In this recent Championship encounter, Stoke City played hosts to Preston North End. As the data suggests, the match saw Preston North End emerging as winners with a slim one-goal margin at the end of the game.

The vital factor in Preston North End's victory was their only successful shot in the second half, indicating a clinical finish. The goal came in early in the game at the 32nd minute of the second half. This early lead meant that Stoke City was on the back foot for the remainder of the match, affecting their approach and tactics.

The disciplinary actions in the match also had a significant impact on the flow of the game. Both teams were shown 4 yellow cards, indicating a hard-fought and physical battle in the midfield. It happened more frequently in the second half as the teams pushed for a result, with Stoke City receiving three of their four yellow cards, and Preston North End receiving all of their yellow cards in the second half. Such high disciplinary count shows that Stoke City struggled to control possession and were forced to make tactical fouls to break down Preston's momentum, which in turn broke their rhythm and fluidity.

Another key statistical factor lies in the number of corner kicks. Preston North End executed 7 corner kicks against the 4 taken by Stoke City. This suggests that Preston were more aggressive, creating more goal-scoring opportunities which kept pressure on Stoke's defense. The higher amount of corner kicks indicate the pressing game Preston played, using both flanks to their advantage to create these situations.

Despite the team's efforts, Stoke City failed to find the back of the net. This paints a picture of a resilient display by the Preston North End's defense and potentially reflects some missed opportunities by Stoke City’s attack.

In conclusion, this was a game defined by a single early goal from Preston North End and a disciplined, if hard-fought, performance by both sides. Preston’s early goal and their successful creation of opportunities were crucial in their win, while the high number of yellow cards and fewer goal-scoring opportunities hampered Stoke City's efforts to level the score.

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