• Competition: England - Championship
• Date: Friday, 9th, August 2024
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK / 21.00 CEST
• Venue: Deepdale (Preston)

Determined to signal their swift comeback to the Premier League, Sheffield United will head to Deepdale to clash with Preston North End in the Championship's season opener on Friday evening.

Friday's contest sees the Lilywhites raise the curtain on their tenth straight campaign in England's second division, where they will aim to finally break into the top six, something they have never achieved since becoming Championship members. Last term, Preston North End were on the verge of the playoffs, but a disastrous finish—losing all of their final five matches without scoring—snuffed out their top-six dreams, leaving them in 10th with ten points off the prized places.

Deepdale faithful will face a tough test in their opening matchday against Sheffield United, a side eager to correct the mistakes of the previous season and secure an immediate return to the top tier of English football. Indeed, the Blades spent last season in the top division amid total chaos, having ammassed a measly 16 points from their 38 matches, marking one of the weakest performances in the Premier League history, not to mention their net was breached an alarming 104 times.

Preston North End vs Sheffield Utd Betting Tips: AH2 (0)

Both sides endured dreadful endings to their campaigns last season, so they are eager to leave that behind and start their ambitious plans in the best way possible, but we think Sheffield United are more likely to succeed in this matchup. The Blades enjoyed a near-perfect record during pre-season, claiming four friendly triumphs on the bounce before being held to a 1-1 draw by Huddersfield in their latest test. 

Head coach Chris Wilder will demant his side to send a clear message about their immediate return to the England's top flight, and recent meetings with Preston offering upbeat prospects as SUFC have not tasted defeat in any of the last seven H2Hs (W4 D3). The most recent pair of their Championship clashes took place two years ago, with the Blades emerging victorious on both occasions, thrashing the Lilywhites 2-0 away and 4-1 at Bramall Lane. Based on a strong head-to-head record and an impressive preseason campaign, Chris Wilder’s new tenure is expected to start in style, as his team should possess too much quality for Friday's hosts.