Bournemouth extended their winning run to five matches with a comprehensive 2-0 victory at Reading on Saturday through goals from Dominic Solanke and substitute Jamal Lowe.
The Cherries have not conceded in their last four matches and hold a five-point lead on closest challengers Fulham at the summit.
With their latest win, Scott Parker’s side have set a record for the best start to a Championship campaign after 15 matches, with 37 points collected and a goal difference of +18.
Parker has yet to taste a league defeat since taking charge, in fact, and he will be confident of keeping it that way against lowly Preston at the Vitality Stadium in midweek.
The Lilywhites have managed to turn things around slightly, however, thanks to wins over Coventry City and Luton Town either side of defeat at rivals Blackpool.
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Those victories both came at home, with North End still winless from eight away matches this season – no team in the division has a worse record.
Frankie McAvoy can take some confidence from his side’s 2-0 win against Luton at the weekend, though, with that result moving Preston nine points clear of the dropzone.
Preston are also unbeaten in six meetings with Bournemouth in all competitions, a run that includes successive 3-2 wins in their most recent two encounters at the Vitality Stadium
