Sheff Wed vs Preston predictions: Another North End stalemate on the cards
- Wednesday have won their last two matches, both away from home
- Preston have drawn seven of their last 10 in the Championship
- Recommended bet: Draw
Draw experts Preston are one of four Championship teams yet to win an away game this season as they prepare for their trip to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday.
That will be music to the ears of the Owls, who are looking to win three games in a row for the first time since May.
Team news
Di'Shon Bernard, a crucial figure at the heart of Danny Rohl's back three, sat out the 2-1 win at Derby through suspension, but should go straight back in.
However, talismanic midfielder and skipper Barry Bannan is banned after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season at Pride Park.
Svante Ingelsson would seem the obvious like-for-like replacement, though Liam Palmer or Nathaniel Chalobah could also be drafted in, while Rohl hopes to have striker Ike Ugbo available after injury.
North End's first-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was suspended for the 1-1 draw against West Brom and will return.
Midfielders Liam Lindsay and Mads Frokjaer could also be available after injury lay-offs.
The stats
The last four meetings between these sides have each ended in 1-0 scorelines, with two wins apiece.
Preston have drawn nine of their last 14 Championship games, while their last four defeats have all been by 3-1 scorelines.
Only QPR with 15 goals have found the net less times than Preston (17).
North End have failed to win any of their last 13 Championship away games, a sequence stretching back to March.
Prediction
Bannan, the midfielder who makes Wednesday tick, is a critical absentee at Hillsborough on Saturday, where Preston look more than capable of getting a point.
Indeed, draws have become North End specialities with nine racked up this season, second only behind West Brom – Preston played the Baggies last weekend and no surprise it ended 1-1!
It takes something special to unlock Paul Heckingbottom's side and Bannan is that special talent, so his absence through a one-match ban is a blow for the hosts.
Wednesday are an unpredictable side, who have just registered back-to-back wins at Hull and Derby.
However, they win more points on the road than they do at Hillsborough and the Lilywhites' capacity to nullify opponents – only five teams, all in the top 10, concede fewer shots than Preston – suggests this showdown will be a tight one.
Preston have not scored more than once in any of their last seven matches, so there is a temptation to look at a 1-1 correct score at 24/5 or no goalscorer at 15/2 with LiveScore Bet.
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