Preston North End vs Stoke City predictions: Deepdale draw on the cards
&w=707&quality=100)
- Both Preston and Stoke are in the bottom half of the Championship
- The November meeting between these two sides finished goalless
- Recommended bet: Draw
Still trying to get over their FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Aston Villa last Sunday, Preston North End are in action in the Championship on Saturday when they welcome Stoke City to Deepdale.
The Lilywhites were also in action in the league against Derby County on Wednesday, losing 2-0, so it has been a busy week for them, while the Potters have not played since their eye-catching 3-1 win over QPR last Saturday.
Relegation remains a major danger for the visitors, but they have at least eased those fears slightly with two wins from their last three games under Mark Robins.
Team news
Preston remain without first-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who sustained an ankle injury during the international break, leaving David Cornell to continue to deputise.
Defenders Ben Gibson and Enda Stevens, as well as loan striker Ali Al-Hamadi are all edging closer to returns for the Potters and face late fitness tests.
The stats
Stoke have won just three games on the road in this season's Championship.
Since the start of November, City have been involved in five 0-0 draws, including one against Preston.
Preston, meanwhile, have posted seven league wins at Deepdale but have also drawn 10 league games on their own turf this term.
North End have conceded just 15 goals in their 19 home assignments in the Championship, so this could be a low-scoring one.
Prediction
While Stoke are not safe from the threat of relegation from the Championship, the Lilywhites seemingly have little left to play for this season and could be vulnerable this weekend.
Preston's season all but ended with their 3-0 defeat to Villa in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and lifting the team will be no easy task for Paul Heckingbottom.
On Wednesday they took on Derby and prior to that fixture Preston had racked up 17 draws in the Championship this season and that looks like the best wager for their match against Stoke.
City's poor away record of just 13 points taken from 19 away games in the Championship could push some punters towards backing a Preston win, but the visitors will be the fresher of the two sides and should be confident after their recent win over QPR.
That could level the playing field and the draw looks like the best selection, especially because these two sides played out a 0-0 stalemate back in November.
Win up to £250,000 with LiveScore 6!
Win up to £250,000 with our free-to-play game, LiveScore 6!
