Preston vs Southampton prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-10-24 18:45.
After an impressive six-game Championship winning streak that followed their opening day draw, Preston North End have stalled by failing to win any of their last five matches (D2, L3). Luckily, the damage hasn’t been too severe as they still occupy a position in the coveted playoff spots, although their buffer is quickly eroding.
One team who is knocking on the door of Ryan Lowe’s side is their upcoming opponents Southampton, who sit just one point and one place behind them. Perhaps a mid-week night at Deepdale is the perfect setting to stave them off as the Lilywhites are unbeaten in their last five league matches played at home on a Wednesday (W3, D2).
Southampton have caught up to their hosts by virtue of a four-game unbeaten streak (W3, D1), capped off by a dramatic last-gasp winner to beat Hull 2-1 last time out. Manager Russell Martin has his team operating on all cylinders at the moment, and another positive performance will see them register a five-game unbeaten run in league action for the first time since February 2022.
But preserving their unbeaten run will come second to taking home the much-craved maximum points here, just like they’ve done in each of their last two away games – Saints last won three league trips in succession back in January of 2020. That was 12 years prior to when they last shared a Championship campaign with Preston, and despite doing the double over the Lillywhites in that 2008/09 season, Saints went on to be relegated, but that’s something that looks extremely unlikely this time around.
Players to watch: Preston’s Mads Frøkjaer-Jensen scored the opener against Millwall last time out, meaning seven of his last nine goals have all come before half-time. As for Southampton, they’ll be hoping their own No.10 Ché Adams can wreak havoc on Preston once again, having scored three goals in five appearances against them.
Hot stat: 12 of Southampton’s last 15 matches have seen both teams score.