The upcoming match between Preston North End and Stoke City presents an interesting scenario, with both teams facing some challenges in their respective defensive lines. Stoke City, in particular, has struggled defensively when playing away from home, which could potentially give the upper hand to Preston North End, the home team.
However, looking at the recent form of both teams, the outcome of the match appears to be quite uncertain. Stoke City has found it difficult to score against Paul Heckingbottom's team in the past, but Preston North End's defense has also been underperforming lately. This might open up opportunities for the visiting team to capitalize on some defensive weaknesses and find the back of the net.
When it comes to the support from the home crowd, Preston North End seems to have the advantage, as the team rarely faces hostile environments in their own stadium. On the other hand, Stoke City will have to deal with the pressure of playing in front of a possibly unfriendly crowd, which could impact their performance on the field.
In terms of previous encounters between the two teams, there haven't been many goals scored, with the last few matches resulting in 2 wins for the home team, 1 draw, and 2 victories for the away team. This suggests that the upcoming match could be a tightly contested affair, with both teams having the potential to come out on top.
Statistically speaking, both teams have a similar average of goals scored so far this season, with Preston North End averaging 1 goal per game and Stoke City also averaging 1 goal per game. This indicates that the match could be decided by small margins, with a single goal potentially making the difference between victory and defeat for either team.
