Bristol City sit eighth in the Championship, just one point off the play-off places
Preston are hanging on to their play-off spot in sixth
Recommended bet: Bristol City to win
Bristol City picked up the result of the New Year’s Day fixtures in the Championship, routing Portsmouth 5-0, and they will be hoping to kick on when hosting Preston on Sunday.
The Robins were defeated by Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals last season and will be keen to make amends, with their push to do so likely to receive another boost when they welcome the Lilywhites to Ashton Gate.
North End have been in solid form and currently sit sixth but a lot of their best work has come at home or against struggling sides, suggesting they could be in for a tough afternoon in Bristol.
The latest Bristol City vs Preston odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Max Bird, Fally Mayulu, Luke McNally, Mark Sykes, Joe Williams and loanee goalkeeper Radek Vitek miss out for the hosts.
Sinclair Armstrong came off the bench to score a brace against Pompey and could replace former Lilywhite Emil Riis in the Robins’ starting XI.
Robbie Brady, Andrija Vukcevic and Luke Gibson are out for Preston, who may name an unchanged side from the one which beat Sheffield Wednesday on New Year’s Day.
The stats
Bristol City have won three of their last four games.
The Robins have also won five of their last eight at Ashton Gate.
Preston have lost just one of their last nine games.
The Lilywhites have managed only three wins in their last nine away fixtures.
Bristol City have lost just one of the last meetings against Preston.
Both teams have scored in 10 of Preston’s last 12 games.
The latest Bristol City vs Preston odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Preston’s run of one loss in nine games will have plenty rushing to back them to earn at least a point from their trip to Ashton Gate but a dive into those results will temper enthusiasm as the only wins in that run have come against the league’s bottom two, Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday (twice).
In contrast, Bristol City have been keeping tabs on the big boys of late. Their only defeat in five at home has come against fellow high-flyers Millwall while wins over Middlesbrough and West Brom within their last four games make them worthy favourites to pick up three points against North End.
City also have the psychological edge of an exceptional head-to-head record, having lost only one of the last 10 meetings between the pair, and Gerhard Struber’s men are tough to oppose.
Anis Mehmeti and Scott Twine are two of the Championship’s best players and the Robins’ firepower, as well as a solid defence which has kept back-to-back clean sheets at home, should lead them to three points.
Back Bristol City to win at 3/4 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Bristol City vs Preston odds are available on LiveScore Bet
