PREVIEW | Preston North End vs Middlesbrough - team news, lineups, predictions | OneFootball

Preston North End take on Middlesbrough at Deepdale this Saturday in matchweek five of the Championship, with kick-off at 12:30 live on Sky Sports+.

The Lilywhites head into the clash on the back of two straight defeats, most recently losing out to Portsmouth, and they will be keen to turn things around. Boro, meanwhile, have enjoyed a solid start to the season, and will aim to build on their win against struggling Sheffield United prior to the international break.

When the two sides last met, Preston came out on top with a 2-1 victory.

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PNEFC_Stats : League football returns as Preston look to maintain their 100% home league record against a Boro side with a 100% league record everywhere…

Boro will be looking for a fifth straight win to the start the season, but have a poor record at Deepdale, losing the last 5 conceding at least 2 goals in each.

Leading scoring Milutin Osmajic could return from injury and checks will be carried out on those returning from international duty.

Jordan Thompson, Robbie Brady, Will Keane and Brad Potts all remain unavailable.

Harrison Armstrong could make his debut after joining on loan from Everton on deadline day.

Prediction: 1-1

Daniel Oliveira (Playmaker Stats editor): Middlesbrough have come flying out of the blocks this season as they chase a long-awaited return to the Premier League.

Rob Edwards’s side have been faultless so far, winning all four of their opening games in August against Swansea, Millwall, Norwich and bottom-placed Sheffield United. That perfect record leaves them top of the table and the only club in the division yet to drop points.

With convincing away victories at Millwall and Norwich before the international break, Boro will be keen to lay down another marker on their travels this weekend.

Prediction: 1-2

Predicted lineups

Preston North End: Daniel Iversen, Jordan Storey, Lewis Gibson, Andrew Hughes, Pol Valentín, Ali McCann, Benjamin Whiteman, Thierry Small, Lewis Dobbin, Michael Smith, Alfie Devine

Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Dael Fry, Alfie Jones, Callum Brittain, Hayden Hackney, Aidan Morris, Sam Silvera, Morgan Whittaker, Tommy Conway, Sverre Nypan

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Preston North End

Middlesbrough

Last starting XIs

Preston North End ( vs Portsmouth 2025-08-30): Daniel Iversen, Jordan Storey, Lewis Gibson, Andrew Hughes, Pol Valentín, Stefán Thórdarson, Thierry Small, Benjamin Whiteman, Ali McCann, Michael Smith, Daniel Jebbison

Middlesbrough ( vs Sheffield United 2025-08-30): Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Callum Brittain, Alfie Jones, Dael Fry, Aidan Morris, Hayden Hackney, Morgan Whittaker, Sam Silvera, Sontje Hansen, Tommy Conway

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