The two sides are separated by 10 points with derby having registered 56 points and Preston on 46. Derby managed to hold onto their playoff spot with a win over struggling Reading and will be hoping to rise a place higher when they take the trip to Deepdale Stadium on Friday. Preston on their part, have had a mixed season, managing just nine wins in 29 matches and managed to rise two places up, to 16th with a win over 15th placed Stoke City and their aim will be to move further away from the drop zone, which is now 10 points below them. The big problem with Preston is a poor run at home; that has cost them quite some valuable points, and their elimination from the FA Cup also came at home. They have not won any of their last four home matches and they get to play a Derby side that has played the last two FA Cup games away and sailed through after seeing of Southampton and Accrington Stanley. Derby have however not been at their very best when playing Championship matches away from home in the recent past, with two wins and three losses in the last five and no clean sheet. In four of the five, they have conceded twice or more. Preston too, have been having defensive issues in their home matches, and have no clean sheet in the last nine matches at Deepdale Stadium. In the Championship, Preston have scored more than Derby (45 goals) but they have also conceded the same number of goals and Derby beats them on the defensive front, having let in 35 goals after scoring 40. Derby are unbeaten in 11 matches against Preston, winning eight of those while none of the last six has had over 2.5 goals.
The two sides are separated by 10 points with derby having registered 56 points and Preston on 46. Derby managed to hold onto their playoff spot with a win over struggling Reading and will be hoping to rise a place higher when they take the trip to Deepdale Stadium on Friday. Preston on their part, have had a mixed season, managing just nine wins in 29 matches and managed to rise two places up, to 16th with a win over 15th placed Stoke City and their aim will be to move further away from the drop zone, which is now 10 points below them. The big problem with Preston is a poor run at home; that has cost them quite some valuable points, and their elimination from the FA Cup also came at home. They have not won any of their last four home matches and they get to play a Derby side that has played the last two FA Cup games away and sailed through after seeing of Southampton and Accrington Stanley. Derby have however not been at their very best when playing Championship matches away from home in the recent past, with two wins and three losses in the last five and no clean sheet. In four of the five, they have conceded twice or more. Preston too, have been having defensive issues in their home matches, and have no clean sheet in the last nine matches at Deepdale Stadium. In the Championship, Preston have scored more than Derby (45 goals) but they have also conceded the same number of goals and Derby beats them on the defensive front, having let in 35 goals after scoring 40. Derby are unbeaten in 11 matches against Preston, winning eight of those while none of the last six has had over 2.5 goals.