Preston North End vs Birmingham City: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Ladbrokes' detailed preview for Preston North End vs Birmingham City in the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 19:45 BST match.

• Fixture: Preston North End vs Birmingham City

• Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025

• Kick-off: 19:45 BST

• Venue: Deepdale

Match Prediction: Preston North End 2-1 Birmingham City.

Preston North End are coming into this match with a solid run of form, having secured two wins and two draws in their last five games. They'll be looking to exploit their home advantage and continue their momentum against a Birmingham side that's been inconsistent lately. Birmingham have struggled to find victories, with only one win in their last five outings. They'll need to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to upset Preston at Deepdale.

Preston have shown resilience in their recent performances, managing to secure crucial points against tough opponents. Their ability to grind out results, as seen in their 1-0 win against Derby County and the 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic, suggests they're in good shape heading into this match. With a strong defensive record and the firepower up front, Preston should feel confident about their chances against Birmingham.

Recent Championship results:

• Loss: 1-2 vs West Bromwich Albion (A)

• Win: 2-0 vs Charlton Athletic (H)

• Draw: 2-2 vs Hull City (A)

• Draw: 0-0 vs Bristol City (H)

• Win: 1-0 vs Derby County (A)

Birmingham City have had a mixed bag of results recently, with their only win coming against Swansea City at home. Their inability to string together consistent performances, as evidenced by the 2-3 loss to Hull City and the 0-3 defeat to Coventry, could be a concern. They'll need to step up their game if they want to challenge a well-organised Preston side.

Recent Championship results:

• Loss: 2-3 vs Hull City (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Wrexham (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Sheffield Wednesday (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Coventry City (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Swansea City (H)

The head-to-head record between these two teams has been closely contested, with each side winning two of the last five encounters. The most recent match saw Birmingham edge out Preston 1-0, but Preston have also had their share of success, including a 2-1 victory in September 2023. This suggests that the upcoming match could be another tight affair.

Recent Championship results:

• Birmingham City 1-0 Preston North End (01 Apr 2024)

• Preston North End 2-1 Birmingham City (19 Sep 2023)

• Birmingham City 1-2 Preston North End (21 Jan 2023)

• Preston North End 0-1 Birmingham City (03 Sep 2022)

• Preston North End 1-1 Birmingham City (15 Jan 2022)

• Will Keane (Calf) - Doubt
• Robbie Brady (Calf) - Doubt
• Jordan Thompson (Ankle) - Doubt
• Josh Seary (Knee) - Doubt
• Pol Valentin (Muscle) - Doubt
• Bradley Potts (Muscle) - Doubt

• Ethan Laird (Hamstring) - Doubt
• Marvin Ducksch (Muscle) - Doubt
• Willum Willumsson (Muscle) - Doubt
• Scott Wright (Knee) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Iversen (GK), Small (DF), Storey (DF), Gibson (DF), Hughes (DF), Vukcevic (DF), Devine (MF), Whiteman (MF), Armstrong (MF), Dobbin (AT), Osmajic (AT)

With a solid backline and the creativity of Whiteman and Armstrong in midfield, Preston will look to control the game and create scoring opportunities for Osmajic and Dobbin up front.

• Predicted lineup: Beadle (GK), Iwata (DF), Klarer (DF), Robinson (DF), Cochrane (DF), Leonard (MF), Paik (MF), Roberts (MF), Anderson (MF), Gray (MF), Stansfield (AT)

Birmingham will rely on the experience of Gray and Paik in midfield to dictate the tempo, while Klarer and Robinson will need to be at their best to keep Preston's attackers at bay.

• Milutin Osmajic vs Jack Robinson: This will be a key battle as Osmajic's pace and finishing will test Robinson’s defensive skills.
• Alfie Devine vs Marc Leonard: Devine’s vision and close control will be crucial in disrupting Leonard’s control in the midfield.
• Ben Whiteman (Preston North End): Whiteman's ability to dictate play and distribute the ball effectively makes him a pivotal player for Preston.
• Demarai Gray (Birmingham City): Gray's creativity and vision in midfield will be vital for Birmingham to unlock Preston's defence.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.