Preston North End

Image source, Opta

Southampton will seek to close the gap at the top of the Championship table and heap more woe on rock-bottom Preston when they head to Deepdale on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

North End are effectively 10 points from safety after 14 games following Tuesday's 3-2 home defeat by Sheffield United and have taken one point from six games under Graham Alexander.

Saints are four points off the summit in seventh after a 1-1 draw at West Brom on Tuesday, though it did extend their unbeaten run to six games from which they have taken 14 points.

• Preston have won just one of their past six league games against Southampton (D1 L4), and are winless in all three at Deepdale in that run (D1 L2).

• Southampton won this exact fixture 3-1 last season – only once have they won consecutive away league games against Preston, doing so in 1928/1929.

• Preston have lost 12 of their past 15 league games (W1 D2), while this is the latest into a season (14 games) they've been bottom of the Championship table since 2010-11 (24th after 45 games).

• After failing to score in their first two league games of 2026, Southampton have now drawn a blank in just one of their past 34 – a goalless draw with Bolton last month.

• Having been involved in eight goals in his first nine Championship appearances this season (3 goals, 5 assists), Southampton's Finn Azaz hasn't scored or assisted in any of his past five.

Preston boss Graham Alexander spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after their 3-2 home defeat by Sheffield United.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

Preston are hoping to end an eight-game winless run which has produced only two points when they host Sheffield United on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Blades visit Deepdale unbeaten in their past three outings, including two victories.

• Preston did the league double over Sheffield United last season, having been winless in their previous eight (D2 L6). They have not won three in a row against the Blades since 1897.

• Sheffield United lost this exact fixture 3-2 last season, last losing consecutive away league games against Preston in 2010/2011.

• Preston have won just two of their past 13 home league games (D3 L8), failing to keep a single clean sheet in that run.

• Just four of Sheffield United's past 42 away league games have been drawn (W20 L18), though these draws have all come in their last 14 on the road (W6 L4).

• Preston boss Graham Alexander is unbeaten in all five of his league games against Sheffield United (W2 D3), with this his first meeting with the Blades since a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe in February 2017.

Preston North End boss Graham Alexander spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after the loss against Stoke City. For a written selection of his quotes, click here

Image source, Shutterstock

Preston North End boss Graham Alexander says free agent Greg Docherty has "been on the club's radar" after training with the side this week.

The 30-year-old former Hull City and Hamilton Academical midfielder has been without a club since leaving Charlton this summer, last playing a professional match during the Addicks' Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur in August.

"It was just a case of him [Docherty] coming in having a look at us and us having a look at him, and we will see how it progresses," Alexander told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He looks in good shape. He's been a captain, he's been a promotion winner, he's got a voice, he's got experience - he's still got hunger.

"He sees this as a top club at a great level, and he would love to be a part of it."

Left-back Caleb Wiley will feature in the squad for their trip to Stoke City on Saturday (12:30 GMT) after training for a full week.

The American returned to the side from a five-match absence as an unused substitute against West Bromwich Albion on the weekend.

"It was good to have him on the bench, so it's great that he's trained the full week," Alexander said.

"We are just trying to ascertain where his best position is for us and what his best attributes are for us and get him up to speed because he's missed a few of our first weeks."

Listen to the full interview below or on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Opta

Stoke City will seek to jump back into the automatic promotion places, for a few hours at least, as they welcome Championship basement boys Preston North End on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Mark Robins' men had taken 12 points from five games before being held to a goalless draw at home to Bristol City on Saturday to drop to ninth, but the Potters have struggled against North End in recent years.

The Lilywhites are winless in seven but did pick up their first point in four games under Graham Alexander with a 1-1 home draw against West Bromwich Albion last time out. However, they have taken just one point from six games on the road this season.

• Stoke City have won just one of their past seven league games against Preston North End (D3 L3), failing to score in four of those matches.

• Preston North End are unbeaten across their past eight away league games against Stoke City (W5 D3), conceding just one goal in total across those matches.

• Stoke have won six of their past nine league games (D2 L1), as many victories as across their prior 32 Championship matches combined.

• Preston have lost five of their past six away league games (D1), while only Watford (8) have picked up fewer than their 13 away points in the Championship in 2026 among ever present sides.

• Preston have lost just one of their past 11 league games played on Halloween (W3 D7), though did lose their most recent 2-1 against Birmingham City in 2020.

Preston North End boss Graham Alexander spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after the 1-1 draw against West Brom. For a written selection of his quotes click here

Preston North End could lift themselves off bottom place on the Championship table this week but would need to beat a high flying West Bromwich Albion side at home on Saturday (15:00 BST) to be in with a chance.

The Lilywhites are adrift in the basement by two points and have five points to make up on safety.

