FA Cup | Fifth Round

Mar 1, 2025 at 12.15pm UK

Deepdale

Preston vs Burnley

Match preview

Preston's winless run in the Championship stretches to three games since a 0-0 draw at home to Burnley on 15 February, having drawn 1-1 with Millwall four days earlier and lost 2-1 at Coventry City last weekend.

Will Keane's 82nd-minute strike proved inconsequential at the CBS Arena as the Lilywhites were condemned to a 10th Championship defeat, leaving them 15th in the table and nine points adrift of the play-off places with 12 league games remaining.

A 10th successive mid-table finish in the second tier looks on the cards for Preston, who will now turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they will be looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1965-66 season, having exited in the fifth round on six occasions since then.

Paul Heckingbottom's side have beaten two League One sides on home soil to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, beating Charlton Athletic 2-1 in the third round and Wycombe Wanderers 4-2 on penalties in the fourth round after a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes.

Two-time FA Cup winners Preston are preparing for their third meeting with fellow Championship side Burnley this season, having already played out two goalless draws; never before have these teams drawn three times against the same opponents in the same season.

Burnley's last league defeat came on 3 November last year and Scott Parker's side have since gone on an impressive 23-match unbeaten run (W14 D9).

Remarkably, the Clarets have conceded just nine goals in 34 league games, the fewest of any team in the English top flight or in the top two divisions in Spain, Germany, Italy and France. Burnley kept their 12th successive clean sheet and 24th of the season in an emphatic 4-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday a week ago Friday.

Burnley's home supporters were delighted to see their side win in convincing fashion for a change, with the win over the Owls their fourth by at least three goals this season. Parker's side remain in contention for the Championship's automatic promotion spot, sitting third in the table and just two points behind second-placed Sheffield United.

Ahead of their next game in the second tier against basement club Luton Town, Burnley turn their attention to the FA Cup, where the 1913-14 winners will be looking to reach the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons.

Burnley have won two away FA Cup games this season, beating Reading 3-1 after extra time in the third round and Southampton 1-0 in the fourth round, but they go into Saturday's clash at Deepdale having lost six of their last seven FA Cup fifth round ties.

Recent Performance

Preston North End FA Cup form:WW

Preston North End form (all competitions):LWWDDL

Burnley FA Cup form:WW

Burnley form (all competitions):DWWWDW

Team News

Preston will be without Duane Holmes (broken fibula), Jordan Storey, Ben Whiteman (both ankle) and Jack Whatmough (calf) through injury, while Mads Frokjaer is a doubt after missing the last game with a knock.

January loan signing Ryan Porteous is ineligible having already played for Watford this season, meaning Liam Lindsay could return to the back three alongside Lewis Gibson and Andrew Hughes.

Milutin Osmajic and Sam Greenwood have scored 19 goals between them this season and could continue in attack, although Emil Riis Jakobsen, who has nine goals to his name this term, will be pushing for a recall.

For Burnley, Jordan Beyer, Aaron Ramsey (both knees) and Mike Tresor (undisclosed) remain unavailable, while Bashir Humphreys will be assessed before kick-off with a thigh problem.

Parker will look to make a number of changes to his starting line-up, with goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky, Oliver Sonne, Joe Worrall, Josh Brownhill, Jonjo Shelvey and Jeremy Sarmiento among those hoping to force their way back into the first XI.

New signing Marcus Edwards scored the only goal in Burnley's fourth-round win at Southampton and also netted in the Championship win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out. The attacker could retain his place on the right flank, while Parker will consider whether to stick with Zian Flemming up front or give Ashley Barnes a start.

Possible starting lineup

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Lindsay, Gibson, Hughes; Potts, Ledson, McCann, Thordarson, Meghoma; Riis, Osmajic

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Sonne, Worrall, Esteve, Pires; Cullen, Brownhill; Edwards, Mejbri, Sarmiento; Barnes