Statistical Preview: Preston North End vs. Hull City

Preston North End is set to host Hull City at Deepdale in a significant encounter between two teams positioned in the lower half of the league standings. This match marks Ruben Selles’ fourth game at the helm for the Tigers, following their recent triumph over Swansea City on Saturday. Preston, currently 18th in the Championship table, holds a four-point advantage over Hull, despite having secured only one victory in their last five fixtures. Historically, Preston North End has failed to score in their last four league matches against Hull City. However, during this same period, they have only conceded a single goal, resulting in three draws and one loss. Furthermore, the two most recent league meetings between Preston and Hull held at Deepdale have concluded without any goals, a frequency higher than observed in the initial 30 encounters between these clubs in Preston, where only one goalless draw occurred in 1983. On Boxing Day last year, Preston North End secured a 2-1 victory against Leeds United. The club’s most recent consecutive wins on December 26 occurred in 2013, with a 1-0 win against Carlisle, and in 2014, also with a 1-0 win against Barnsley. Hull City’s sole victory in their previous six Boxing Day fixtures was an away triumph against Preston in 2018, achieved during Nigel Adkins’ tenure, alongside two draws and three defeats. Paul Heckingbottom, associated with Preston, has maintained an unbeaten streak in his last three league encounters against Hull, recording two wins and one draw. His last defeat against them was a 1-0 loss while managing Barnsley in October 2017.