Championship 06/03/2026 - MDT: Preston North End v Oxford United

[Gregortheox]

Come on it’s possible!!!!

 

[Northstandboy]

Deepdale
Friday 6th Mar 2026 @ 2000

 

[Yellows1]

Fancy us to win this, COYY’S

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Heckingbottom previews PNE v Oxford U

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Matt Bloomfield before PNE



Jack Currie on trip to Deepdale

 

[Berliner]

We have to be a bit more brave today. If we sit in and hope for a free-kick or corner (or play Vaulks and Brannagan together etc.) then we won't get much unless we get lucky. We have to try and force the issue and get on the front foot, take our chances when they come and support right from the back.

Honestly, I don't see us getting anything, but if we do then all bets are off in terms of staying up...building momentum is absolutely critical.

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

I certainly think we should (with the possible exception of Southampton away) view any draw as two points missed, in our current situation.

I've been working to (needing) 13 wins all season. I'm now pretty convinced that 12 does it. I would focus on that and ignore the draws.

I actually suspect (and feel free to bookmark) that someone will stay up this season with a sub-50 point total - typically the tally for survival is lower on a 'points deduction season'.

I can easily imagine a scenario whereby a couple of Leicester, West Brom, Portsmouth and Blackburn fail to get to 50.

5 more wins for us (12 wins in total) is 47 points (plus whatever draws). I would be surprised if that is not enough.

Five. More. Wins.

Simple.

 

[Londox]

I certainly think we should (with the possible exception of Southampton away) view any draw as two points missed, in our current situation.

I've been working to (needing) 13 wins all season. I'm now pretty convinced that 12 does it. I would focus on that and ignore the draws.

I actually suspect (and feel free to bookmark) that someone will stay up this season with a sub-50 point total - typically the tally for survival is lower on a 'points deduction season'.

I can easily imagine a scenario whereby a couple of Leicester, West Brom, Portsmouth and Blackburn fail to get to 50.

5 more wins for us (12 wins in total) is 47 points (plus whatever draws). I would be surprised if that is not enough.

Five. More. Wins.

Simple.

There's something about football where unless absolutely imperative in a league game players always seem to want to protect a point away from home

 

[Sarge]

feeling hopeful - battling, narrow away win , 0-1

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

There's something about football where unless absolutely imperative in a league game players always seem to want to protect a point away from home

Well that was certainly the mentality under Rowett.

But in such a close division, you need to take wins wherever you can. In recent weeks we've seen Portsmouth win back-to-back away games - and they needed to because their only home win this calendar year was v West Brom (sound familiar?).

Cardiff City are the ultimate cautionary tale. In 23/24 they lost 22 games but still finished in the top half (12th). The following season, in 24/25, they lost two fewer games - and finished bottom.

You simply can't draw your way to survival.

 

[Mr Perfect]

Need a win - a draw won't cut it at this stage in the season.

 

[SteMerritt]

feeling hopeful - battling, narrow away win , 0-1

Hopeful? You normally predict us getting at least a couple of goals, but now just a narrow 1-0.

@Sarge, this is as pessimistic as you've been for ages!

 

[GreenMachine]

It's a tough ask need at least a point to keep morale up. Our possession is so poor that every game is like a cup game I would love a win to put 2 wins together will be a massive boost at this time of the season.

1-0 win would be great would have to put in a Rowett like performance to pull it off these are better than west brom with that biter Osmajic back in the team particularly tough.

We can do it!

There is always 1 team in the bottom 3 that goes on a run at this time of the season let's hope it's us this year.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Must win or must not lose with Blackburn at our place on Wednesday?

 

[tomoufc]

I certainly think we should (with the possible exception of Southampton away) view any draw as two points missed, in our current situation.

I've been working to (needing) 13 wins all season. I'm now pretty convinced that 12 does it. I would focus on that and ignore the draws.

I actually suspect (and feel free to bookmark) that someone will stay up this season with a sub-50 point total - typically the tally for survival is lower on a 'points deduction season'.

I can easily imagine a scenario whereby a couple of Leicester, West Brom, Portsmouth and Blackburn fail to get to 50.

5 more wins for us (12 wins in total) is 47 points (plus whatever draws). I would be surprised if that is not enough.

Five. More. Wins.

Simple.

That's it. Get a win tonight, by any means necessary, and it's starting to look very achievable.

 

[Sarge]

Hopeful? You normally predict us getting at least a couple of goals, but now just a narrow 1-0.

@Sarge, this is as pessimistic as you've been for ages!

predicting a tough away win - it IS optomistically positive ( BTW I predicted 1-0 v WBA , soooo ... fingers crossed!)

