Match Preview: Preston North End

88F24C5E-DBE7-4E31-A863-9967645C6AA9 — Image: Preston North End

3 days after being nullified by a resolute Derby side, the Whites head 230 miles north for the Saturday early kick-off (nice one, Sky!) to take on Preston North End, hoping that the illness that left a number of the squad either unable to play or possibly risking a Gary Lineker-circa 1990 incident has well and truly left their systems. So to speak.

Obviously, the biggest miss in midweek was Mitro, and while Rodrigo Muniz put in a solid performance (almost capping it with a spectacular scissor kick), we certainly don’t need to be without our Serbian talisman for more than a few games over the season! While Derby dug their heels in and defended as if their lives depended on it, you do have to feel at least one of the chances that presented itself would’ve been tucked away given his form.

Silva should have Marek Rodak available again after her missed out due to Covid protocols, so I imagine we’ll have him back between the posts given the fact he’s certainly done more than enough to justify his place over the last few weeks.

Preston come into the game on the back of a 2-1 away win over Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough, so whilst I’m sure they’ll be wary of the threat Fulham will pose, they should be high on confidence so another early goal would be an ideal way to bring them back down to earth. But let’s not get cocky eh!

Given the fact that Silva has said that 6 players (including Mitro) need to be assessed on the back of the illness, and given the fact it’s relatively short time to recover, the lineup is anyone’s guess. But I’ll give it a go anyway…

SCORE PREDICTION: Preston 1-2 Fulham

PREDICTED LINE-UP: 4-2-3-1

H2H LEAGUE RECORD (OVERALL)

PLAYED – 66
FULHAM WINS – 30
DRAWS – 12
PRESTON WINS – 24
GOALS SCORED – 92
GOALS CONCEDED – 79

H2H LEAGUE RECORD (AWAY)

PLAYED – 33
FULHAM WINS – 12
DRAWS – 6
PRESTON WINS – 15
GOALS SCORED – 42
GOALS CONCEDED – 46

LAST 5 GAMES

FULHAM 2-0 PRESTON
PRESTON 2-1 FULHAM
PRESTON 1-2 FULHAM
FULHAM 2-2 PRESTON
FULHAM 3-1 PRESTON

BIGGEST WINS AT DEEPDALE

PRESTON 4-1 FULHAM (1959/60)
PRESTON 1-4 FULHAM (1988/89)
PRESTON 0-3 FULHAM (1972/73)

PLAYERS IN COMMON

Gary Brazil, Mike Conroy, Dickson Etuhu, David Healy, Eddie Johnson, Eddie Lewis, Andy Lonergan, Brian McBride, Billy McKinlay, Gavin Nebbeling, Ben Pringle.