Preston are unbeaten at home this season
Birmingham are on a four-game winless streak
Recommended bet: Preston to win
Paul Heckingbottom’s Preston host struggling Birmingham on Tuesday night, with both teams hoping to bounce back from narrow defeats over the weekend.
Team News
Having struggled with a calf strain since the summer, Will Keane has not featured for Preston this season and the striker is once again set to miss out, so Aston Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin and Montenegrin marksman Milutin Osmajic will continue up front.
England Under-21 international Thierry Small suffered a knock during the second half of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at West Brom, casting doubt over whether he will be involved on Tuesday night.
The visitors received an unexpected boost towards the back end of last week, as Demarai Gray was passed fit despite returning early from international duty with a groin complaint.
Jack Robinson serves a one-match suspension after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession against Hull on Saturday. Consequently, Alfons Sampsted is expected to partner club captain Christoph Klarer in central defence.
The latest Preston North End vs. Birmingham City odds are available at LiveScore Bet
The stats
Preston have kept clean sheets in each of their last two home games.
PNE were beaten for just the second time this season on Saturday, losing to West Brom almost two months on from August’s defeat at Portsmouth.
Only three Championship clubs possess a poorer away record than Birmingham.
The Blues have only scored three times on the road this term, although just two of those goals have come from open play.
Prediction
The season is not materialising the way Birmingham had hoped following their impressive promotion from League One.
Blues' impressive start to the season now seems an eternity ago, after they slumped to their fourth defeat of the season on Saturday against rapidly-improving Hull City.
Preston, meanwhile, may not be the most attractive to watch, having netted on just 12 occasions in their opening 10 league fixtures, but their defensive robustness continues to serve them well and could prove to be the perfect antidote to Chris Davies’ expansive style of football on Tuesday.
PNE have already beaten two of last season’s three relegated Premier League sides – expect them to add the reigning League One champions to the list.
The latest Preston North End vs. Birmingham City odds are available at LiveScore Bet
