Leeds United travel to Deepdale on Tuesday night, to take on Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship.  After losing Simon Grayson to Sunderland last summer, former Norwich City manager Alex Neil was named as his successor.  This season, Preston have found themselves in the top half and pushing for the Play-Off spots all season.  They currently sit six points outside the top six, with five games to play, so the Lilywhites will be looking to make up ground starting in this midweek fixture.  However, with Preston suffering  three successive defeats in the Championship, Leeds will be looking to pounce.

League position

Preston North End: 11th

Leeds United: 13th

Recent form

Preston North End: LWLLL

Leeds United: DLWLD

Head to head

Preston North End wins: 23 

Draws: 12

Leeds United wins: 20

Last time at Deepdale

Monday 26^th December 2016

Sky Bet Championship

Preston North End 1 (Vermijl 27) Leeds United 4 (Roofe 17, Sacko 23, Doukara 31, Hernandez 88)

Preston: Maxwell, Baptiste, Clarke, Huntington, Cunningham, Vermijl, Pearson, Browne, Johnson (Doyle 81), Robinson (Beckford 66) Makienok (Hugill 66).  Subs not used: Lindegaard, Wright, Spurr, Pringle.

Leeds: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi, Phillips, Bridcutt, Dallas, Sacko (Hernandez 54), Roofe (Antonsson 85), Doukara (Wood 81).  Subs not used: Silvesrti, Cooper, Vieira, Denton.

Attendance: 21,255

Leeds United supporters were given a late Christmas present when the Whites recorded their biggest win of the 2016/17 season away at Preston North End on Boxing Day.  Kemar Roofe headed Leeds into an early lead, before the attacker turned provider to send through Hadi Sacko who doubled the lead.  Preston pulled a goal back through Marnick Vermijl, but Souleymane Doukara soon restored United’s two goal cushion with a fine solo goal.  Former Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford saw red for the hosts, just five minutes after coming on as a substitute, before Pablo Hernandez, making his return from injury sealed the win.

Team news

Leeds will be without defender Gaetano Berardi for the rest of the season after he was sent off against Sunderland, picking up a five match ban.  Young defender Paudie O'Connor is likely to keep his place, whilst Kemar Roofe could start after returning from injury against the Black Cats.  Preston are likely to name an unchanged squad from their 1-0 defeat at Reading on Saturday.

The key battle

Declan Rudd v Bailey Peacock-Farrell

Both goalkeepers have established themselves as starters for Preston and Leeds respectively since the turn of the year.  After making starts against Wycombe Wanderers and Sheffield United in the FA Cup, Rudd made his first league start against Nottingham Forest on the 30th January and hasn't looked back since.  Peacock-Farrell was handed an opportunity by Paul Heckingbottom in March and has produced some fine performances, including a man of the match display against Sunderland last time out.

Betting odds with Ladbrokes

Preston North End: 3/4

Draw: 11/4

Leeds United: 4/1 

(Odds correct at time of article published)

Click here to bet now.

LUTV

Fans outside of the UK and Ireland can watch Tuesday's game with Preston live on LUTV, with pre-match build up and post match interviews and analysis.  Fans in the UK and Ireland can listen to live commentary with Thom Kirwin and Eddie Gray on LUTV.  Build up will begin from 6:45pm. Click here to subscribe now.

Tickets

Preston have confirmed tickets will be on sale to Leeds United supporters at Deepdale on the evening of the game.  The Away Ticket Office at the Bill Shankly Kop will be open from 6pm.