Preston aim to end dismal run that has seen them slip out of play-off contention
Stoke hope to build upon encouraging results against Ipswich and Watford
Recommended bet: Stoke to win
Preston had high hopes of being in the Championship promotion shake-up earlier in the season, but their form has taken a nosedive and any hopes of getting into the top six have been all but extinguished.
A woeful injury situation has virtually put paid to Stoke’s chances too, but Mark Robins will hope his team can continue their recent upturn with a seventh away win of the campaign when they head to Deepdale on Friday night.
The latest Preston vs Stoke odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
North End’s Milutin Osmajic faces a late fitness test but Ali McCann and Callum Lang have both been ruled out.
Bosun Lawal could come back in for Stoke after returning to training but Gavin Bazunu, Ben Wilmot, Maksym Talovierov, Aaron Cresswell, Divin Mubama, Robert Bozenik, Lewis Baker and Viktor Johansson can all be found in a busy treatment room.
The latest Preston vs Stoke odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
Both teams have scored in five of Stoke’s last six Championship matches.
There have been at least three goals in all but one of Stoke’s last six league outings.
Preston have scored just two goals in their last six matches.
North End have claimed a solitary victory in their last 12 Championship games.
Stoke have failed to score in just one of their last six Championship fixtures.
The hosts have conceded at least twice in five of their last seven league assignments.
The latest Preston vs Stoke odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
Both Preston and Stoke have seen their hopes of a successful Championship season fall away over the last couple of months, but the Potters look further along the path to recovery so they can grab three points at Deepdale on Friday night.
Their hosts were firmly in the play-off mix before Christmas, but their fortunes have plummeted in the last few weeks and it should be a grave concern for manager Paul Heckingbottom that his team has scored just twice in their last six games.
It is not desperate enough that they are going to be dragged into the relegation picture, but the campaign is petering out and they are difficult to fancy.
Stoke’s fall can be mainly put down to a desperate run with injury problems, but Mark Robins’ side have shown some mettle in the last couple of weeks.
A 3-3 draw against promotion-chasing Ipswich is not a result to be sniffed at and they have already been able to build upon that by posting another strong home result, a 3-1 success over Watford last Saturday.
The visitors look to have turned the corner and they can gain three points against a team who are down on their luck, having lost five times in an ongoing seven-game winless run.
Back Stoke to win at 7/4 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Preston vs Stoke odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