 

[Eric Blair]

Hopeful? You normally predict us getting at least a couple of goals, but now just a narrow 1-0.

@Sarge, this is as pessimistic as you've been for ages!

This season it's been the @Sarge predictions that have kept me going

 

[windmill]

This season it's been the @Sarge predictions that have kept me going

You deserve this accolade Sarge. "never confrontational".

 

[Isle of Wight Yellow]

I think people understate the importance of draws.

First of all, obviously a draw is a point - if we’d managed to draw just 3 more of the 17 games we’ve lost this season then we wouldn’t be in the relegation zone. In fact if we’d drawn every single game so far this season we wouldn’t be in the relegation zone!

But also they give a psychological boost - we didn’t get beat, we’re not on a losing run, presumably there’s reduced negativity around the training ground.

Obviously a win is three times the points so it’s much better, but to keep the table ticking over, as long as you’re picking up wins as well, I don’t mind the odd draw…

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Horrid journey on a Friday night. I hope the 600 travelling away supporters are rewarded with a result.

 

[Gordon]

Got fingers, toes and everything else in-between crossed that we show up tonight, put in a good performance and come away with 3 points.

Preston are in poor form, and pretty much safe. It feels like this really should be one the games that we target to go out and win.

Personally, I'd go with the same starting 11 from the WBA win, no need to rush Spencer or McDonnell back in.

2-0 win - Lankshear and Cam with the goals let's start the weekend outside the relegation zone! COYY!!!

 

[The Voice Of Reason]

I love this forum it goes from all on negativity 2 weeks ago bar me and a hand full of others to now we can do it.

It was always possible and with a few wins we will be safe.

I think it's Leics and WBA to go down tho poss Portsmouth due to Thier injuries , or Blackburn due to end of new manager bounce but still think 1st 2.

Just imagine L1 next year with Leics, Blackburn prem winners, SW prem runners up.

Add to that poss WH and Spurs in championship

And

how the footballing world has changed

 

[Symp59]

What did Brian Clough say the best form of defense is Attack. I can't see that happening i think it will be more of the same .Low block hope to hit them on the break. They are a strong team ,alot of big lads we need to be hope for the physicality ,we need 10 Lankears tonight.

 

[uptheus]

Must win or must not lose with Blackburn at our place on Wednesday?

A win today would certainly take the pressure off for Wednesday’s game against Blackburn, but I’d take a draw today and a win on Wednesday if you offered it to me.

Win our home games and draw the away games and it wouldn’t be too far off.

Would like us to play a bit more on the front foot tonight/going forwards though, ala Wolves

 

[RgYellows]

What did Brian Clough say the best form of defense is Attack.

I do think that’s more true for a team with the quality to win the league. I don’t think Stoke was about wanting to play defensive, I think it was about not being able to get and keep the ball. Hopefully McDonnell, Prelec and Donley help start to change that.

 

[windmill]

A win today would certainly take the pressure off for Wednesday’s game against Blackburn, but I’d take a draw today and a win on Wednesday if you offered it to me.

Win our home games and draw the away games and it wouldn’t be too far off.

Would like us to play a bit more on the front foot tonight/going forwards though, ala Wolves

"Win at home and draw away"......That is promotion form!!...........is it too late?

 

[windmill]

Horrid journey on a Friday night. I hope the 600 travelling away supporters are rewarded with a result.

Aldi not too far from Deepdale should you want to top up with some celebratory "refreshment" on the homeward journey.

 

[Bodminyellow]

I think people understate the importance of draws.

First of all, obviously a draw is a point - if we’d managed to draw just 3 more of the 17 games we’ve lost this season then we wouldn’t be in the relegation zone. In fact if we’d drawn every single game so far this season we wouldn’t be in the relegation zone!

But also they give a psychological boost - we didn’t get beat, we’re not on a losing run, presumably there’s reduced negativity around the training ground.

Obviously a win is three times the points so it’s much better, but to keep the table ticking over, as long as you’re picking up wins as well, I don’t mind the odd draw…

Like the ones and twos in cricket rather than the boundaries.

 

[uptheus]

"Win at home and draw away"......That is promotion form!!...........is it too late?

Yes, unfortunately, but I’d take staying up!!

 

[Yellowecky]

Obviously hoping for a win but this game comes under the heading of ‘must not lose’ for me. I’d like us to be more attacking than GR and less gung ho than KR. We must not lose for the obvious reasons of wasting the West Brom result and losing any impetus that brought:

Preston North End 1 - Oxford United 2.

 

[Kamal]

Took me 3 and a half hours from Oxford with minimal traffic and I left at 10am! Good luck to those leaving later.