MX23RW : Sunday, March 16 21:41:24| >> :600:205674:205674:
[monks data]
Preston North End logo
Championship | Gameweek 33
Feb 15, 2025 at 12.30pm UK
Deepdale
Burnley logo

Preston
0 - 0
Burnley


Porteous (53'), Hughes (80')
FT

Flemming (78'), Anthony (90+7')

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

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

Looking to extend their run of second-tier shutouts to a staggering 11 matches, Burnley will make the short trip down the M65 to face Lancashire rivals Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Clarets eased past the attentions of relegation-threatened Hull City earlier in the week, whilst the Lilywhites recorded a surprise success at playoff-chasing Norwich City.


Match preview

Manager of Preston North End Paul Heckingbottom applauds fans after his side's Championship match against West Bromwich Albion, on January 1, 2025© Imago

After nine years of mid-table mediocrity in the Championship, Preston North End are determined to make a real fist of a late playoff push during the final 15 matches of the campaign, with Saturday's hosts currently enjoying a run of just the single defeat across their last eight games in all competitions.

The Lilywhites recorded their ninth second-tier success of the season on Tuesday night, when a seventh Championship strike of 2024-25 for Montenegro international Milutin Osmajic in the opening five minutes at Carrow Road secured all three points at the expense of Norwich.

Despite sitting in a modest 15th position in the Championship table ahead of this weekend's Lancashire battle, Preston still possess realistic hopes of securing a long-awaited playoff finish, with the hosts having played a game fewer than sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion, who are seven points ahead at this stage.

Losing just two of their 15 league matches at Deepdale so far this season, the Lilywhites have been reliant on home comforts to keep them alive and kicking in the playoff hunt, with only Burnley (0), Sunderland (0) and Leeds United (1) tasting defeat on fewer occasions in front of their respective home faithfuls.

Full of second-tier knowledge and boasting a recent Championship promotion on his CV, Paul Heckingbottom has steadied the Preston ship since replacing Ryan Lowe near the start of the term, with the former Sheffield United boss losing only eight of his 34 competitive matches in charge to date.

Burnley manager Scott Parker applauds fans after his side's win against Watford, on December 21, 2024© Imago

After a campaign of depressing defeats in the Premier League during 2023-24, Burnley are a big fish in a relatively-small pond once again as the Championship campaign near its dramatic conclusion, with Saturday's visitors hellbent on breaking division record as well as securing an immediate promotion.

Beating relegation-threatened Hull by two goals at Turf Moor on Wednesday night, the Clarets have now enjoyed 10 straight clean sheets in the Championship, setting the record for the longest streak of shutouts since the formation of the second tier over a century ago in 1892.

As a result, England youth goalkeeper James Trafford has understandably earned plenty of plaudits so far this term, although a centre-back pairing of Conrad Egan-Riley and Maxime Esteve deserve equal amounts of praise, with the two defenders both newcomers to the relentless nature of the Championship schedule.

Despite conceding only nine goals across 32 second-tier contests this term and currently holding a 21-game unbeaten run in all competitions, Scott Parker's men still find themselves outside of automatic promotion in the league rankings, three points behind Sheffield United in second.

There have been serious concerns over Burnley's lack of attacking threat this term - only Blackburn Rovers have netted on fewer occasions across teams inside the top 11 of the division - although the January arrival of Sporting Lisbon star Marcus Edwards looks set to alleviate those offensive worries.

Preston North End Championship form:


Preston North End form (all competitions):


Burnley Championship form:


Burnley form (all competitions):



Team News

Preston North End's Jordan Storey pictured on January 1, 2025© Imago

Preston were dealt a major injury blow during the first half at Norwich earlier this week, with Duane Holmes suffering a broken leg following a poor challenge from Shane Duffy.

The 30-year-old is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign and will join the likes of Jordan Storey and Jack Whatmough in the Lilywhites' medical room.

The hosts have also lost a great deal of leadership from their ranks due to injuries, with both club captain Ben Whiteman (ankle) and Robbie Brady (back) out of action.

Burnley are battling on without the services of leading goalscorer Josh Brownhill, with the nine-strike midfielder picking up a knock at the end of January.

The Clarets' options on the flanks have been blighted by fitness problems, meaning that Lyle Foster is likely to continue on the left wing in the absence of Mike Tresor and Luca Koleosho.


Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Porteous, Gibson, Hughes; Kesler-Hayden, Ledson, Thordarson, Meghoma, Greenwood; Frokjaer-Jensen, Osmajic

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Roberts, Egan-Riley, Esteve, Humphreys; Cullen, Laurent; Anthony, Mejbri, Foster; Flemming


SM words green background

We say: Preston North End 0-1 Burnley

After grinding out a success at Norwich on Tuesday, Preston face one of the hardest tasks in the Championship as Burnley travel across Lancashire this weekend.

The Clarets are likely to be solid in defence once again, meaning that one goal is set to be the difference between one and three points for the visitors.


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


ID:565518:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect15032:
Written by
Carter White

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Preston vs Burnley

Preston North End
21.7%
Draw
17.4%
Burnley
60.9%
46
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic in October 2024.
Read Next:
How many games? Preston's Osmajic learns punishment for biting incident
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds382311476255180
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd38257653282580
3Burnley382115252114178
4Sunderland381912755371869
5Coventry CityCoventry38178135548759
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381318748341457
7Bristol City38141594941857
8Middlesbrough38159145748954
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn38157164240252
10Watford38157164751-452
11Millwall381312133739-251
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38149155359-651
13Norwich CityNorwich381213136054649
14Preston North EndPreston381017113944-547
15Queens Park RangersQPR381112154450-645
16Swansea CitySwansea38128183849-1144
17Portsmouth38119184661-1542
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd381012163955-1642
19Hull City381011173947-841
20Stoke CityStoke38912173751-1439
21Cardiff CityCardiff38912174262-2039
22Derby CountyDerby38108204051-1138
23Luton TownLuton3898213460-2635
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth38712194077-3733


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!