Preston vs 08.08.26 14:001 – 1(4-3 pen)After Pen
Huddersfield — League Cup: stats, lineups & analysis
Match report
Ten-man Preston pip Huddersfield on penalties after late Erabi leveller
Preston beat Huddersfield 4-3 on penalties in the League Cup round of 128 after the tie finished 1-1 following normal and extra time, with the shootout needed to separate the sides at Goodison Park. Paul Heckingbottom's side had to do it the hard way, playing more than an hour with ten men.
AI-assisted match report written from official match data.
The contest turned early when Lewis Gibson was sent off for Preston in the 21st minute, and Huddersfield made the advantage count as Radinio Balker converted a Lasse Sørensen assist in the 38th to put the visitors 1-0 up at the break. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Preston pushed forward and were rewarded deep into stoppage time when Jusef Erabi, set up by Delano Burgzorg, equalised in the 90th+3 minute to force extra time.
Neither side could find a winner over the additional 30 minutes, leaving the tie level at 0-0 after extra time and forcing a shootout, which Preston won 4-3 to progress. Huddersfield, managed by Liam Manning, had shaded possession at 54% and matched their hosts for shots on goal, but ultimately could not convert their control into a decisive result.
Radinio Balker scored Huddersfield's opening goal in the 38th minute and finished the match with the highest rating on the pitch at 8.0.
Preston's red card in the 21st minute shaped the entire contest, with Huddersfield holding 54% possession against ten men for the majority of the match.
Preston and Huddersfield drew 1–1 (half-time 0–1). Preston won the penalty shootout 4–3.
Preston met Huddersfield in the League Cup (Round of 128). Kick-off was Saturday, 8 August 2026, 14:00 UTC at Goodison Park. Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge.
Team pages: Preston · Huddersfield · League Cup
Key moments
- 21' Red card: Lewis Gibson
- 38' Goal: Radinio Balker (assist: Lasse Sørensen) — 0–1
- 90+3' Goal: Jusef Erabi (assist: Delano Burgzorg) — 1–1
Starting line-ups
Preston (3-4-3)
Huddersfield (3-4-3)
Sirius · Why these numbers
Before kick-off Sirius gave Preston 51%, the draw 26%, Huddersfield 23%. It finished Preston 1–1 Huddersfield.
A slight rating edge to Preston, little else — Preston are a shade stronger on our strength rating, and that is most of Preston's 51%. The draw at 26% is about what a gap this size usually leaves.
Why Preston at 51%?
Preston sit 77 points higher on our strength rating — 1393 to 1316. Sides with a 50–100-point rating edge at home won 50.6% of 10,332 such games.
Why only 51%?
No scored evidence points the other way. 51% is what this rating gap has been worth in games like these; the rest is the draw at 26% and Huddersfield at 23%.
Why the draw at 26%?
With a rating gap this size the draw starts at 26.5%. These teams' recent games average 3.0 goals — a typical goals environment. Games in that environment drew 24.6% of 24,733.
What did we measure but not count?
Preston sit -0.35 goals per game under chance-quality. For home sides we could not receipt a bounce-back — the measured cells sit inside each other's noise bands — so this is noted and scores 0. Last 6 between them: Preston 4 wins, 1 draw, Huddersfield 1 win. Most recently Preston 4–1 Huddersfield, 2 years ago. Fixture history hasn't carried forward once class is level: past leaders won just 43.2% of 5028 such games — no measurable edge, 0 points.
Sirius probabilities, frozen at kick-off. Analysis, not betting advice. How Sirius is doing this season · Full breakdown, evidence cards and squad news in the Match Insights tab
About this match
On this page: the Preston vs Huddersfield final score and result, who scored, starting lineups, match stats and the full match report from this League Cup fixture.
- Who scored and when — a goal-by-goal timeline of the match.
- Match stats — possession, shots, expected goals (xG), corners and cards.
- Starting lineups and player ratings for both teams.
- Head-to-head record and recent form for both sides.
The full match report above covers the goals, key moments and stats. Explore more on the Preston and Huddersfield team pages or the League Cup page.
Quick answers
›What was the final score of Preston vs Huddersfield?
Preston and Huddersfield drew 1–1 (half-time 0–1). Preston won the penalty shootout 4–3.
›Who scored in Preston vs Huddersfield?
Radinio Balker (38') for Huddersfield; Jusef Erabi (90+3') for Preston.
›Where can I watch Preston vs Huddersfield highlights?
This page carries the full match report, stats and lineups for Preston vs Huddersfield; goal clips are added as soon as official highlights are available.
›What is the head-to-head record between Preston and Huddersfield?
Preston and Huddersfield have met 10 times — 6 wins for Preston, 2 wins for Huddersfield and 2 draws.