Preston North End face West Bromwich Albion at Deepdale on Saturday in a Championship fixture of starkly contrasting fortunes. The Lilywhites, rooted to the bottom of the table, need a result to close a two-point gap to safety, while the visitors arrive with momentum from two consecutive wins. Preston sit 24th in the Championship on just four points after 11 games, with a record of one win, one draw and nine defeats.
Relegation Pressure
Preston's position is precarious, having taken just four points from their opening 11 league games. Their recent form of five defeats in their last six matches, including a 4-1 loss at Wrexham last weekend, has left them five points adrift of the safety line. The club's standings show a record of one win, one draw and nine defeats, with a goal difference of minus 15. They have scored only nine goals while conceding 24 this season. A victory this weekend could lift them off the foot of the table.
Recent Form Struggles
The team's struggles are deep-rooted, having lost more Championship games in 2026 than any other side. Their last five results read LLLDL, with the solitary point coming in a 2-2 draw at QPR last month. This recent form of zero wins, one draw and four defeats includes a 4-0 defeat at Birmingham and a 1-0 home loss to Millwall. Their only goal in the last three consecutive defeats was scored by Alfie Devine in the 4-1 loss at Wrexham on Saturday 17 October. At home, they have won just one of their last eight league meetings against West Brom, a 1-0 victory back in October 2022. The upcoming fixtures list shows this as a must-win game in a difficult run.
West Brom's Momentum
West Brom present a formidable challenge, sitting in the play-off places and chasing a third straight league win for the first time since September 2024. They have won six of their last seven encounters with Preston, conceding only three goals in that dominant run. Carlos Corberán's side have also shown resilience, earning a league-high 10 points from losing positions this season.
Preston's task is clear: they must find a way to halt their slide and overcome a historical bogey team. The match at Deepdale kicks off at 14:00 on Saturday, 24 October.
