Preston vs Leeds predictions: Flying Whites to be denied at Deepdale

Steve Davies

Spotlight

Paul Heckingbottom has seen Preston draw 10 of their 20 Championship matches played this season.

- Preston have drawn 10 of their last 16 league games
- Leeds' 3-1 win over Middlesbrough was their fifth victory in six
- Recommended bet: Preston or Draw double chance

Leeds, pretty much flawless at Elland Road, are far less authoritative on the road which should encourage Preston ahead of their Saturday lunchtime Championship showdown at Deepdale.

North End snapped a drawing streak by winning 2-0 at Cardiff on Wednesday and are a difficult team to beat.

The latest Preston vs Leeds odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Former Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom could hand wide man Robbie Brady his first Championship start since October after recovering from injury. The Irishman is competing with Kaine Kessler-Hayden, who came off during the 2-0 win at Cardiff.

Heckingbottom may also stick an extra body in midfield and revert to the 3-5-2 formation that has been deployed against the top sides.

Centre-back Joe Rodon took a knock in Leeds' 3-1 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday and right-back Sam Byram had cramp, but Daniel Farke expects both to be okay for the trip to Lancashire.

If Byram is fit then Farke has no need to rush Jayden Bogle back, while Junior Firpo is still sidelined.

The stats

Preston have drawn 10 of their last 16 matches in the Championship and their 2-0 victory at Cardiff on Wednesday was their first league win in 11.

Leeds have won only three of their nine away games, but they have won eight of their last 11 matches overall.

The latest Preston vs Leeds odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Heckingbottom has turned Preston into a difficult team to beat, especially at Deepdale and even his former club Leeds may struggle to tear down the barricades on Saturday.

Leeds will chuck everything at their hosts, as they do all of their opponents, so North End know that this will be the toughest of examinations.

But Farke's men have won just three of their nine away league games, a stark contrast to their feats at Elland Road and their last road trip – also to Lancashire – a fortnight ago ended in a 1-0 loss at Blackburn.

The German can unleash an array of attacking gems, but North End are obdurate.

They lost at home to Sheffield United back in August, but since then have taken points off Middlesbrough, Burnley, Sunderland and West Brom, while they drew with Fulham in the League Cup.

Indeed, draws are something of a speciality, with only the Baggies having shared the points more often than North End.

Heckingbottom's men concede fewer shots per game than most sides in the division so are clearly well drilled and can use that to their advantage to avoid a loss.

Back Preston or Draw double chance at 57/50 with LiveScore Bet