Preston vs Bristol City prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-03 15:00.
The race for the Championship play-off places continues to intensify and sitting just three points adrift ahead of the round, Preston may be flying under the radar as serious contenders. Their full focus can now be devoted to the league after exiting the FA Cup against Tottenham at Deepdale last time out, but theyâre in desperate need of an improvement here, as theyâve lost five of their last six games on their own turf (W1).
No side in the division has scored fewer than Prestonâs eight at home this term, a record which has helped contribute to Ryan Loweâs men amassing the third-worst points home tally. The Lilywhites have netted first in only three of their 14 league games at Deepdale this campaign, while theyâve scored just once in the second half of any home match in the Championship this term!
The visit of Bristol City might be a welcome sight then, as the Robins have failed to win any of their last nine trips to Preston (D5, L4), with their last success here coming back in February 2011. Nigel Pearson will send his charges to Lancashire full of confidence though, as theyâre now unbeaten in their last seven matches (W3, D4).
Their latest victory was a comprehensive 3-0 win over West Brom in the FA Cup, with Pearson describing his teamâs performance as one of âgreat encouragementâ. That standard will need to continue if the Robins are to resurrect their season, as they currently languish ten points adrift of the play-offs, while also sitting relatively comfortably seven points clear of the drop zone ahead of the weekendâs fixtures.
Players to watch: Preston captain Alan Browne has enjoyed facing Bristol City down the years, with the six H2H victories heâs managed his second-most against any opposition (D7, L2). Robins youngster Sam Bell will try to write his own history in this fixture by translating his FA Cup form to the league, having directly contributed to four goals in his last two appearances in that competition (G3, A1).
Hot streak: Preston have gone 17 Championship games without a draw (W9, L8).