Burnley vs Preston predictions: Lancashire derby to serve up exciting affair
- Both teams have scored in three of the last five meetings between these sides
- The same bet has landed in four of Preston’s last five matches
- Recommended bet: Both teams to score
Promotion-chasing Burnley will be targeting maximum points in their Lancashire derby with Preston this weekend but may have to work hard to achieve that goal.
North End have shown serious improvement under Paul Heckingbottom, especially in attack and could cause their rivals some issues in one of the Championship’s early kick-offs on Saturday.
Team news
Burnley will be without Manuel Benson, Jordan Beyer, Hannes Delcroix, Hjalmar Ekdal, Aaron Ramsey, Nathan Redmond and Joe Worrall.
However, there is a chance Mike Tresor, Connor Roberts and Zian Flemming could feature for the hosts after all overcoming knocks.
Injured duo Patrick Bauer and Ched Evans are out for Preston while Sam Greenwood will also be absent as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension.
Milan Osmaijic, who scored twice against Watford on Tuesday, is a doubt after admitting to biting Owen Beck, meaning an FA ban is looming.
The stats
Both teams have scored in three of the last five meetings between these sides.
The same bet has landed in four of Preston’s last five matches.
Burnley are unbeaten at Turf Moor this term but have conceded in home games against promoted Portsmouth and Lancashire rivals Blackburn.
Preston have lost just two of their last eight matches and have scored 13 goals in Heckinbottom’s eight games in charge.
Prediction
While Burnley come into this game as strong favourites, Preston will be feeling good after their 3-0 rout of Watford on Wednesday and could play their part in an exciting clash.
Heckingbottom has turned a misfiring attack into a potent one, with North End netting 13 goals in their eight games with him at the helm as opposed to the measly two they managed in the eight matches prior to his arrival.
Preston will have to work hard at Turf Moor given their rivals are unbeaten there this term, although it is not as if the Clarets have been bulletproof on their own patch, being breached by promoted Portsmouth and Lancashire rivals Blackburn in recent home outings.
That aforementioned Lancashire derby saw 12 cards brandished while Preston’s clash with Blackburn saw 11 bookings handed out.
Lancashire derbies are feisty affairs and with plenty of free-kicks likely at Turf Moor, plus the chance of player dismissals, an open game could unfold.
Both teams have netted in three of the last five meetings between this pair and given the same bet has landed in four of Preston’s last five matches, it could pay to back North End to continue their newfound scoring form at Turf Moor as an exciting clash with Burnley plays out.
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