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Stoke City's Million Manhoef battles for possession with Preston's Andrew Hughes Stoke City lost further ground in the race for promotion as they were held to a goalless stalemate by draw specialists Preston. The result means Mark Robins' side have now won just two of their past nine matches. They were second in the Championship table before last month's international break but are now 10th. Preston stayed in the play-off positions, in fifth, but have drawn 10 league matches this season - no team in the division has drawn more. It will be little consolation for Robins, but the hosts were the better side and after a bright start by the visitors it was Stoke who created the better chances. Unfortunately for City, who have scored just two goals in their past five games, visiting goalkeeper Daniel Iversen was equal to everything thrown his way. Stoke have lost a significant amount of momentum, with six defeats in their past nine games, and there was frustration inside the ground at the final whistle after another home game delivered so little. Preston, whose manager Heckingbottom was watching from the stands as he served a touchline suspension, had the better of the early chances, with Thierry Small's effort at the end of a lovely flowing move smothered brilliantly at close range by keeper Viktor Johansson in the Stoke goal. Small had another shot saved by the Swede shortly afterwards, but those turned out to be the visitors' best moments. Stoke's on-loan striker Divin Mubama created a great opening for himself from Mohammed Lawal's centre but, after doing the hard work with his first touch, he hit the side netting from a tightening angle. Potters defender Ashley Philips then had an effort from the edge of the area deflected over the bar by Odeluga Offiah, while Jordan Storey headed straight at Johansson with Preston's one notable chance of the second period. Sorba Thomas went close to breaking the deadlock with a curling shot from the left side of the area late on - Iversen pulled off an excellent save to his left to tip the ball around the post. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 26th December 2025 at 18: 55 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Mark Robins Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Stuart Mc Call Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Mark Robins Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Stuart Mc Call Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Stoke have won just one of their last 12 home league games against Preston (D6 L5) and are winless in all seven since relegation from the Premier League in 2018 (D2 L5). The away team is unbeaten in the last 11 league meetings between Stoke and Preston (D4 L7), since the Lilywhites’ 3-1 home win in August 2019. Stoke lost 2-0 against Leeds on Boxing Day last year, last losing consecutive Boxing Day league games in 2008/2009. Preston have won three of their last four Boxing Day league games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 16 (D7 L6). Stoke’s Mark Robins won his first three Football League matches against Preston – since then, he’s winless in all 13 against the Lilywhites (D5 L8). Match ends, Stoke City 0, Preston North End 0. Second Half ends, Stoke City 0, Preston North End 0. Attempt saved. Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Róbert Bozeník (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card. Foul by Róbert Bozeník (Stoke City). Odeluga Offiah (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Ben Pearson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card. Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time. Ben Gibson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Ben Gibson (Stoke City). Pol Valentín (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing. Attempt saved. Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Viktor Johansson (Stoke City). Foul by Tatsuki Seko (Stoke City). Jordan Thompson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Substitution, Stoke City. Sam Gallagher replaces Bae Jun-Ho. Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jordan Storey. Substitution, Preston North End. Jamal Lewis replaces Thierry Small. Attempt saved. Sorba Thomas (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Daniel Iversen (Preston North End). Attempt missed. Bosun Lawal (Stoke City) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Sorba Thomas with a cross following a corner. Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Pol Valentín. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.