Birmingham v Preston: level on points, chasing a late-season lift | OneFootball

Birmingham City host Preston North End in the Championship on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 at St Andrew's, with both teams locked on 57 points in mid-table and aiming to finish strongly.

Birmingham City won the reverse meeting 1-0 in October and have been reliable at home, taking 38 of their 57 points at St Andrew's. Preston North End have collected 26 points on their travels.

Birmingham arrive with four points from their last two games after a three-match losing run. Preston's recent sequence reads two wins, two draws and a defeat, including an away win at Charlton and a draw at Leicester before losing to West Brom.

Birmingham list Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kyogo Furuhashi and Lee Buchanan as injured. Preston are without Robbie Brady, Benjamin Whiteman, Callum Lang and Alistair McCann, with Jamal Lewis also sidelined, trimming options in defence and midfield.

Birmingham average 54% possession and deliver a high volume of open play crosses, with 11 headed goals. That supply could target Marvin Ducksch, who has 10 league goals this season. Preston play with less of the ball at 46% and defend in numbers, leading to high blocks and clearances, and may lean on Lewis Dobbin's eight assists to create on transitions.

A win would move Birmingham to 60 points and could nudge them towards the top half. Defeat may leave them chasing the pack. The same applies to Preston, who would also reach 60 points with victory and strengthen their position in the mid-table cluster.