The matches keep coming, and they don’t get any easier for Preston North End, with seventh-placed Southampton the next to visit Deepdale on Saturday in a game Graham Alexander could ring the changes for.
Preston suffered yet another defeat on Tuesday, losing 3-2 to Sheffield United despite a bright start, which means they have now registered the worst set of results in the first 14 games of a Championship season ever, on goal difference.
It's difficult to see where a first victory under Alexander is going to come from, but he will be doing everything he can to ensure it's on Saturday, against a Saints side undefeated in their last six.
The manager will be forced into at least two changes, as Johnny Kenny is out with a hamstring injury and Leo Leroy is unavailable through suspension, but there could be many more alterations to his side.
Alexander said 'there has to be consequences for performances' when explaining his half-time substitutions on Tuesday night, and the same could well apply to his starting XI, especially as all the players that came on played well and ensured Preston won the second-half.
Harry Clarke, Ali McCann, Liam Gibbs and Lewis Gibson all remain unavailable, but Greg Docherty is eligible to play after being signed in time as a free agent.
Whatever changes are made, the formation seems certain to be a back-three after Alexander admitted he 'made a mistake' by changing his team's shape for the trip to Stoke City.
With that in mind, here's how the team could look...
1. GK - Daniel Iversen
Iversen made several great saves against Stoke but shares a slice of the blame for two of Sheffield United's goals, the second especially, and he was lucky some wild ventures off his line late on weren't punished. He's under pressure, but it might take another poor display before he's dropped. | World Copyright © 2026 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (
2. RCB - Odel Offiah
There was a lot of blame to go around on Tuesday night, with Offiah giving the ball away for the second goal and getting caught on the wrong side in the third's build-up. Yet, there is little other option for a mobile defender in the back three unless Alexander starts playing the kids, which seems unlikely. | World Copyright © 2026 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (
3. CB - Liam Lindsay
Lindsay came on at half-time and the rot managed to stop, even if the Blades took the foot off the gas a bit. After playing well against Kieffer Moore in his other appearance under Alexander, he's sure to start in the heart of defence in place of Jordan Storey, who was hooked at the break. | World Copyright © 2026 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (
4. LCB - Andrew Hughes
Hughes was the best of a bad defensive bunch on Tuesday, and he did really well getting forward to create overloads on the left, the opening goal being the prime example. He could have done more to cut-out the cross for the third goal, but should keep his place. | World Copyright © 2026 CameraSport. All rights reserved. 43 Linden Ave. Countesthorpe. Leicester. England. LE8 5PG - Tel: +44 (