Preston North End welcome Sheffield United to Deepdale on Tuesday evening (19:45) with both clubs carrying contrasting recent form into what is a genuinely consequential Championship fixture.

Preston searching for a turning point

Graham Alexander's side have managed just two points from their past eight league games, a run that has steadily eroded whatever early-season momentum they had built. The home record is particularly concerning: Preston have won only two of their last 13 league games at Deepdale, drawing three and losing eight, and they have not kept a clean sheet in any of those matches. For a club that relies on home support to drive results, those are uncomfortable numbers.

Alexander himself, however, has a personal record against the Blades that will offer some encouragement in the Deepdale dugout. He is unbeaten in all five of his league meetings with Sheffield United as a manager, winning two and drawing three. His most recent such encounter was a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe back in February 2017, meaning Tuesday represents his first taste of this fixture in the second tier.

History adds a further layer of intrigue. Preston completed the league double over Sheffield United last season, winning both meetings, though at the time they too were in the middle of an eight-game winless run before that run of doubles began. They have not won three consecutive league games against the Blades since 1897, so the record books would need some serious updating if Alexander's side were to do so again.

Sheffield United arrive with momentum

The visitors come to Lancashire unbeaten in their past three Championship outings, a sequence that includes two victories. That said, their away form this season contains a quirk worth noting: just four of their last 42 away league games have ended in a draw, a remarkably low proportion, and all four of those draws have come within their most recent 14 trips on the road. The rest of their away record in that 42-game stretch reads W20 L18, which means opponents tend to get a result one way or the other rather than settling for a share of the spoils.

Sheffield United lost this precise fixture 3-2 last season, and they have not lost consecutive away league games against Preston since the 2010/11 campaign. With that run and their current unbeaten sequence both on the line, there is something at stake for the Blades beyond just three points.

What the numbers suggest

On paper, this looks like a fixture that suits the away side. Sheffield United's travel record is binary rather than cautious, and Preston's inability to hold leads or clean sheets at home this season points towards an open game. Alexander's unbeaten managerial record against the Blades cuts against the grain of the underlying data, and supporters will be hoping his tactical read of this particular opponent remains as reliable as it has been in the past.

Preston need more than statistics to pull themselves clear of a slump that has left the fanbase frustrated. But if the numbers offer any comfort at all, it is that Sheffield United away games rarely produce stalemates, which at least hints at the possibility of three points rather than another tepid draw added to an already disappointing home record.

Kick-off at Deepdale is 19:45 on Tuesday.

Frequently asked

When is Preston vs Sheffield United on Tuesday?
The Championship match between Preston North End and Sheffield United kicks off at 19:45 at Deepdale on Tuesday.
What is Preston's recent home record in the Championship?
Preston have won just two of their last 13 home league games, drawing three and losing eight, and have failed to keep a single clean sheet during that run.
What is Graham Alexander's record against Sheffield United as a manager?
Graham Alexander is unbeaten in all five of his league meetings with Sheffield United as a manager, winning two and drawing three.