Preston North End travel to Fulham on Saturday looking to bounce back from suffering a second defeat in three Championship matches against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

The Lilywhites fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Hawthorns against the league leaders, with Alex Neil’s side unable to play to their usual rhythm against the Baggies, who ensured Preston could not follow up their 2-1 win against Hull City at Deepdale last weekend with another three points in midweek.

That defeat was Preston’s second in their last three Championship matches, with Neil’s side having also been beaten by Millwall at Deepdale a few weeks ago, but the Lilywhites still remain three points clear of seventh placed Bristol City following the Robins’ defeat at Huddersfield Town.

Neil’s side will be looking to recover the sort of consistency they showed during a recent six-match unbeaten run in the Championship, which had seen them climb back into the top six, and they will be aiming to pick up a win which could lift them to within just a point of Fulham in third place.

However, considering that Fulham have managed to get back to winning ways with a 1-0 win at home to Swansea City in midweek, after only picking up two points from their previous three games, the Lilywhites could face a difficult task of getting back to winning ways at Craven Cottage.

QUIZ: Can you name the club these 14 ex-Preston North End players are playing for now?

Here then, we take a look at what starting XI Neil should select against Fulham…

Neil could face the decision of whether to make a few changes to the side for the trip to Fulham so that he can inject some extra fresh legs into the side, but the Preston manager will be reluctant to make too many alterations and should stick with the same system.

Declan Rudd continues to be an ever present for Preston so far this season, and that should not change on Saturday for the trip to Craven Cottage, and the keeper will be looking to record a clean sheet having failed to keep a shut-out since the 2-0 win at Stoke City a few weeks ago.

Preston could have been forced to make a change at right-back with Darnell Fisher having been sent off in the second half of their defeat at West Brom, but that decision has now been overturned, which means he should keep his place on Saturday, while Andrew Hughes should also keep his place at left-back.

At the heart of Preston’s defence Neil should continue to pair both Patrick Bauer and Ben Davies together, and the pair will need to be at their best against Fulham if they are going to be able to keep Aleksandar Mitrovic quiet.

Neil could consider bringing in Paul Gallagher in place of Alan Browne at the base of midfield, with the Lilywhites potentially able to benefit from the midfielder’s experience and set piece delivery in their game against Fulham, while Ben Pearson should continue to keep his place in the side.

The Lilywhites should also recall Scott Sinclair to the starting line-up, after the winger was left out against West Brom, while Daniel Johnson and Tom Barkhuizen should continue to keep their places – and those three will be key to helping Preston cause problems for Fulham’s defence.

Preston could move Sean Maguire back to the centre forward position with David Nugent dropping back to the bench, with Maguire not really having been able to have had much of an impact on the game against West Brom from the wide a position.