Preston North End vs Stoke City: match statistics
The match is shaping up to be very evenly balanced, which favors a draw. Preston North End is on a disastrous run – zero wins in their last five matches and a mere 0.2 points per game, indicating a deep crisis of form. Stoke City has been performing significantly better lately with 1.4 points per game and two victories in their last five fixtures. However, Stoke's high percentage of away matches without scoring (47% FTS) and the fact that Preston has a zero goal difference at home with a 37% win rate this season suggest both teams struggle to find the net. Considering Stoke's possession advantage (51% vs 47%) and the visitors' better form, but also Preston's weakness in home games and Stoke's away scoring issues, the most likely outcome is a draw or a narrow victory for either side.
Preston North End vs Stoke City: form, goals and key statistics
Key match information
Preston North End played Stoke City in Championship (England). The match was played on 20 March 2026. Final score: 3:1.
Current form
Preston North End: 0-1-4, 0.20 points/match. Stoke City: 2-1-2, 1.40 points/match.
Goal statistics
Preston North End scores 1.11 and concedes 1.26 goals per match. Stoke City scores 1.18 and concedes 1.05. League average: 2.58 goals.
BTTS / Over / Under
BTTS: Preston North End 53%, Stoke City 42%. Over 2.5: Preston North End 42%, Stoke City 45%. League level: BTTS 56%, Over 2.5 50%.
xG, shots and style
Stoke City has higher xG: 1.30 vs 1.24. Preston North End: 10.7 shots per match, Stoke City: 11.3.
Match halves
Preston North End: half-time lead 34%, second-half goals 0.58. Stoke City: half-time lead 34%, second-half goals 0.63.
Goals by minute
Preston North End: 76-90+ (11 goals). Stoke City: 31-45+ (9 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.
League context
Championship: 2.58 goals per match, BTTS 56%, Over 2.5 50%.
Head-to-head
Before this fixture, 1 previous H2H matches were available: 0-1-0. Average goals 0.00, BTTS 0%.
Archived pre-match analysis
This analysis was prepared before kick-off. The conclusions use only information available before the match and do not include the final result or post-match statistics.
General match analysis
The match is shaping up to be very evenly balanced, which favors a draw. Preston North End is on a disastrous run – zero wins in their last five matches and a mere 0.2 points per game, indicating a deep crisis of form. Stoke City has been performing significantly better lately with 1.4 points per game and two victories in their last five fixtures. However, Stoke's high percentage of away matches without scoring (47% FTS) and the fact that Preston has a zero goal difference at home with a 37% win rate this season suggest both teams struggle to find the net. Considering Stoke's possession advantage (51% vs 47%) and the visitors' better form, but also Preston's weakness in home games and Stoke's away scoring issues, the most likely outcome is a draw or a narrow victory for either side.
View the statistical overviewHalf-by-half
Match statistics
Pre-match profile— what do the season numbers say?
This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.
Team stats— who is more efficient?
Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.
Shooting quality
| Preston North End | Stoke City | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 33% | 36% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Finishing (goals per shot on target) | 0.31 | 0.29 |
xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.
* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.
Team form— who is in better shape?
Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.
Stoke City is 600% better for: last-5 form.
0.2 pts / match - Preston North End · 1.4 pts / match - Stoke City
Goals— how do both teams score and concede?
How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.
Stoke City is 6% better for: goals scored per match.
1.11 goals / match - Preston North End · 1.18 goals / match - Stoke City
Stoke City is 20% better for: goals conceded per match.
1.26 goals / match - Preston North End · 1.05 goals / match - Stoke City
Preston North End scores in 71% of matches (27 of 38 matches), while Stoke City keeps a clean sheet in 32% (12 of 38 matches).
Stoke City scores in 63% of matches (24 of 38 matches), while Preston North End keeps a clean sheet in 24% (9 of 38 matches).
How often they score at least...
How often they concede at least...
* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.
Both teams scored (BTTS)— how often do both teams score?
How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.
Goal patterns
BTTS and goal count
Goal count (Over/Under)— how often do these matches cross the goal lines?
How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.
Full match - team comparison (Over)
Over / Under - Preston North End
Over / Under - Stoke City
1st half
2nd half
Match halves— when do the teams score more often?
How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.
Stoke City is 10% better for: first-half form (half-time points).
1.34 pts / match - Preston North End · 1.47 pts / match - Stoke City
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Preston North End - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 34% of matches and wins 32%. Usually protects the lead until full-time.
Defence stays stable across the full match.
Stoke City - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 34% of matches and wins 37%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Concedes 0.3 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 0.80 | 0.20 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Goals conceded / match | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| Average goals in match | 1.6 | 1.0 |
| 1 goal | 100% | 80% |
| 2 goals | 60% | 20% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 20% | 20% |
| No goal | 60% | 100% |
| Goal difference | -4 | -5 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 1.80 | 1.20 |
| Goals scored / match | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Goals conceded / match | 0.4 | 1.4 |
| Average goals in match | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 60% | 60% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 40% |
| Clean sheet | 60% | 20% |
| No goal | 20% | 40% |
| Goal difference | +3 | -3 |
* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.
Goals by minute— when do goals arrive?
Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.
Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (11 goals). Concedes most in 31-45 (13). Late-goal balance (76-90): +2 - wins late phases.
Most dangerous in minutes 31-45 (9 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (13). Late-goal balance (76-90): -6 - late phases are a weakness.
* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.
Additional team indicators— what do xG, efficiency and form show?
A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.
Match profile
Preston North End
Stoke City
* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.
League context— is this a high-scoring league?
How both teams compare with league-wide averages (Championship).
Teams vs league
| Preston North End | Liga | Stoke City | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals in match | ▼ 2.37 | 2.58 | ▼ 2.24 |
| Both teams scored | ▼ 53% | 56% | ▼ 42% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▼ 42% | 50% | ▼ 45% |
| Clean sheets | • 24% | 25% | ▲ 32% |
| Goal before half-time | ▲ 79% | 71% | ▼ 61% |
| Goal after half-time | ▼ 74% | 77% | ▼ 71% |
^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.
Lineups and player events
Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.
Home team
Starting lineup
Away team
Starting lineup
Match timeline
Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.
Referee and managers
Open their season profiles to compare match records, goals and disciplinary trends.
Referee context
See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.
Head-to-head
Previous meeting: Preston North End 0 - 1 - 0 Stoke City. Average goals 0.00, both teams scored in 0% matches.
FAQ
What was the result of Preston North End vs Stoke City?
The Championship match finished Preston North End 3:1 Stoke City. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.
What do the goal statistics show before Preston North End vs Stoke City?
Preston North End score 1.11 goals per game on average and Stoke City 1.18. The Championship average is 2.58 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 50% of games. Both teams score in 53% of Preston North End's matches and 42% of Stoke City's.
What form are Preston North End and Stoke City in?
Over the last 5 games Preston North End have a 0-1-4 record (0.20 points per game) and Stoke City 2-1-2 (1.40 points per game).
Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Preston North End vs Stoke City?
Here you can check the pre-match numbers for Preston North End vs Stoke City: form, H2H, goals and Over/Under. The pick itself, value and reasoning are published in the NoFluffPicks app.