But the Baggies are currently in the play-offs and could potentially enter the automatic promotion places should results fall their way.

• Preston North End have won just one of their last eight home league games against West Bromwich Albion (D3 L4), a 1-0 win in October 2022.

• West Bromwich Albion have won six of their last seven league games against Preston North End (D1), conceding just three goals across those matches.

• Preston have lost more Championship games in 2026 than any other side (20), including five of their last six (D1); they last lost more league games in a calendar year in 2011 (21).

• West Brom have won their last two league games and will be looking to win three in succession within the same season for the first time since September 2024.

• West Brom have won 10 points from losing positions in the Championship so far this season, the highest total in the competition and already two more than they managed during the whole of their 2025-26 campaign (8).

Alex Hoad
BBC Sport England

Graham Alexander says he can see gradual improvements at Preston but there is "no magic wand" to solve their early-season struggles.

North End are bottom of the Championship with four points from 11 games and have lost all three since Alexander replaced Paul Heckingbottom at the helm.

The Lilywhites' 24 goals conceded is also the worst in the league with eight of those coming in the past two games, 4-0 at Birmingham last Tuesday and a 4-1 defeat at Wrexham on Saturday.

Alexander told BBC Radio Lancashire: "You can see the goals conceded and timing of goals (are the main issue) - you just have to look at the results and you can put your finger on it.

"Then you have to try to find what the cause was - if you can fix that, you can fix the issue.

"We have to improve and increase what we are doing without a shadow of a doubt. We're trying to focus on the basics. We needed the games to see the issues first hand. The only way to fix it is to work."

Time is against Alexander, with no pre-season to bed in and the January transfer window a long way away, but he added: "I 100% believe these players can improve; it's my role and responsibility to help them do that.

"Everything has to be done quickly in football. I have learned over the years the need for speed and preparation is essential. We have to do things quickly, but it doesn't happen overnight.

"We're not blessed with time. We have to work from where we are. You can't just wave a wand. I know the time it takes to make a full improvement but certainly as a team you can make gradual improvements day by day.

"Last Saturday we did make a stride forward, without a shadow of a doubt, but that's not what people want to hear when you lose 4-1.

"I'm not expecting anyone to see the end product we're trying to put in place, but I do, I know what it will take to do that. I only need to focus players' minds on the next step in the process."

Reflecting on the departures of first-team coaches Andy Liddell and Peter Murphy, Alexander said he was looking for one person to replace the two roles, adding: "We have to change the course of the season so far. The first three games have given me a clear indication of what the players need.

"I wanted to give myself a little bit of time but I think it's a natural course of action if you want significant change - we have to make significant change if we want to be a successful club."

He said this week's inter-squad match in training will be a regular occurrence to keep players fit and sharp but confirmed Liam Gibbs will be sidelined until the new year and fellow defender Lewis Gibson misses Saturday's visit of West Brom (15:00 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

First-team coaches Andy Liddell and Peter Murphy have both left Preston North End.

The pair were part of former head coach Paul Heckingbottom's backroom staff and had remained at Deepdale under new boss Graham Alexander when he was appointed at the end of last month.

Alexander brought in former Preston team-mate Chris Lucketti as his assistant.

North End are bottom of the Championship and have lost all three of the new head coach's games in charge.

Preston are at home to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, 24 October (15:00 BST).

Jordan Thompson is positive North End will adapt to Graham Alexander's style soon and hopes the Lilywhites can put their slow start behind them.

Preston were edged-out 1-0 by Millwall late on last Saturday before a 4-0 drubbing at Birmingham on Tuesday. They are bottom of the Championship with four points from 10 games - their worst start in over a century.

"(Tuesday) was a really frustrating result for us. I don't think we got the press right at times. There were a few things that went wrong," Thompson told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We talked about the game between ourselves, we're all disappointed, it wasn't good enough (but) we have another game in a couple of days to put it right."

They head to Wrexham on Saturday (15:00 BST) and the Northern Ireland midfielder added: "In football you go through these periods through the season, ours has come at the start of the season which is frustrating but football changes very quickly.

"We have another game, we're looking forward to it.

"There's a lot of quality in our group. We have to take responsibility as players and individuals and really push forward. It's frustrating at times but hopefully we can change it very quickly."

The 29-year-old - who has skippered the side in the past four matches - urged Preston fans to stick with their the players, adding: "Ultimately we have to give them something to cheer about so it's down to us to change it, but the fans being with us can only help going forward."

He added: "It definitely will come. The gaffer has only been in a short period, he's still trying to get his ideas across, he wants us to be aggressive and on the front foot, maybe (on Tuesday) we got that wrong at times.

"There's been change, the training and the shape we're playing. There's things we need to improve on and that will definitely happen over a period of time."