EFL Championship – Gameweek 25
Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
Kick-off: 3:00 PM GMT
Venue: Deepdale, Preston
Preston vs Sheffield Wednesday Prediction
Preston sit 7th in the Championship with around 37 points from 24 matches, firmly in the playoff race despite an inconsistent festive period that included a draw against Stoke and a defeat to Wrexham. At home, the Lilywhites remain difficult to beat and will view this fixture as a must-win opportunity to stay in the promotion conversation.
Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of the table in 24th place, severely affected by an 18-point deduction due to administration and financial issues. The Owls are winless in 17 league games, although recent draws suggest some fight remains despite a depleted squad and off-field turmoil.
Recent head-to-head meetings favour Preston, who won the reverse fixture 3-2 in November 2025 and have taken victory in the last two encounters.
Preston North End Team News & Standout Players
Standout Players
- Top goalscorer: Daniel Jebbison (5 goals)
- Most assists: Lewis Dobbin (5 assists)
- Most suspended: Andrew Hughes (8 matches)
- Most minutes played: Daniel Iversen (2,160 minutes)
Injuries & Suspensions
Preston are dealing with several injury concerns:
- Lewis Dobbin – Muscle injury
- Andrija Vukcevic – Hamstring injury (late January 2026)
- Stefan Thordarson – Heel injury
- Lewis Gibson – Muscle injury (late February 2026)
- Robbie Brady – Calf injury (mid-January 2026)
The return of Ben Whiteman from suspension and Brad Potts and Will Keane from long-term injuries offers a timely boost.
Sheffield Wednesday Team News & Standout Players
Standout Players
- Top goalscorer: Barry Bannan (3 goals)
- Most assists: Barry Bannan (3 assists)
- Most suspended: Barry Bannan (7 matches)
- Most minutes played: Barry Bannan (2,008 minutes)
Injuries & Absences
Wednesday face a major injury crisis:
- George Brown – Hamstring injury (late January 2026)
- Iké Ugbo – Hamstring injury (late January 2026)
- Max Lowe – Calf injury (late January 2026)
- Nathaniel Chalobah – Hamstring injury (early February 2026)
- Ernie Weaver – Foot injury
- Guilherme Siqueira – Achilles injury
- Olaf Kobacki – Groin injury (mid-January 2026)
- Di’Shon Bernard – Knee injury (mid-January 2026)
- International duty: Yan Valery, Sean Fusire
With limited senior options, the Owls are expected to rely heavily on youth players once again.
Predicted Lineups
Preston North End (3-4-2-1):
Iversen; Offiah, Storey, Lindsay; Potts, Whiteman, Armstrong, Small; Devine, Smith; Keane
Sheffield Wednesday (3-4-3 / 5-3-2):
Beadle; Palmer, Emery, Cooper, Johnson, Amass; Bannan, Ingelsson; Lowe, Brown, Cadamarteri
Our Prediction
Preston enter this clash as clear favourites. Their home strength, superior squad depth, and positive recent record against Sheffield Wednesday contrast sharply with the Owls’ injury hit squad and ongoing off field struggles.
Predicted Score:
Preston North End 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Best betting angles:
- Preston to win
- Under 3.5 goals
Preston should have enough quality and control to secure a comfortable victory and keep their playoff push firmly on track.