MX23RW : Sunday, December 22 20:36:26| >> :120:9496:9496:
[monks data]
Preston North End logo
Championship | Gameweek 30
Feb 4, 2023 at 3pm UK
Deepdale
Bristol City

Preston
1 - 2
Bristol City

Evans (61')
Storey (33')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Sykes (6'), Bell (45+3')
James (50'), Wells (63'), Cornick (70'), Scott (72')

Preview: Preston North End vs. Bristol City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Preston North End and Bristol City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Preston North End and Bristol City square off at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon looking for a victory which will keep them as outsiders for a playoff spot.

As it stands, the two teams are separated by six places and seven points in the Championship standings, but the visitors currently possess one of the longest unbeaten records in the league.


Match preview

Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson on January 8, 2023© Reuters

Throughout his reign at Bristol City, Nigel Pearson's team has been the epitome of inconsistency, so much in fact that it has been surprising that he has remained in the Ashton Gate dugout.

However, on the back of a run of one win in nine matches, the Robins have responded with a seven-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

While just six points have come from four league encounters, Bristol City comprehensively defeated West Bromwich Albion by a 3-0 scoreline in the FA Cup fourth round last weekend.

Youngster Sam Bell has barely featured all season, but the 20-year-old has chipped in with three strikes versus Swansea City and the Baggies to put himself in contention for a regular spot going forward.

Still just seven points above the relegation zone, Bristol City cannot afford to get ahead of themselves, yet they will edge closer to the mid-table spots if they can get another win on the board on Saturday.

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe on January 28, 2023© Reuters

Preston have matched Bristol City for inconsistency this term, with numerous winning and losing streaks being compiled since they posted their last draw on October 1.

Much has been made of Blackburn Rovers' run without a stalemate, but Preston's streak now sits at 17 matches, a period which has seen nine successes and eight defeats.

Ryan Lowe was arguably coming under a bit of pressure until six points were collected from the last three games, victories coming at Stoke City and Birmingham City.

Preston now sit just three points adrift of the top six, and Lowe will want to continue to build momentum ahead of their short trip to rivals Burnley in their following fixture.

Preston North End Championship form:


Preston North End form (all competitions):


Bristol City Championship form:


Bristol City form (all competitions):



Team News

Tommy Conway celebrates scoring for Bristol City on August 21, 2022© Reuters

Liam Delap will return to the Preston XI after being cup-tied for the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Josh Onomah is in line to come into the squad, but the former Fulham man is only expected to feature among the replacements.

The team could be similar to the one which edged out Birmingham in the last league outing, although Alvaro Fernandez is pushing for a recall at left wing-back.

After witnessing his side producing one of their best performances of the season versus West Brom, Pearson may be prepared to name the same Bristol City XI.

Should Andreas Weimann and Tommy Conway be fit to return from injury, they will likely be selected on the substitutes' bench, where they may be joined by new arrivals Anis Mehmeti and Harry Cornick.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Browne, McCann, Ledson, Woodburn, Brady; Cannon, Delap

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Atkinson, Dasilva; James, Naismith; Sykes, Scott, Bell; Wells


SM words green background

We say: Preston North End 1-2 Bristol City

Both of these teams have been unpredictable all season and it makes it difficult to predict a result with any confidence. That said, we can only back the visitors, who have momentum after outplaying in-form West Brom in the FA Cup last weekend and are performing better on their travels than Preston are at Deepdale.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


ID:505678:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12489:
Written by
Darren Plant

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Preston vs Bristol City

Preston North End
36.9%
Draw
23.1%
Bristol City
40.0%
65
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United's Wout Weghorst celebrates scoring against Nottingham Forest on January 25, 2023
Read Next:
Saturday's FA Cup predictions including Manchester United vs. Reading
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Lions
@
Bears
6pm
Browns
@
Bengals
6pm
Patriots
@
Bills
6pm
Titans
@
Colts
6pm
Giants
@
Falcons
6pm
Rams
@
Jets
6pm
Cardinals
@
Panthers
6pm
Eagles
@
Washington
9.05pm
Vikings
@
Seahawks
9.25pm
49ers
@
Dolphins
9.25pm
Jags
@
Raiders
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!