Preston North End will be celebrating Gentry Day this weekend as they see in the international break with an away trip to Middlesbrough.
Match Information
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Date: Saturday 18th March, 3pm kick-off
Competition: Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 38/46)
Kit: Home kit – available in-store and online!
Supporter Information
Subject to availability, tickets will remain on sale from www.mypne.com until 2pm on Friday, while sales will continue in person and over the phone on 0344 856 1966 until 5pm.
Tickets will also be available on the day from the away ticket office from 1.30pm on matchday, but please note only cash payments will be accepted. Any supporters collecting duplicate or pre-paid tickets can do so at the away ticket office.
There is a prayer room situated in the East Stand at the Riverside Stadium, close to the away end of the ground. Any PNE fans looking to use the prayer room are advised to speak to their nearest steward, and they will be able to escort supporters to and from their seat.
How To Follow The Game
This match has been selected for international broadcast and therefore will be unavailable to watch on iFollow PNE in the majority of regions worldwide. Supporters are advised to check their local listings to see if the match is available to watch in their area.
Live audio commentary will be available as usual, though, with Guy Clarke and David Buchanan on the mic. You can buy an audio match pass for £2.50 or an audio monthly pass for £4.49 by clicking here.
There will also be the usual coverage of the match across our social media channels and here on PNE.Com.
In The Dressing Room
After returning to the bench from injury for the midweek victory over Rotherham United, defender Andrew Hughes will be available once again this weekend.
Liam Lindsay, who has been nursing a slight injury in recent weeks, is back on the grass but is unlikely to be in contention for Saturday’s game.
Elsewhere, midfielder Ali McCann is making good progress and could be back before initially expected.
A Look At Our Hosts
In the reverse fixture between PNE and Middlesbrough earlier in the season, the Teessiders arrived at Deepdale dangerously close to the drop zone and under brand new management in Michael Carrick.
It has been some turnaround since that point, though, with Boro having picked up 47 points in their 20 games following their defeat in PR1.
That’s a run which has seen them surge from the depths of the division right up to the top, and they are now well within a chance of pipping Sheffield United to second spot – currently sat six points behind the Blades.
Going Head To Head
Games played: 106
PNE wins: 34
Draws: 26
Middlesbrough wins: 46
Last meeting: PNE 2-1 Middlesbrough, 29th October 2022
One To Watch
You’ll do well to find a striker in better form than Chuba Akpom right now, with the Boro attacker having netted 24 goals in just 32 games so far this season.
He’s been in red-hot form all campaign and he’s showing no signs of slowing down either, with ten goals in his last nine games.
Akpom – who came through the Arsenal Academy – has been playing just off of main striker Cameron Archer in recent weeks, a man PNE know well from his exploits on loan at Deepdale last term.
Match Officials
Matt Donohue will referee his second PNE game of the season this weekend.
His previous time taking charge of a North End fixture was a home defeat to Stoke City in October 2022, but he was on fourth official duties during the week as Ryan Lowe’s side beat Rotherham United.
So far this season, Donohue has taken charge of 28 matches, brandishing 98 yellow cards and two reds.