Preston North End
Wolverhampton Wanderers
>Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Predictions, Picks & Odds – 22/08/2026
Championship · 2Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers – Best bets of the match
Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview
Preston North End sit 17th in the Championship after losing their opener 2-1 away to Bolton Wanderers, extending a miserable run that has produced just three wins in 17 matches across all competitions. Manager Paul Heckingbottom faces mounting pressure at Deepdale. The defence has conceded in 17 consecutive games, shipping at least two goals in each of their last five league outings. Jusef Erabi, with two goals from the bench this season, is pushing for a start.
Wolverhampton Wanderers occupy 12th place after a 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers on the opening day, where Raul Jimenez rescued a point with a late penalty. Recently relegated from the Premier League, Wolves carry significant squad quality and are widely regarded as title contenders. Manager Cesar Peixoto has confirmed Jose Sa as his first-choice goalkeeper and demanded greater organisational discipline after his side lost control in the second half against Blackburn. New signing Jordan James could feature from the bench.
Preston's defensive record is alarming. They have conceded in 17 consecutive matches and shipped at least two goals in each of their last five Championship outings. That kind of vulnerability plays directly into the hands of Wolves, who boast serious attacking firepower through Raul Jimenez and Adam Armstrong. The away win at 1.90 represents our primary pick for this fixture.
Wolves drew their opener against Blackburn after losing concentration in the second half, but the quality gap between these two squads remains significant. Cesar Peixoto's side carry genuine promotion ambitions, and Preston under Paul Heckingbottom have shown little capacity to contain opponents consistently. With Jose Sa confirmed between the posts, Wolves should look more assured defensively than they did on Matchday 1.
Given both teams' leaky backlines, the goals market deserves attention. Preston have conceded freely while Jusef Erabi offers a genuine threat off the bench, and Wolves themselves conceded twice against Blackburn. Over 2.5 goals at N/A and both teams to score at 1.06 complement the away win selection nicely. Odds and markets subject to change.
Trends to Know about Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Preston conceded in 17 consecutive matches
- Wolves scored twice in opening fixture
- Preston won three of last seventeen matches
Form & Statistics: Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Preston North End
Recent form
Season statistics (2)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Recent form
Season statistics (5)
Lineups: Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Preston North End
Starters
- 1 Daniel Iversen
- 2 Andrew Hughes
- 3 Liam Lindsay
- 4 Jordan Storey
- 5 Odeluga Offiah
- 6 Alistair McCann
- 7 Jordan Thompson
- 8 Delano Burgzorg
- 9 Alfie Devine
- 10 Jusef Erabi
- 11 Milutin Osmajic
Bench
- Harry Clarke
- Leo Leroy
- Andrija Vukcevic
Absent
- Callum Lang (injury)
- Jamal Piaras Lewis (injury)
- Theo Carroll (injury)
- Lewis Gibson (Suspension (red card in Carabao Cup, serving second game of a three-match ban))
- Brad Potts (Injury)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Starters
- 1 Jose Sa
- 2 Jackson Tchatchoua
- 3 Nasser Djiga
- 4 Toti Gomes
- 5 Hugo Bueno
- 6 André Trindade
- 7 Marshall Munetsi
- 8 Fer López
- 9 Rodrigo Gomes
- 10 Raul Jimenez
- 11 Adam Armstrong
Bench
- Jordan James
- Matheus Mane
- Santiago Bueno
Absent
- Sam Johnstone (injury)
- Sasa Kalajdzic (injury)
- Enso González (injury)
- Mario Lemina (injury)
- Kieran Trippier (Injury (suffered against Blackburn, expected to miss at least a month))
- Yerson Mosquera (Injury (hamstring, MCL, ACL suffered against Blackburn, requires surgery, out for at least a month, potentially 4-5 months))
- Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Injury)
- Rafiki (Rayan Saïd) (Unavailable/Injury)
Medium confidence
A 4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1 mirror match sets up a tactically intriguing Championship clash at Deepdale. Preston's structure relies on compactness and transition, with Milutin Osmajic as the focal point up top, while Wolves look to build through the lines and exploit wider areas.
Wolves carry the stronger source confidence here, with three outlets backing their probable XI against Preston's two. Raul Jimenez leads the Wanderers attack and will be the key threat for Ryan Lowe's side to contain if Preston are to take anything from this second-round fixture.
How to Watch Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Match?
What time is Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers?
Preston North End host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Deepdale on Saturday, 22 August 2026, with kickoff set for 15:00.
Where is Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers being played?
This Championship fixture takes place at Deepdale, the home ground of Preston North End.
How Can I Watch Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers on TV and Live Stream?
Check local listings for Championship broadcast coverage of Preston North End vs Wolverhampton Wanderers in your region.