Bristol City vs Preston prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-09-09 14:00.
After losing their first two league matches of the Championship campaign, Bristol City have now gone unbeaten in their last six (W4, D2) and consecutive wins have seen them storm into play-off positions. Manager Nigel Pearson called their 3-2 victory at Blackburn “exciting” which is true of their overall performances as well, with no Championship side scoring more goals (16) after eight games.
The Robins still have issues to iron out at the back however, having conceded 11 goals in the Championship so far with only two teams conceding more after eight matches played. A return to Ashton Gate may help in that regard as Bristol have picked up three 2-0 wins on the trot, and they now have the opportunity to keep four consecutive second-tier home shutouts for the first time since April 1994.
A Bristol clean sheet wouldn’t be a massive surprise with Preston North End failing to score in six of their last eight Championship games (W2, D5, L1). That includes a 1-0 loss to Birmingham in the last round, which saw manager Ryan Lowe state that "it's putting the ball in the back of the net that counts" after he was sent off at the final whistle and charged by the FA for alleged use of "abusive and/or insulting words".
That loss shouldn't mask Preston's defensive prowess, as they remain the only side in the English top-four tiers yet to concede an away league goal. Their recent defensive solidity boosts their chances of victory and back-to-back away H2H league clean sheets for the first time since October 1981, after a goalless draw here last season.
Players to watch: Antoine Semenyo scored Bristol City's second goal with his previous two Championship strikes, also striking their second in a 2-2 draw in the last league H2H. Emil Riis scored both of Preston's goals in that H2H draw whilst also netting their last away Championship winner.
Hot streak: Bristol City's last five Championship games have seen the first-half result replicated at full-time.