A Lancashire derby takes centre stage at Deepdale on Saturday lunchtime as Preston North End lock horns with Burnley in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
This contest will represent the 144th meeting between these two clubs, who first faced each other on the first ever day of the Football League back in September 1888 (Preston winning 5-2), but this will be the first time that they meet in the FA Cup.
Match preview
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Since drawing 0-0 at home to Burnley on February 15, Preston have extended their winless Championship run to three matches, after drawing 1-1 with Millwall just four days before losing 2-1 at Coventry City last weekend.
Will Keane's 82nd-minute strike proved inconsequential at the CBS Arena as the Lilywhites were condemned to their 10th Championship defeat, leaving them 15th in the table and nine points behind the playoffs with 12 league games left to play.
A 10th-successive mid-table finish in the second tier is seemingly on the cards for Preston, who will now shift their attention to the FA Cup and will endeavour to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1965-66 campaign, having exited in the fifth round on six occasions since then.
Paul Heckingbottom's side have beaten two League One teams on home soil to get to the FA Cup fifth round, following up a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in the third round with a 4-2 penalty-shootout win over Wycombe Wanderers in round four after a 0-0 draw in 120 minutes.
Preston, two-time FA Cup winners, are now gearing up for their third meeting of the season against fellow Championship side Burnley and have already played out two goalless draws; never before have these two teams drawn three times against the same opponent in the same season.
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November 3 last year was the last time that Burnley tasted defeat in any competition, with Scott Parker's side having since enjoyed an impressive 23-game unbeaten run (W14 D9).
The Clarets have remarkably conceded only nine league goals in 34 matches, the fewest of any English league team and any side in the top-two tiers across Spain, Germany, Italy and France. Burnley kept their 12th consecutive clean sheet and 24th of the season in a thumping 4-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday a week last Friday.
Burnley's home supporters were delighted to see their side win in convincing fashion for a change, with their victory over the Owls representing just their fourth by at least three or more goals this season. Parker's men remain in contention to secure an automatic promotion place in the Championship, as they sit third and just two points behind second-placed Sheffield United.
Before taking on basement club Luton Town in their next second-tier fixture, Burnley will turn their attention to the FA Cup and the 1913-14 winners will attempt to advance to the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons.
Burnley have already won two FA Cup ties on the road this term, beating Reading 3-1 after extra time in the third round and Southampton 1-0 in round four, but they head into Saturday's clash at Deepdale having been eliminated from six of their last seven FA Cup fifth-round ties.
Team News
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Preston will be without Duane Holmes (fractured fibula), Jordan Storey, Ben Whiteman (both ankle) and Jack Whatmough (calf) due to injury, while Mads Frokjaer is a doubt after missing the last match with a knock.
January loan signing Ryan Porteous is ineligible having already played for Watford in this season's competition, so Liam Lindsay could be restored to the back three alongside Lewis Gibson and Andrew Hughes.
Milutin Osmajic and Sam Greenwood have scored 19 goals between them so far this season and they could continue in attack, although Emil Riis Jakobsen, who has nine goals to his name this term, will be pushing for a recall.
As for Burnley, Jordan Beyer, Aaron Ramsey (both knee) and Mike Tresor (unspecified) all remain unavailable for selection, while Bashir Humphreys will have a thigh problem assessed ahead of kickoff.
Parker will consider making a few changes to his starting lineup, with goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky, Oliver Sonne, Joe Worrall, Josh Brownhill, Jonjo Shelvey and Jeremy Sarmiento among those hoping to force their way back into the first XI.
New signing Marcus Edwards scored the only goal in Burnley's fourth-round win at Southampton and also netted in their Championship victory over Sheffield Wednesday last time out. The attacker could retain his place on the right flank, while Parker will weigh up whether to stick with Zian Flemming up front or hand Ashley Barnes a start.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Lindsay, Gibson, Hughes; Potts, Ledson, McCann, Thordarson, Meghoma; Riis, Osmajic
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Hladky; Sonne, Worrall, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Brownhill; Edwards, Mejbri, Sarmiento; Barnes
We say: Preston North End 0-1 Burnley
Considering the last two meetings between these sides ended goalless, another tight affair could be in store on Saturday. Burnley have made themselves incredibly difficult to break down this term and although Preston have scored in nine of their last 11 home matches, we are backing the Clarets to come out on top and keep yet another clean sheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
