Preston North End and Sheffield United head into Tuesday night’s Championship meeting at Deepdale in very different positions, with the two clubs experiencing contrasting fortunes in recent weeks.

While the Blades are beginning to build some momentum under Chris Wilder, Graham Alexander’s Preston are desperately searching for a result to lift them away from the bottom of the table.

Preston North End Struggling Under Alexander

It has been a difficult start to life under Alexander, with Preston suffering another setback at the weekend after a 2-0 defeat away to Stoke City.

The Lilywhites have now lost four of their last five league matches, with their performances offering little encouragement that a turnaround is imminent.

Their problems in front of goal have been particularly concerning. Preston have struggled to create consistent opportunities, while defensive mistakes have continued to prove costly.

Sitting at the foot of the Championship table, North End are already playing catch-up and need to start picking up points quickly if they are to avoid being dragged further away from safety.

Deepdale could provide the platform for a response, but Alexander needs a significant improvement from his players.

Sheffield United Looking Dangerous

In contrast, Sheffield United arrive in Lancashire with a much more positive outlook.

Wilder’s side secured a 1-0 victory over Wrexham on Friday night, with Ben Brereton Díaz scoring the decisive goal at Bramall Lane.

That result extended their unbeaten league run to three matches, following victories over Bristol City and a draw against Derby County.

The Blades have collected 10 points from their last five Championship fixtures, a significant improvement after a difficult opening to the campaign.

They currently sit in 10th place and are beginning to close the gap on the play-off positions, with their recent results suggesting they are starting to find some consistency.

There is still plenty of work to do, but Sheffield United look a considerably more confident side than the one that struggled during the opening weeks.

Another Chance to Make Things Right for Preston

The contrast between the two sides could hardly be clearer.

Preston need a response after a miserable run of results, while Sheffield United have the opportunity to continue their climb towards the top half of the table.

Alexander will be aware of the threat Wilder’s side pose, particularly with the likes of Jordan Ayew, Tom Cannon and Brereton Díaz offering plenty of quality in attack.

For North End, this is another opportunity to show that their season can still be salvaged. However, based on the recent performances of both sides, the visitors will travel to Deepdale with considerably more confidence.