Stoke City 2-0 Preston North End: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Stoke City won it

Stoke City struck first through Ben Wilmot in the 29th minute, set up by Jack McGlynn. Jack McGlynn made it 2-0 to Stoke City in the 53rd minute, set up by Ethan Galbraith.

It was 1-0 at half-time.

The referee, A. Herczeg, showed 4 yellow cards: 2 to Stoke City and 2 to Preston North End.

Stoke City: M. Robins, 3-4-3 · Preston North End: G. Alexander, 3-4-3.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

The prediction got the result right. Before kick-off Moneyball made a Stoke City win the most likely outcome at 53%, and that is what happened, though the most likely score was 2-1 rather than 2-0.

On goals the estimate was close: about 2.8 expected, 2 scored.

Over 2.5 goals had been put at 52%; with 2 goals the under came in, against the way the estimate leaned.

Both teams to score was 54%; they did not both score, against the estimate.

Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-31, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 0.13 for Stoke City and 2.17 for Preston North End.

Stoke City scored about 1.9 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Preston North End left about 2.2 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Preston North End created the better chances, 2.17 xG to 0.13, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

The run of play itself went against the pre-match reading: Moneyball expected Stoke City to create more, and Preston North End did.

Stoke City had 6 shots on target, Preston North End 0.

Stoke City had 60% of the ball and turned it into the win.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Stoke City came into it with 15 Championship matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.2 a match, with 1.06 expected goals for and 1.41 against, and had won 60% of their matches.

Preston North End came into it with 15 Championship matches played, scoring 0.9 and conceding 2.0 a match, with 1.13 expected goals for and 1.73 against, and had won 13% of their matches.

Stoke City vs Preston North End: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Jack McGlynn (Stoke City), rated 8.6 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.

Stoke City

• Jack McGlynn 8.6 1 goal, 1 assist
• Ben Wilmot 7.6 1 goal
• Ethan Galbraith 7.5 1 assist
• Bosun Lawal 7.4
• Luke Graham 7.4

Preston North End

• Léo Leroy 7.1
• Jordan Storey 6.8
• Andrija Vukcevic 6.8
• Andrew Hughes 6.8
• O. Offiah 6.8

The lowest-rated starter was Callum Lang at 6.1. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Stoke City: Stoke City vs Birmingham City Saturday 21 November 2026 · Championship
• Preston North End: West Ham United vs Preston North End Saturday 21 November 2026 · Championship

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Stoke City vs Preston North End

What was the score in Stoke City vs Preston North End?

Stoke City 2-0 Preston North End (half-time 1-0), Championship, Saturday 31 October 2026.

Who scored in Stoke City vs Preston North End?

Ben Wilmot 29', Jack McGlynn 53'.

Did Moneyball predict Stoke City vs Preston North End correctly?

The prediction got the result right. Before kick-off Moneyball made a Stoke City win the most likely outcome at 53%, and that is what happened, though the most likely score was 2-1 rather than 2-0.

Who was man of the match in Stoke City vs Preston North End?

Jack McGlynn, rated 8.6 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Stoke City vs Preston North End?

A. Herczeg.