Preston North End vs Stoke Prediction & Betting Tips - Championship

Prediction published on 07/03/2024, 10:00  by Ian John | Modified on 09/03/2024 at 02:00 in Championship Prediction

Preston come into this game with Stoke City on the back of an underwhelming 0-0 draw at Deepdale against Hull City. It was a game that the Lilywhites really needed to win to give themselves a better chance of clinching a playoff berth. It meant that Preston lie 9th in the Championship table with 53 points, four points behind Hull City who occupy the final playoff spot in the table (6th) on 57 points, although Preston do have a game in hand. They are unbeaten in their last five games at home, winning three of those games, although one concerning statistic for manager Ryan Lowe will be that they have kept just two clean sheets across their last ten games at Deepdale.

Stoke boss Steven Schumacher recently complained that he had never seen a side dominate so many games as his current Stoke team, but fail to take the chance to win them. With seven defeats from their last nine games, it appears that there is more wrong at the bet365 Stadium than simply a lack of cutting edge in front of goal. Defensively, Stoke have been solid all season long, but only Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday have scored fewer than Stoke's 33 Championship goals this season. They have scored more than one goal just once in their last 12 games. They have just one win in their last five away games, losing the other four and that win came against bottom club Rotherham United (a 1-0 win on January 13th). They were narrowly beaten 1-0 away to Leeds on Tuesday night leaving them in the relegation spots.