Bournemouth will be targeting a fifth successive win when they travel to Preston North End in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Cherries are second in the table and edging ever closer to a Premier League return, while the Lilywhites are still harbouring playoff hopes in 12th.

Match preview

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Bournemouth are on their best run of form since the end of October and Jamal Lowe scored an 89th-minute winner as they came from behind to win 2-1 against Stoke City last weekend.

The Cherries are two points ahead of third-placed Huddersfield Town but have played four matches fewer, while they are nine points behind leaders Fulham but with two games in hand.

Scott Parker's side have lost just three times away from home this season and have the best defence in the Championship having conceded only 27 goals in 31 matches.

That said, they have been slightly more leaky of late as they have kept just three clean sheets in their last 14 matches.

With three successive home fixtures against strugglers Peterborough United, Derby County and Reading to come after their visit to Deepdale, Bournemouth will be intent on making their spot in the top two secure over the next few weeks.

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However, Preston are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Cherries and inflicted their first league defeat of this season when they won 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium in November.

Ryan Lowe has replaced Frankie McAvoy in the dugout since then and the Lilywhites have lost only two of 14 league matches under the former Plymouth Argyle boss.

That does not tell the full story though as Preston have picked up just one win from their last five games and are winless in six at Deepdale.

This is all because they are the Championship's draw specialists; a case in point being how they conceded a 98th-minute equaliser against Coventry City last weekend to draw 1-1 with the Sky Blues.

If Lowe can start turning one point into three in games, then the Lilywhites may have a shot at the playoffs – they are currently seven points behind the top six.

Team News

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Liam Lindsay is suspended for Preston after his red card against Coventry last weekend, while fellow centre-back Patrick Bauer remains sidelined with a hip issue.

It means that an opportunity could be presented to Paul Huntington or Bambo Diaby, who have played just eight minutes of league football between them this season.

Sean Maguire and Josh Murphy are in contention to feature after injury, but Tom Barkhuizen and Greg Cunningham are still out.

Nat Phillips will be available again for Bournemouth after missing the win over Stoke through illness and should slot straight back into the defence.

Jaidon Anthony and Ryan Christie have been back in training this week after recent injuries and will be assessed ahead of the game to see if they can feature.

Dominic Solanke scored his 20th league goal of the season last weekend but has only netted once in his previous five away matches.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Hughes, Diaby, van den Berg; Potts, Browne, Whiteman, Earl; Johnson; Archer, Riis

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Smith, Phillips, Kelly, Zemura; Billing, Cook, Cantwell; Lowe, Solanke, Dembele

We say: Preston North End 0-1 Bournemouth

Bournemouth seem to have hit their stride again following a tricky patch and we think that they will pick up another three points in this game. It should be a close encounter though, with Preston proving defensively stubborn under Lowe.

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