Preston v Southampton: play-off tune-up meets mid-table finish | OneFootball

Preston North End host Southampton in the Championship on Saturday, 2 May 2026 at Deepdale, with the visitors set for the play-offs and the hosts aiming to sign off positively.

Preston North End sit 12th on 60 points and won the reverse fixture 2-0 in November. Southampton are 5th on 77 points in the play-off places and arrive looking to sharpen up before the post-season.

Preston's form has been mixed, with two wins in five, including a 3-2 victory at Sheffield United after defeats by Birmingham and West Brom and a draw with QPR. Saints are unbeaten in four league matches, beating Blackburn and winning at Swansea before draws with Bristol City and Ipswich.

The hosts are without Benjamin Whiteman, Callum Lang, Jamal Lewis and Alistair McCann through injury. The Saints miss Alex McCarthy, Jack Stephens and Mads Roerslev, while Flynn Downes is suspended.

Saints' control-based approach is underlined by 57% possession and 84.08% passing accuracy this season, with 79 goals scored. Adam Armstrong and Finn Azaz have 11 league goals apiece, Léo Scienza has supplied 10 assists and Ryan Manning has added six. Preston have scored 54 and conceded 59, averaging 46% possession. They have 10 goals from outside the box and none from set pieces, so shots from range could be a route in. The visitors' high crossing volume from open play may also test Preston's back line.

A win would move The Saints to 80 points and could improve their play-off seeding. Preston would reach 63 points and could climb within the mid-table pack.