Preston v Hull: play-off rivals meet at Deepdale | OneFootball

Preston North End host Hull City in the Championship on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at Deepdale, with one point separating two top-six contenders.

Preston North End are sixth on 43 points, Hull City fifth on 44. The reverse fixture finished 2-2 in September.

Preston have two wins from their last five league games. Hull have won three of their past five in the league, including away victories at Middlesbrough and Southampton.

Injuries shape selection. Preston are without Robbie Brady, Andrija Vukcevic and goalkeeper Daniel Iversen. For Hull, Ryan Giles, the division's second-ranked provider with eight assists, is sidelined, while Joe Gelhardt, on 10 league goals, is also out alongside several others.

Tactically, Preston average 1.3 goals per game and have scored 10 from outside the box but none from set pieces, while eight clean sheets and only 26 conceded point to resilience. Hull carry greater attacking output at 1.6 goals per game, with 41 inside-box goals and a 26.15% open-play cross accuracy. The game could tilt on Preston's threat from range against Hull's crossing and penalty-box presence. Oliver McBurnie has nine league goals, and Lewis Norman Dobbin has five assists and 11 goal contributions this season.

A win would lift Preston to 46 points and likely move them above Hull, strengthening their play-off position. Victory for Hull would take them to 47 points and tighten their grip on the top six.