Southampton Aims to Narrow Championship Gap Against Struggling Preston
Southampton seeks to reduce the gap at the top of the Championship table when they face Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday at 15:00 GMT.
Currently, Preston finds itself in dire straits, sitting at the bottom of the league with a daunting 10-point deficit from safety after suffering a 3-2 home defeat to Sheffield United on Tuesday. The team has managed to secure only one point in their last six matches under the management of Graham Alexander.
In contrast, Southampton sits four points shy of the top position, ranked seventh after a 1-1 draw against West Brom on Tuesday. This result marked the continuation of an unbeaten streak for the Saints, as they have not lost in their last six games, garnering a total of 14 points during this period.
The statistics favor Southampton, as Preston has won just one out of their last six encounters against them in league play, with four losses and one draw. Additionally, Preston has not emerged victorious in their last three home matches against Southampton, posting one draw and two losses during this stretch.
In the previous meeting at Deepdale, Southampton claimed a 3-1 victory last season. Historically, the Saints have only managed to secure consecutive away league wins against Preston on one occasion, back in the 1928/1929 season.
Moreover, Preston’s struggles are highlighted by a disappointing record of just one win in their last 15 league matches, with two draws to accompany their 12 losses. This situation marks the latest point in a season that they have occupied the bottom position in the Championship since the 2010-11 season.
Southampton’s recent forward play has seen a decline, as they failed to score in their first two league matches of 2026. However, they have since registered goals in all but one of their last 34 games, with the exception being a goalless draw against Bolton last month.
Finn Azaz, a promising player for Southampton, had a strong start to the season, contributing to eight goals in his first nine Championship appearances, with three goals and five assists. However, he has not scored or assisted in the last five matches.
