Match

Middlesbrough vs Preston: prediction and stats

ChampionshipRegular Season - 25Kick-off on January 1, 2027 at 03:00 PM (UTC)Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

MiddlesbroughPreston

The Footlab AI model makes Middlesbrough the favourite at 71%, against 18% for a draw and 11% for Preston. The most likely score is 2-0.

Footlab AI's cards found the right outcome in 54.6% of the 2,366 matches already evaluated, against 33.3% for random guessing. See the measured accuracy

Probabilities recomputed on Oct 14, 2026. The full match card is recomputed continuously until kick-off.

Who will win Middlesbrough vs Preston?

Middlesbrough starts as the favourite with a 240-point Elo edge (2,009 vs 1,769).

71%18%11%
Middlesbrough winDrawPreston win

Computed by the Footlab AI model from our own data only, with no AI analysis.

See the probabilities after AI analysisThe AI adds press reports and last-minute absences, in the Footlab AI app. Sign-in required.

Probable lineup for Middlesbrough vs Preston

Computed by Footlab AI from our own data only: recent lineups, squads and known absences. It does not take the press or last-minute absences into account.

Middlesbrough

3-4-2-1
  1. 7W. Lankshear
  1. 2C. Brittain
  2. 10A. Morris
  3. 11A. Cozier-Duberry
  4. 30Neto Borges
  5. 6S. Berhalter
  6. 8R. McGree
  1. 29A. Malanda
  2. 4A. Phillips
  3. 12L. Ayling
  1. 1R. Vítek

Preston

3-4-2-1
  1. 10C. Lang
  1. 7A. Devine
  2. 15J. Thompson
  3. 27L. Leroy
  4. 17S. Mills
  5. 20L. Gibbs
  6. 11T. Small
  1. 14J. Storey
  2. 24O. Offiah
  3. 16A. Hughes
  1. 1D. Iversen

Computed on October 14, 2026 at 10:19 AM (UTC).

See the lineup updated by the AIPress reports and last-minute absences, in the Footlab AI app. Sign-in required.

What is the recent form of both teams?

Over their last 15 matches in all competitions, Middlesbrough have 8 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats; Preston have 1, 2 and 12.

The competition is shown for every match: in pre-season, several of these games are friendlies.

Middlesbrough
DateOpponentScoreCompetition
Oct 13, 2026Stoke City(away)3-2Championship
Oct 10, 2026Wolves(home)1-0Championship
Sep 19, 2026Birmingham(away)2-2Championship
Sep 15, 2026Millwall(home)2-2Championship
Sep 12, 2026Norwich(home)4-3Championship
Preston
DateOpponentScoreCompetition
Oct 13, 2026Birmingham(away)0-4Championship
Oct 10, 2026Millwall(home)0-1Championship
Sep 19, 2026QPR(away)2-2Championship
Sep 12, 2026Lincoln(home)0-1Championship
Sep 8, 2026Watford(away)1-2Championship

What does the head-to-head say?

Across the last 6 meetings: 2 Middlesbrough wins, 2 draws, 2 Preston wins.

DateScoreCompetition
Jan 24, 2026Middlesbrough 4-0 PrestonChampionship
Sep 13, 2025Preston 2-2 MiddlesbroughChampionship
Jan 25, 2025Preston 2-1 MiddlesbroughChampionship
Sep 14, 2024Middlesbrough 1-1 PrestonChampionship
Feb 14, 2024Preston 2-1 MiddlesbroughChampionship
Nov 28, 2023Middlesbrough 4-0 PrestonChampionship

Last archived meeting: Middlesbrough vs Preston on Jan 24, 2026

How many goals should we expect?

Middlesbrough score 1.9 and concede 1.5 goals per match over their last 15; Preston score 0.7 and concede 2.1. The model gives a 61% probability of over 2.5 goals and 51% for both teams to score.

ClubGoals scored / matchGoals conceded / matchClean sheetsBoth teams scoredOver 2.5 goals
Middlesbrough1.91.5311/1510/15
Preston0.72.108/1510/15

Over the last 15 matches in all competitions.

Where do both teams sit in the table?

Middlesbrough sit 2nd in Championship (21 points from 10 matches) and Preston sit 24th (4 points from 10 matches).

2026-27 standings
#ClubPWDLGFGAPts
2Middlesbrough10631201421
24Preston101188204

A question about Middlesbrough vs Preston?

Ask Footlab AI: lineups, absences, player form, stats, how the match could unfold.

Sign-in required. No odds displayed, no affiliation: the method is published and the accuracy is measured.

How does Footlab AI compute this prediction?

The model combines both teams' Elo ratings (anchored by competition pool), their recent form weighted by opponent strength, home advantage and a Poisson matrix for scorelines. When bookmakers publish odds for the match, their consensus is built into the calculation: that is what proved most accurate on past matches. Its accuracy is measured continuously on the predictions actually published. Methodology and measured accuracy

Frequently asked questions

Who is the favourite for Middlesbrough vs Preston?
The Footlab AI model makes Middlesbrough the favourite at 71%, against 18% for a draw and 11% for Preston.
Where and when is Middlesbrough vs Preston played?
Middlesbrough vs Preston is played on January 1, 2027 at 03:00 PM (UTC) at Riverside Stadium, in the Championship.
Will there be over 2.5 goals?
The Footlab AI model gives a 61% probability of at least three goals in this match.
How reliable is this prediction?
Footlab AI's cards found the right outcome (home win, draw or away win) in 54.6% of the matches already evaluated, against 33.3% for random guessing, a level comparable with the bookmakers' favourite. The comparison with bookmakers and the breakdown by competition and Elo gap are published on the accuracy page.

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Next match: Middlesbrough and Preston

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