Preview: Preston North End vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

3 hours ago 7

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between Preston North End and Norwich City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Preston North End will hope to continue their recent resurgence in the Championship when they host Norwich City at Deepdale in their 11th game of the season on Tuesday.

The hosts are 15th with 12 points but have collected seven of that total in their last three league games, while the Canaries are seventh with 16 points after 10 matches and are only two points from sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers, who occupy the division's last promotion playoff spot.

Match preview

Norwich Head Coach Johannes Hoff Thorup during the Pre-Season Friendly match at Carrow Road on August 3, 2024 © Imago

Preston began their season terribly, winning just once while losing four and drawing two of their first seven Championship matches.

Manager Ryan Lowe was sacked after just one game of his side's league campaign following a two-and-a-half year spell at the club, and was replaced by Paul Heckingbottom prior to the team's third league match against Luton Town.

Though Heckingbottom won his first game in charge, he failed to win any of the next four, with Preston scoring three times and conceding seven goals in those four matches.

The Lilywhites have since won two and drawn one of their Championship fixtures, including a dominant 1-0 win against Coventry City on Saturday when they created 2 xG, more than double that of their opponents.

Preston have won three and drawn one of their last four league matches at Deepdale, scoring five times and keeping four clean sheets in the process.

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom on August 08, 2024 © Imago

As for Norwich, they drew 1-1 with Stoke City on Saturday, a match in which they took the lead thanks to Ante Crnac in the 45th minute but conceded an equaliser in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time.

Boss Johannes Hoff Thorup said that while he was pleased with the Canaries' first 45 minutes, his team struggled to deal with the verticality of Stoke, who targeted the space behind Norwich's defence with runners.

Though the visitors were disappointed by the result against Stoke, they are unbeaten in their last five Championship games, winning three and drawing two in that period.

In fact, no other team in the second tier has collected more points than Norwich in the last five matches, with only first-placed Burnley and third-placed Leeds United matching their tally of 11 points.

Horup's side are also the division's joint second highest scorers having netted 17 times, and their record of 11 goals conceded makes them the joint eighth best defensive team of the 24 clubs in the league.

Norwich's away record is mixed, as while they have won two of their last four fixtures on the road in the Championship, they have lost four, drawn one and won three of their eight most recent away games in the league.

Preston North End Championship form:

Preston North End form (all competitions):

Norwich City Championship form:

Team News

Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic in October 2024. © Imago

Preston will have to contend with the absence of striker Milutin Osmajic, who will miss another six games on top of the two he has already missed following his ban for biting Blackburn Rovers' Owen Beck on September 22.

Attacker Will Keane and centre-back Patrick Bauer are not scheduled to return until late November, while striker Ched Evans will be available again early next month.

Liam Lindsay and Jordan Storey can be expected to start as centre-backs on Tuesday behind a double pivot featuring Ryan Ledson and Alistair McCann.

With Osmajic, Keane and Evans ruled out, Preston may start Emil Riis Jacobsen as a striker alongside wingers Robbie Brady and Stefan Teitur Thordarson.

Meanwhile, Norwich have numerous injury absentees including goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who is out until early November.

The visitors will also be without forwards Christian Fassnacht, Ashley Barnes and Onel Hernandez, who are all thought to be out until late October.

Defender Jacob Lungi Sorensen, as well as midfielder Liam Gibbs, could both return later this month but will play no part on Tuesday.

Midfielder Marcelino Nunez was forced off due to injury against Stoke in the 43rd minute, and he could be replaced by Forson Amankwah.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Ledson, McCann; Thordarson, Frokjaer-Jensen, Brady; Jacobsen

Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Long; Fisher, Duffy, Cordoba, Doyle, Amankwah, McLean; Crnac, Slimane, Sainz; Sargent

SM words green background

We say: Preston North End 1-1 Norwich City

Preston's record at Deepdale in recent matches has been impressive, and their good form at home could see them earn a positive result on Tuesday.

Having said that, it is hard to overlook Norwich's strong showings, and it is difficult to see them losing against Preston.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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