The last game before the final international break is the 46th league meeting between Preston North End and Luton Town, when the Hatters visit Deepdale this Saturday.
The Lilywhites lead the head-to-head with 23 wins to the visitors’ 12 in the previous 45 games played, since their first league meeting back in September 1949.
Nathan Jones’ men have picked up some good results of late, their only defeats in recent weeks coming at the hands of automatic promotion chasers Norwich City and Swansea City.
For PNE, it is the first of back-to-back home games, almost two weeks apart, with the international break coming in between this game and the Good Friday game against table-toppers Norwich City in PR1.
Match Information
Competition: EFL Sky Bet Championship (38/46)
Date: Saturday 20th March, kick-off 3pm
Venue: Deepdale
Kit: 2020/21 home kit – click here to buy it now!
Head To Head: PNE wins – 25; Draws – 10; Luton Town - 12
Team News
Alex Neil is without skipper Alan Browne, who sits out the first of three games following his red card against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
He will join the injured on the sidelines, with Ryan Ledson and Greg Cunningham both needing late checks, whilst long-term casualties Declan Rudd and Patrick Bauer are out for the season.
Louis Moult is back in training, but is some weeks away from a return to action, after 18 months away from first team matches.
Luton manager Nathan has made one change for their midweek win over Coventry, with Glen Rea replacing Dan Potts, who was forced off the field with a head injury the previous weekend. George Moncur was also back amongst the substitutes.
Match Officials
Taking charge of his Saturday’s game is a referee who will be officiating his very first game at Championship level, Thomas Bramall.
This season he has refereed 26 games in in League’s One and Two, with 61 cautions issued and four red cards in those games. He has never taken charge of PNE before, but has done two Luton games away from home in League One in 2018/19.
He will be assisted by Mark Jones and Steven Meredith and the fourth official will be in that role at Deepdale for the second game in a row, Championship referee Jeremy Simpson.
Match Coverage
North End fans in the UK and Ireland can watch Saturday’s game live on iFollow PNE, with purchases of a £10 match pass available now.
Jonathan Breeze and former North End striker Brett Ormerod are on commentary duties, with replays, graphics and coverage from Deepdale from approximately 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon.
Click here now to sign up for a match pass
Linked Stories
Alex Neil Has Tunnel Vision On Luton Town: Preston North End manager Alex Neil says that anything on the periphery should not concern his side as they focus on the visit of Luton Town to Deepdale this weekend. Click here for the full interview.
A Match To Remember: We go back 15 years for our feature today, which saw the Lilywhites earn their biggest ever win over the Hatters. Click here for the details.
Sepp van den Berg Enjoying Right Back Role: Preston North End’s on loan Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg is enjoying the game time he is getting and his role on the right side of the Lilywhites’ back line. Click here for Sepp’s thoughts.
The One And Only Issue 19: This weekend’s edition of The One And Only matchday programme sees defender Andrew Hughes as the cover star. Click here for more information and to order your copy.
A Foot In Both Camps: To look ahead to the Lilywhites’ match against Luton Town this weekend, iFollow PNE caught up with a former player of both clubs, Keith Keane. Click here to read the interview.