Middlesbrough vs Preston North End Prediction: Preston lost three times in four games

Middlesbrough awaits host to Preston North End on Game Week 5 of the English Championship. Preston has lost three times in four matches in the Championship. Who will win after 90 minutes?

Middlesbrough had a mixed bag to open the season on, being quite promising in the first two matches, although that easily turned for the worst as they entered into the international break. The home match ended with a hard-fought draw against Portsmouth, where a penalty was netted only in injury time. They lost poorly 5-0 to Stoke City in the second round of the EFL Cup, a blow for Michael Carrick's side.

However, in a timely boost for supporters, Boro did very well in their last game, witnessing a much-needed victory at the road in South Wales when two second-half goals send their visitors, Cardiff City packing. The win is a crucial one for Boro, who have had a hard time scoring going into the game, managing just one goal from open play over seven halves of football - a worrying trend that Carrick was itching to reverse after a slow start last season.

At present, the team of Middlesbrough are only three points away from second placed West Bromwich Albion and another win would definitely reinforce them in the table as well as gain pace with early leaders.

Dieng; Dijksteel, Ayling, Clarke, Borges; Morris, Hackney; Jones, Conway, Azaz; Burgzorg

Preston North End got off to a flying start under new head coach Paul Heckingbottom, racking up successive victories together with consecutive clean sheets. It began with a nicely taken 1-0 win against Luton Town in the Championship and then an emphatic 5-0 success over Harrogate Town in the EFL Cup.

However, a 3-1 defeat at Oxford United halted momentum as they took an early lead in the third minute. That, however, is the game which loudly reminded Heckingbottom of the problems his team faced at the beginning of the season when they were beaten in their opening two games in the Championship and then conceded five goals in those matches.

It is hereby underlined that Heeckingbottom will struggle to deliver consistency into this team to make them push for a table.

Woodman; Storey, Whatmough, Hughes; Potts, Thordarson, Whiteman, Greenwood, Kesler-Hayden; Osmajic, Riis

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick will be expected to stick with the same collection of players that emerged with a 1-0 victory at Cardiff during the international break, unless he suffers a new injury issue. The new signings George Edmundson from Ipswich Town and Ben Doak from Liverpool are likely to enter the team as benchwarmers. Rav van den Berg, Lukas Engel, and Jonny Howson are likely to rejoin the team after returning from different injuries.

Preston Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom will have a change up his sleeve at least, as Liam Lindsay is suspended for Preston after picking up two yellows in the loss at Oxford. Whatmough will come in at centre-half. Holmes and Milutin Osmajic are both looking to work their way back into the squad in midfield and attack. Heckingbottom will feel that his team can look forward to getting a few games under their belts after the break.

However, Preston have prepared well and will be confident to add another victory at home to the scoreline, which they could have to work hard for in this challenge against a determined Preston team.