Preston vs Watford prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-12-15 15:00.
A 3-1 win away to Huddersfield Town in midweek snapped Preston out of a four match winless run (D1, L3) and moved them right back into the thick of the play-off chase. Boss Ryan Lowe claimed their performance in Yorkshire was “excellent from start to finish” and he’ll be looking for more of the same from his side here as they journey back over the Pennines to Deepdale, where they’ve won just one of their last six games (D2, L3).
Conceding goals has largely been the reason behind their home struggles of late, as North End have leaked an average of over two goals per game in that dismal Deepdale run. Goals of any kind may be a rare commodity against Watford though, especially if last season’s meetings are anything to go by, as the pair played out two goalless draws!
Watford didn’t quite have the same joy as their hosts in midweek, as they went down 2-1 at home to promotion chasing Ipswich Town. Hornets boss Valérien Ismaël lamented the fact his side weren’t “ruthless” enough in front of goal, and that’s perhaps something that’s unlikely to get any better on the road, where Watford have drawn a scoring blank in five of their nine league games this term (W2, D3, L4).
They have at least shown signs of recovery away from home of late, with those two wins coming in their last four Championship road trips (D1, L1). There’s no guarantees they’ll continue their upward trajectory in the North West though, as not only did they fail to win any of their four away league games last season against Lancashire opposition (D2, L2), but they have won on just one of their last 16 visits to Preston (D6, L9).
Players to watch: Preston’s good luck charm of late, Alan Browne has scored in each of their last three league victories, with all three goals arriving before half-time. Watford’s Yáser Asprilla was on target with his fourth goal of the season in midweek, but he is yet to score a goal for the club away from home.
Hot stat: Watford’s away league games this season have seen a league-low six first-half goals.