After new-look Hull City stole three points with a last-gasp winner on the opening day, their Championship campaign continues on Saturday afternoon, with a trip to Preston North End.
The Tigers travel to Deepdale on the back of a 2-1 victory over Bristol City, while their hosts were held to a goalless draw by local rivals Wigan.
Match preview
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Kicking off their eighth straight season in the second tier of English football, Preston could not find a clinical edge against promoted Wigan Athletic last week and were forced to settle for a point at the DW Stadium.
Ryan Lowe's side went down to 10 men late on, when Ched Evans was dismissed for a badly timed tackle, and ultimately found themselves frustrated by an industrious home side.
Having lost last season's star striker Cameron Archer over the summer, as he returned to parent club Aston Villa, the Lilywhites have brought in two Republic of Ireland internationals to bolster their attack, but neither Troy Parrott nor ex-Hull winger Robbie Brady were able to make a crucial contribution on their debut.
After recording consecutive 13th placed finishes in the Championship, Preston will surely count themselves among numerous contenders for a shot at the playoffs this term, during Lowe's first full season in charge.
One of several wins since the former Plymouth manager took the reins at Deepdale last December came against Hull in February, when Archer struck the only goal to gain revenge for a 4-1 loss to the Tigers on the first day of their 2021-22 campaign.
Back in front of their home fans for the first time in 2022-23, North End now aim to right that wrong and build an unbeaten run.
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Following their dramatic 2-1 victory over Bristol City on the opening day, Hull will visit Lancashire in buoyant mood, as their transformation under new ownership continues apace.
The Tigers had to fight back from a goal behind at the MKM Stadium, but showed plenty of character to make a winning start to the campaign.
Both goals came from summer signings, as Ozan Tufan and Jean Michael Seri - the latter with a decisive stoppage-time strike - found the net on their league debuts.
In fact, the goalscoring duo were among eight new arrivals at the club this summer, several coming from the Turkish Super Lig due to the transfer market manoeuvrings of owner Acun Ilicali.
Manager Shota Arveladze has been furnished with a squad featuring other fresh faces, such as Tobias Figueiredo, Benjamin Tetteh and Oscar Estupinan, so will be in no doubt that his bosses are targeting the top six.
After a rocky ride in recent years, such expectation may seem misplaced, but Hull will aim to continue a bright start by repeating their Deepdale win of last year, ahead of a midweek trip to Bradford in the EFL Cup.
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Team News
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In the aftermath of a goalless 90 minutes to start the season - and following news that Cameron Archer will not return to the club - Preston are another forward option down this weekend, due to the start of a three-match ban for Ched Evans.
While the lineup that started at Wigan is likely to remain the same, North End will also be without the services of Sean Maguire, who remains sidelined by an Achilles injury. That leaves them short of a recognised striker on the bench, though summer signing Ben Woodburn could deputise if required.
Nonetheless, last season's top scorer Emil Riis Jakobsen - who racked up 16 goals in the Championship during the 2021-22 campaign - starts up front once again.
Meanwhile, recent recruits Ozan Tufan, Jean Michael Seri, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Oscar Estupinian should retain their places in the visitors' starting XI on Saturday, with Shota Arveladze unlikely to make many changes to a winning side.
Hull could have both Randell Williams and Ryan Longman back in the squad for the trip to Lancashire, after both men missed out last weekend.
However, Nathan Baxter, Dogukan Sinik and Brandon Fleming are all out of contention due to injury.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Browne, Johnson, Brady; Riis, Parrott
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Figueirido, Jones, Greaves; Coyle, Seri, Slater, Sayyadmanesh; Tufan; Smith, Estupinan
We say: Preston North End 1-1 Hull City
Hull overcame an unimpressive pre-season to take maximum points on the Championship's opening weekend, but did so only by the skin of their teeth.
As Preston tend to be tough to beat at Deepdale, given they suffered just four home defeats last season, they can grind out another point on this occasion.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
