Cardiff vs Preston predictions: Stalemate on the cards

Joe Casey

Spotlight

Cardiff could still mount a play-off challenge under Erol Bulut this season

- This pair have both lost six of their last ten games
- The last two head-to-heads in Cardiff have both ended as a draw
- Recommended bet: Draw

Cardiff and Preston are separated by just two points in a congested Championship table and the pair have both been struggling for consistency in recent weeks.

Both teams will be aiming to make a late play-off push and will need to pick up results against the sides around them to do so.

Team news

Cardiff will be without Callum O’Dowda and Joe Ralls for this clash and Aaron Ramsey may not be rushed back after returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines to feature on the bench.

New signings Ethan Horvath, Nat Phillips and David Turnbull could all make their full league debuts.

Nat Phillips spent time on loan at Celtic this season and has now joined Cardiff until the summer

Ryan Lowe may name the same line-up that got the better of Ipswich last time out. Kian Best and Duane Holmes remain injured.

The stats

There have been over 2.5 goals in six of Cardiff's last eight Championship matches.

To add to that, Preston’s 49 goals conceded is the highest of any team in the top half of the second tier.

Will Keane has been North End’s star striker this season, netting 11 times in 22 league games.

Cardiff have only lost one of the last ten meetings between these two, a 2-0 away defeat last March.

The latest Cardiff City vs. Preston North End odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Both Preston and Cardiff could be in better form coming into this mid-table clash. The pair have both lost six of their last ten games and Cardiff’s recent home results leave plenty to be desired.

The Bluebirds have taken just one point from the last 12 available at the Cardiff City Stadium and will need to improve on that front if they are to finish in the top six.

However Preston have been poor on the road recently, losing four of their last five away trips in all competitions. They did record a 3-2 win at home to Ipswich last time out though.

With both teams scrapping around for some form, it may pay to side with the stalemate in this matchup.

The last two meetings between the two sides at the Cardiff City Stadium have finished 0-0 and while a repeat of that scoreline looks unlikely given the visitors’ defensive issues, the stalemate is still a big runner.

There is little to separate the two teams in the league table and that may well be reflected in the end result in this clash.

Back the draw at 21/10 with LiveScore Bet