Preview: Middlesbrough vs Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

Promotion-chasing Middlesbrough will look to claim a fourth consecutive league win when they welcome Preston North End to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

PNE, meanwhile, will be aiming to get their Championship playoff bid back on track after suffering back-to-back defeats.

Match preview

Middlesbrough will carry momentum into the weekend after bouncing back from a four-game winless run with three consecutive league victories.

Boro hammered Southampton 4-0 and claimed a 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion, before they edged out Stoke City in Wednesday’s meeting at the bet365 Stadium.

Alan Browne cancelled out Tomas Rigo's opener before Tommy Conway scored his fourth league goal of the season to seal a 2-1 victory.

Second-placed Middlesbrough now have 52 points from 28 games, leaving them six points adrift of leaders Coventry City and two points clear of Ipswich Town in third position.

After playing three consecutive away games, Boro will return to the familiar surroundings of the Riverside Stadium, where they have won three of their previous five league matches (D1, L1).

Boro have also won two of their previous three home games against Preston, although they had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their most recent encounter at the Riverside in September 2024.

Preston may be sitting inside the top six, but they will travel to Teeside on the back of three consecutive home defeats, including two in the Championship.

After being dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Wigan Athletic, Preston fell to a narrow loss against Derby County before they were hammered 3-0 in Tuesday's clash against fellow playoff hopefuls Hull City.

PNE boss Paul Heckingbottom will be concerned by the fact that his team have gone three games without scoring since claiming a 2-0 away win over Bristol City on January 4.

That successful trip to Ashton Gate represented Preston's third win in five away games, meaning they should head to Riverside with reason to be confident despite their recent run of losses on home turf.

PNE also share the best defensive away record with Ipswich Town, Wrexham and Stoke City after conceding just 13 goals in as many road trips.

Saturday's visitors will be hoping that their defensive resilience can provide the foundation for their first win at the Riverside since November 2021.

Middlesbrough Championship form:

D L L W W W

Middlesbrough form (all competitions):

L L W L W W

Preston North End Championship form:

D L W W L L

Preston North End form (all competitions):

L W W L L L

Team News

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg is unable to call upon George Edmundson, Darragh Lenihan, Alfie Jones, Alex Bangura, Kaly Sene and David Strelec.

Riley McGree and Callum Brittain are believed to be making progress in their recoveries, but it remains to be seen whether they will be ready for Saturday's fixture.

The attacking duo of Delano Burgzorg and Leo Castledine are pushing for starting berths after featuring as half-time substitutes against Stoke.

Preston goalkeeper Jack Walton is set to start a third consecutive game in the absence of Daniel Iversen, who is out with a groin injury.

Robbie Brady and Andrija Vukcevic are also set to miss out, while Andrew Hughes and Brad Potts are doubts for Saturday's away trip.

Milutin Osmajic will start a three-match ban after being sent off in stoppage time of Tuesday's defeat for a headbutt on Hull midfielder John Lundstram.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Browne, Ayling, Malanda, Targett; Hackney, Morris; Whittaker, Castledine, Burgzorg; Conway

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Walton; Storey, Gibson, Offiah; Valentin, Devine, Whiteman, Thompson, Small; Dobbin, Jebbison

We say: Middlesbrough 2-0 Preston North End

Middlesbrough will carry momentum into Saturday's contest after winning each of their last three league matches, and we think they will lean on home advantage to condemn Preston to a fourth consecutive defeat.

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