Championship 25/26 · 24 Jan 2026

Middlesbrough 4–0 Preston North End

Expected and what happened

Before the match, from team ratings for Dec 2025; the outlined result is what happened.

Footybot made Middlesbrough favourites at 58%.

Middlesbrough won and made the better chances: 2.9 xG to 0.4.

Best on the pitch by Footybot's score: Tommy Conway, 61.2 in 61′.

Well above their usual level: Tommy Conway +19.7, Pol Valentín +14.8, Ben Whiteman +11.9.

Well below it: Jordan Storey −20.2, Adilson Malanda −14.9, Lewis Gibson −12.5.

Each side's last five results before this match.

21 Jan 2026	W 2–1	at Stoke City Championship
16 Jan 2026	W 3–2	at West Bromwich Albion Championship
4 Jan 2026	W 4–0	v Southampton Championship
1 Jan 2026	L 0–1	at Derby County Championship
29 Dec 2025	L 0–1	v Hull City Championship

20 Jan 2026	L 0–3	v Hull City Championship
17 Jan 2026	L 0–1	v Derby County Championship
4 Jan 2026	W 2–0	at Bristol City Championship
1 Jan 2026	W 3–0	v Sheffield Wednesday Championship
29 Dec 2025	L 1–2	at Wrexham Championship

13 Sep 2025	Preston North End 2–2 Middlesbrough Championship

Player	Min	G	A	xG	Score	vs usual
Tommy Conway Forward	61	2	0	0.98	61.2	+19.7
Solomon Brynn Goalkeeper	90	0	0	–	50.5	−0.6
Dael Fry Defender	90	0	0	–	48.3	+0.5
Alexander Gilbert Midfielder	29	0	0	0.06	44.2	–
Aidan Morris Midfielder	61	0	0	0.03	42.2	−3.1
Delano Burgzorg Forward	29	0	0	–	41.8	–
Alan Browne Midfielder	90	1	0	1.23	38.8	−5.2
Finley Munroe Midfielder	9	0	0	–	38.2	–
Samuel Silvera Midfielder	30	0	0	–	36.2	–
Leo Castledine Midfielder	90	0	0	0.24	34.6	–
Luke Ayling Defender	90	0	1	0.05	32.3	−8.0
Riley McGree Midfielder	16	0	0	–	32.2	–
Morgan Whittaker Midfielder	90	1	0	0.19	31.5	−5.3
Adilson Malanda Defender	85	0	0	–	31.2	−14.9
Hayden Hackney Midfielder	74	0	0	0.08	31.1	−10.8
Matt Targett Defender	60	0	1	–	26.9	−8.9

Player	Min	xG	Score	vs usual
Ben Whiteman Midfielder	58	–	49.8	+11.9
Michael Smith Forward	14	–	43.8	–
Jordan Thompson Midfielder	32	–	43.0	–
Odeluga Offiah Defender	90	–	41.9	+4.1
Pol Valentín Defender	90	–	41.4	+14.8
Ali McCann Midfielder	90	0.04	40.5	−0.4
Alfie Devine Midfielder	58	0.06	39.9	+2.9
Daniel Jebbison Forward	76	0.24	39.4	−5.7
Lewis Dobbin Forward	58	–	38.8	+4.5
Jamal Lewis Midfielder	76	–	37.2	−0.9
Thierry Small Midfielder	32	–	36.8	–
Jack James Walton Goalkeeper	90	–	33.9	–
Mads Frøkjær Midfielder	32	–	30.1	–
Lewis Gibson Defender	90	–	28.3	−12.5
Andrija Vukčević Defender	14	–	27.2	–
Jordan Storey Defender	50	0.07	24.4	−20.2