Match report

Middlesbrough Defeats Preston 4-0 in Championship Clash

Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
4–0
FT
Preston
Preston
Jan 24, 2026

Middlesbrough dominated from start to finish, racking up four goals against Preston. Early strikes by A. Browne and T. Conway set the tone before M. Whittaker added a third just after halftime. The dismissal of Jordan Storey on 50 minutes left Preston with ten men, allowing T. Conway to add another goal in stoppage time.

Key Facts

  • • A. Browne scored the opening goal for Middlesbrough at minute 9.
  • • T. Conway netted two goals, one assisted by Luke Ayling and the other unassisted.
  • • M. Whittaker found the back of the net in the second half.
  • • Preston's Jordan Storey was sent off on 50 minutes for a professional foul.
  • • Matt Targett provided an assist to A. Browne.

Lineups

Middlesbrough

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI

  • 31 S. Brynn (G)
  • 12 L. Ayling (D)
  • 6 D. Fry (D)
  • 29 A. Malanda (D)
  • 3 M. Targett (D)
  • 16 A. Browne (M)
  • 7 H. Hackney (M)
  • 18 A. Morris (M)
  • 11 M. Whittaker (F)
  • 9 T. Conway (F)
  • 23 L. Castledine (F)

Substitutes

  • 33 J. McLaughlin
  • 2 C. Brittain
  • 8 R. McGree
  • 10 D. Burgzorg
  • 14 A. Gilbert
  • 15 F. Munroe
  • 19 S. Nypan
  • 22 S. Silvera
  • 27 S. Hansen

Preston

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 12 J. Walton (G)
  • 42 O. Offiah (D)
  • 14 J. Storey (D)
  • 19 L. Gibson (D)
  • 2 P. Valentin (M)
  • 8 A. McCann (M)
  • 4 B. Whiteman (M)
  • 21 A. Devine (M)
  • 18 J. Lewis (M)
  • 17 L. Dobbin (F)
  • 9 D. Jebbison (F)

Substitutes

  • 13 D. Cornell
  • 3 A. Vukcevic
  • 6 L. Lindsay
  • 34 K. Nelson
  • 35 N. Mawene
  • 26 T. Small
  • 15 J. Thompson
  • 10 M. Frokjaer-Jensen
  • 24 M. Smith

Timeline

  1. Middlesbrough
    9' Middlesbrough Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Browne · Assist: Matt Targett
  2. Preston
    26' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    B. Whiteman

    Foul

  3. Middlesbrough
    28' Middlesbrough Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Conway · Assist: Luke Ayling
  4. Middlesbrough
    42' Middlesbrough Goal · Normal Goal
    M. Whittaker
  5. Preston
    50' Preston Card · Red Card
    Jordan Storey

    Professional foul last man

  6. Middlesbrough
    54' Middlesbrough Goal · Normal Goal
    T. Conway
  7. Preston
    58' Preston subst · Substitution 1
    Off: L. Dobbin · On: T. Small
  8. Preston
    58' Preston subst · Substitution 2
    Off: B. Whiteman · On: J. Thompson
  9. Preston
    58' Preston subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Devine · On: M. Frokjaer-Jensen
  10. Middlesbrough
    60' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Matt Targett · On: Samuel Silvera
  11. Middlesbrough
    61' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 2
    Off: A. Morris · On: D. Burgzorg
  12. Middlesbrough
    61' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 3
    Off: T. Conway · On: A. Gilbert
  13. Middlesbrough
    74' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 4
    Off: H. Hackney · On: R. McGree
  14. Preston
    76' Preston subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. Lewis · On: A. Vukcevic
  15. Preston
    76' Preston subst · Substitution 5
    Off: D. Jebbison · On: M. Smith
  16. Preston
    82' Preston Card · Yellow Card
    J. Thompson

    Foul

  17. Middlesbrough
    85' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Malanda · On: F. Munroe

Match Stats

Stat Middlesbrough Preston
Fouls 11 19
Pass Accuracy 90% 77%
Offsides 3 1
Red Cards 0 1
Total Shots 16 4
Corners 8 3
Total Passes 542 264
Yellow Cards 0 2
Blocked Shots 4 2
Shots on Target 8 1
xG 2.72 0.40
Shots off Target 4 1
Possession 67% 33%
Goals Prevented -1 -1
Accurate Passes 489 204
Shots Inside Box 8 4
Saves 1 4
Shots Outside Box 8 0

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Middlesbrough took the lead within nine minutes, setting the tone early with A. Browne's goal.
  • ▸ The dismissal of Preston's Jordan Storey at 50 minutes tilted momentum heavily in favor of Middlesbrough.