PNE host Matt Bloomfield’s side on Friday night

Preston North End will be officiated by Andrew Kitchen in Friday night’s home clash against Oxford United.

The Lilywhites go into the game desperate for a win, having slipped to 12th spot after their 0-2 defeat to Millwall last Saturday. It is just one win in PNE’s last nine league fixtures, with last minute goals against Blackburn Rovers, Swansea City and Ipswich Town denying them of five points.

Attention now turns to another Friday evening contest, as the relegation battling U’s make the trip up to Lancashire. North End edged Oxford, 2-1, in the reverse fixture at the Kassam Stadium. But, Matt Bloomfield is now in charge and guided his team to a massive win over fellow strugglers, West Brom, last time out.

Kitchen is the man in the middle for the Deepdale encounter, with George Byrne and Matthew Smith assistants and Adam Herczeg the fourth official. It will be Kitchen’s 26th game of the campaign, having refereed games in the Premier League, Championship, League One and EFL Cup.

It is his fifth season officiating in the EFL, with 76 yellow cards shown and two players sent off. Kitchen was on duty for PNE’s 2-1 defeat at West Brom, earlier this season. Going back to the previous campaign, he oversaw Preston’s 3-0 home win over Watford and goalless draw with Burnley.

Kitchen has taken charge of two Oxford games over the past couple of years. He was appointed to their eventual 3-2 defeat at Hull City, back in August. Last year, Kitchen officiated the U’s 2-0 home win over Norwich City.

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