Prestonvs.Sheff Weds

Preston beat Hull City 1-0 on Thursday and are in 16th place with 26 points, while the visitors are in ninth place with 33 points, drew 3-3 with Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and are four points and three places from the final playoff spot.

Match preview

The hosts defended in a lower block for large stretches against Hull, and to their credit, the victors managed to restrict the Tigers to just one big chance.

Head coach Paul Heckingbottom expressed relief that his team were able to capitalise on their opponents, saying: "We have been far more dominant than that in many games and only got one point. I am really pleased that, in one of those games where the margins are so fine, we've won."

Heckingbottom's side have been difficult to beat considering they have lost just once in their last eight fixtures, though they did five draw times in that period, results that include a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on December 7.

Preston's record of 23 goals scored and 29 conceded in the Championship makes them the league's joint 18th best offensive and joint 10th best defensive team.

The Lilywhites' form at Deepdale has been underwhelming, with the club having drawn five, lost two and triumphed in just one of their last eight matches at home.

The visitors come into the clash having overturned a three-goal deficit in the first half to draw with Middlesbrough, though they might be disappointed that they failed to claim three points given the score was level by the 61st minute and Middlesbrough had been reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute.

Manager Danny Rohl attributed the second-half fightback to his tactical changes, telling reporters: ""We changed the shape to a 4-1-4-1 and controlled more their sixes and another in behind them to help us. Before the game, you always try to think what you can do and how a game might play out but we changed it and it was important that the players believed in it."

Rohl's side have found the back of the net eight times in their last three games, as many as they had netted in their previous seven matches.

Sheffield Wednesday's form has been strong considering they have triumphed in four of their seven most recent outings, drawing twice in that time.

The Owls' record on the road is arguably more impressive, with the visitors having won three and drawn one of their past four away fixtures.

Preston North End Championship form:

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Sheffield Wednesday Championship form:

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Team News

The hosts could start centre-backs Jordan Storey, Jack Whatmough and Andrew Hughes in front of goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

Benjamin Whiteman and Alistair McCann featured together in a double pivot against Hull, and they may be selected to start on Sunday.

In attack, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen is likely to support Preston forwards Milutin Osmajic and Sam Greenwood.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday will be without defender Akin Famewo, who is not scheduled to return to action until early January.

The visitors could start Dominic Iorfa, Gabriel Otegbayo and Max Lowe in a back three behind midfielders Shea Charles and Barry Bannan.

Josh Windass and Djeidi Gassama played in the forward line against Middlesbrough, and the duo are almost certain to play in supportive roles behind Jamal Lowe.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Whatmough, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, McCann, Kesler-Hayden; Frokjaer-Jensen; Osmajic, Greenwood

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Beadle; Iorfa, Otegbayo, M Lowe; Valery, Charles, Bannan, Johnson; Windass, Gassama; J Lowe

We say: Preston North End 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Preston are unlikely to make Sunday's clash an easy encounter for Sheffield Wednesday considering they have not often lost at Deepdale.

Written by

Lewis Nolan

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