. Notably, they triumphed 4-0 over Southampton and edged past West Bromwich Albion with a 3-2 scoreline, before a narrow 2-1 victory against Stoke City on Wednesday. This winning streak places Middlesbrough second in the league with 52 points from 28 matches, trailing leaders Coventry City by six points while remaining two points ahead of Ipswich Town.
Returning to their home turf, Middlesbrough hopes to leverage their recent form at the Riverside, where they have claimed victory in three of their last five league games. Their past encounters with Preston have also been favorable, with Boro winning two of the last three home matchups against the visitors, despite a 1-1 draw in their most recent meeting in September 2024.
Conversely, Preston North End finds themselves in a challenging spot, having suffered three consecutive defeats, including a disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the hands of League One’s Wigan Athletic. Their recent league performances have left much to be desired, with their latest match seeing them lose 3-0 to Hull City. Despite these setbacks, Preston holds the joint-best defensive record for away games in the league, conceding only 13 goals in 13 fixtures. This statistic provides a glimmer of hope for them as they aim to secure their first win at the Riverside since November 2021.
In terms of team news, Middlesbrough’s squad features significant absences with George Edmundson, Darragh Lenihan, Alfie Jones, and others unavailable. However, players like Riley McGree and Callum Brittain could be nearing a return, and Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine are vying for starting positions.
On the Preston side, goalkeeper Jack Walton is expected to retain his starting role due to Daniel Iversen’s injury. The visitors also face their own injury concerns as key players including Robbie Brady and Milutin Osmajic will not take part in the game, the latter serving a three-match suspension.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup, predictions lean towards a Middlesbrough victory, with expectations of a 2-0 scoreline as they aim to use their home advantage and recent form to push Preston further down the playoff race. The game promises to be an exciting contest as both clubs strive for critical points in the championship landscape.