Following the postponement of the midweek trip to Southampton, North End are back at Deepdale on Saturday to take on Stoke City.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 9th March, 3pm kick-off
Venue: Deepdale
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Home kit
Supporter Information
Tickets for this fixture will remain on sale up until kick-off online, over the phone on 0344 856 1966, and in person from the ticket office.
North End fans can go to The Gentry Bar from 11am for drinks and live entertainment ahead of kick-off, and it will then reopen after the full-time whistle.
Supporters can use the matchday shuttle bus to get to and from the stadium, with the service running from Leyland through Bamber Bridge on its way to Deepdale. Return tickets cost £6 on-board and timings are as follows:
Leyland Tesco (Stop A – Car Park) – 1.20pm
The Railway Pub, Leyland – 1.30pm
Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge – 1.35pm
Beam and Brycg Pub, Bamber Bridge – 1.40pm
Arrive at Deepdale, Lowthorpe Road – 2pm
This fixture will be dedicated to the Her Game Too campaign, which tackles sexist abuse in sport, and almost 100 females have been invited to partake in various activities throughout the day, including a pre-match guard of honour and half-time penalty shootout.
Who’s Available?
Brad Potts is back in training after missing the last four matches through injury, although Saturday may come slightly too soon for his return.
Ched Evans is still unavailable and expecting to be back in a couple of weeks, but other than the forward it’s a fully-fit squad.
Andrew Hughes became a first-time dad during the week and would have missed the Southampton match, however he’s been back in training on Thursday and Friday and will be in contention this weekend.
Opposition Focus
Stoke City arrive at Deepdale on Saturday in need of points, sitting 22nd in the table and right in the middle of a relegation fight involving a number of teams.
The Potters have won only twice since the turn of the year, although victory over Middlesbrough last weekend and their performance against promotion-pushing Leeds United during the week have offered signs of encouragement.
Former North End midfielder Ben Pearson will miss a return to Deepdale this weekend due to two yellow cards at Elland Road, while PNE legend Paul Gallagher will be in the dugout and former Player of the Year winner Daniel Iversen in between the sticks.
A Recent Clash
A Will Keane double in front of a sold-out away end in Stoke took North End to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table in September.
Follow The Action
Supporters worldwide can listen to the match live on iFollow PNE, with commentary coming from Jonathan Breeze and Andy Fensome. Match passes are available for £2.50 and monthly passes for £4.49.
Fans overseas can also watch live, with match passes priced at £10.
Extensive coverage of the match can be followed across the club’s social media channels and here on the website.
Match Officials
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Matthew Jones and Adam Crysell
Fourth Official: Jeremy Simpson
North End will be refereed by Josh Smith for the fifth time this season on Saturday.
His last PNE match was the Boxing Day victory over Leeds United, and in total this season he’s taken charge of 28 matches, showing 110 yellow cards and six reds.
