Stoke City vs Preston preview

Stoke head into Saturday’s meeting at the bet365 Stadium in considerably stronger shape than Preston: Stoke sit ninth in the Championship with 20 points and have taken 10 points from their last five league matches, while Preston are bottom (24th) on five points and have managed just two points from their last five. Kick-off is Saturday 31 October at 12:30 GMT.

Stoke City Vs Preston

bet365 StadiumKick-off: Saturday 31 October at 12:30 GMT

Recent league form · points from displayed games

Stoke CityWWLWD10

PrestonDLLLD2

League head-to-head

3Stoke City wins

6draws

7Preston wins

16 recorded league meetings · previous 10 years

Have your say

Fan Banter prediction · 90 minutes

Prediction: Stoke City to win (90 minutes)

Stoke’s superior recent form (10 points from their last five league matches) and a healthier goals record this season make them the logical pick against a Preston side that have conceded 12 goals in their last five and sit bottom of the table with five points.

Away-fan travel · 68 miles · allow about 1h 30m by carEstimated road journey · Deepdale → bet365 Stadium

OUTWARD · ARRIVE 90–60 MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFFSat 31 Oct, 09:30 leave → Sat 31 Oct, 11:00–Sat 31 Oct, 11:30 arrive

RETURN · ESTIMATED BACK AT THE AWAY CLUB’S GROUNDSat 31 Oct, 15:00 leave → Sat 31 Oct, 16:30 back

Planning estimates; allow extra time for traffic, parking and leaving the stadium.

Stoke City Vs Preston North End match preview and away-fan journey map

Preview — form and the fixture story

Stoke’s season so far is built on a steady run of results rather than an out-and-out goal glut: they have 18 goals for and 16 against across 12 league games. Their last five league matches show three wins, one draw and one defeat, giving them 10 points from that sequence. Preston, by contrast, have struggled for results and goals — 10 scored and 25 conceded in 12 games — and their last five read D L L L D with just two points returned and a heavy goals-against figure of 12 in those five matches.

That divergence matters on Saturday. Stoke’s recent form suggests consistency at both ends of the pitch, while Preston’s form sequence points to defensive frailties that are likely to be targeted by Stoke at home.

Recent league form (last five)

Stoke City — last five league matches
Date	Match	Score
19 Sep 2026	Stoke City v Sheffield Utd	2–1
10 Oct 2026	Bolton v Stoke City	1–2
13 Oct 2026	Stoke City v Middlesbrough	2–3
17 Oct 2026	Derby v Stoke City	0–1
24 Oct 2026	Stoke City v Bristol City	0–0

Preston — last five league matches
Date	Match	Score
19 Sep 2026	QPR v Preston	2–2
10 Oct 2026	Preston v Millwall	0–1
13 Oct 2026	Birmingham v Preston	4–0
17 Oct 2026	Wrexham v Preston	4–1
24 Oct 2026	Preston v West Brom	1–1