Stoke City vs Preston: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Ladbrokes' detailed preview for Stoke City vs Preston in the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 15:00 GMT match.

• Fixture: Stoke City vs Preston
• Date: Friday, 26 December 2025
• Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
• Venue: Bet365 Stadium

Stoke City will be looking to bounce back from their recent loss against Watford, and their home form suggests they could be in for a good performance. With players like Róbert Boženík and Sorba Thomas in the lineup, they have the firepower to challenge Preston's defense. However, Preston's recent results show they are hard to beat, with a string of draws and wins, which could make this a tight contest.

Preston, on the other hand, will be confident after their draw against Norwich and will look to exploit Stoke's defensive vulnerabilities. Their 3-5-2 formation could provide the necessary balance to both defend and attack effectively. This match could hinge on key moments, with both teams having the potential to score, but Preston's solid form might just give them the edge.

Stoke City's recent form has been inconsistent, with only one win in their last five matches. Their home win against Swansea shows they can perform well at the bet365 Stadium, but losses against Watford, Ipswich, Sheffield United, and Hull City indicate a need for improvement. This mixed bag of results could affect their confidence going into the match against Preston.

Recent Championship Results:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Watford (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Swansea (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Ipswich (A)
• Loss: 0-4 vs Sheffield Utd (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Hull City (H)

Preston have been in decent form, with two wins and three draws in their last five games. Their ability to secure points against strong teams like Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday suggests they are in good shape. This solid run of form should give them the momentum needed to challenge Stoke City away from home.

Recent Championship Results:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Norwich (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Oxford United (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Coventry (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Wrexham (H)
• Win: 3-2 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A)

The head-to-head record between Stoke City and Preston shows a closely contested rivalry. In their last five meetings, there have been two draws, two wins for Preston, and one win for Stoke City. This suggests that both teams are capable of getting results against each other, making the upcoming match unpredictable.

Recent Championship Results

• Preston 1-1 Stoke City (05 Apr 2025)
• Stoke City 0-0 Preston (26 Nov 2024)
• Preston 1-2 Stoke City (09 Mar 2024)
• Stoke City 0-2 Preston (02 Sep 2023)
• Stoke City 0-1 Preston (02 Jan 2023)

• Lewis Baker (Ankle) – Out

• Junior Tchamadeu (International duty) - Out

• Jamal Lewis (Hamstring) – Out

• Lewis Gibson (Muscle) – Out

• Milutin Osmajic (Suspended) - Out

• Robbie Brady (Calf) – Out

• Predicted lineup: Johansson (GK), Talovierov (DF), Phillips (DF), Wilmot (DF), Cresswell (DF), Lawal (MF), N'Zonzi (MF), Manhoef (MF), Bae (MF), Thomas (MF), Boženík (AT)

Stoke City are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Viktor Johansson in goal and a backline of Talovierov, Phillips, Wilmot, and Cresswell. This setup should allow them to control the midfield with N'Zonzi and Lawal, while Manhoef, Bae, and Thomas provide creativity and support to striker Boženík.

• Predicted lineup: Iversen (GK), Offiah (DF), Storey (DF), Hughes (DF), Valentín (MF), Devine (MF), Whiteman (MF), Armstrong (MF), Small (MF), Smith (AT), Dobbin (AT)

Preston are likely to deploy a 3-5-2 formation, with Iversen between the posts and a defensive trio of Offiah, Storey, and Hughes. This formation should enable them to maintain a solid defensive structure while allowing wing-backs Valentín and Small to push forward and support attackers Smith and Dobbin.

• Boženík vs Storey: Boženík's ability to find space and score will be tested against Storey's defensive prowess.
• N'Zonzi vs Whiteman: N'Zonzi's control in midfield will be crucial against Whiteman's tenacity and distribution.
• Thomas (Stoke City): Thomas's creativity and set-piece delivery could be the key to unlocking Preston's defense.
• Dobbin (Preston): Dobbin's pace and finishing ability make him a constant threat to Stoke's backline.

Stoke City vs Preston at 15:00 GMT on Friday, 26 December 2025, will be broadcast live for viewers in the UK on Sky Sports+.

Ladbrokes is predicting that the score will be Stoke City 1-2 Preston.

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