The Championship weekend kicks off at Deepdale on Friday evening (20:00 GMT) as Oxford United travel to Preston in a bid to escape the relegation zone.
The second-bottom U’s have been in the bottom three for all but three days since the start of December, but last Saturday’s 2-1 victory over West Brom means a further three points in the North Division will move them above Leicester City and Albion, dragging the Baggies into the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of Saturday’s game.
advertise
The Lilywhites lost 2-0 at home to Millwall on Saturday and have dropped eight points from the play-off places after a run of nine league wins, leaving them with just six points in 11th place. If the results are not ideal, they may fall into the bottom half for the first time this season.
-
Preston North End were hoping to complete a second league double against Oxford United in the 1999/00 season.
-
Oxford have won one of their last five league games against Preston (D1 and L3), a 3-1 win at home in August 2024 under Des Buckingham.
-
Preston have lost three home Championship games so far in 2026 (W2 D1), just one less than they lost all year at Deepdale in 2025 (W7 D11 L4).
-
Oxford United won their most recent league game, beating West Bromwich Albion 2-1, but they have not won back-to-back titles since January 2025 – the second of which came against Luton Town, then managed by Matt Bloomfield.
-
Jamie Donley has been involved in eight goals (two goals, six assists) in his last 10 EFL starts and provided an assist on his first start in Oxford’s 2-1 win over West Brom.
[BBC]
