The wrong end of the Championship comes to Deepdale on Friday night. Preston are winless in five (D L L L L) and in a genuine relegation battle. Stoke (W L L D W) aren’t exactly flying but come in off the back of a win. Expect a scrappy, physical game.
Predicted XIs from the Statz H2H page:
Preston (5-3-2): Iversen; Small, Hughes, Lindsay, Storey, Valentin; Thompson, Whiteman, Devine; Dobbin, Osmajic
Stoke (4-2-3-1): Simkin; Bocat, Phillips, Gibson, Tchamadeu; Rigo, N’Zonzi; Thomas, Bae, Manhoef; Smit
Andrew Hughes has put up remarkable numbers for Preston – 3 goals and 3 assists in his last 5 games from centre-back. The Statz data is clear on this. Brad Whiteman drives from midfield with 1 goal and 3 shots in 5.
For Stoke, Million Manhoef is their main attacking threat – 2 goals and 3 shots in 5, direct and lively on the left. Steven N’Zonzi controls the tempo but fouls his way through games – 10 committed in his last 10 per the H2H stats. Booking risk is high.
This is a physical fixture throughout both sides. Preston’s McCann tops their foul chart with 15 in 10, Jebbison follows with 14. Cards will fly. Check the Championship stats hub for season context.
Manhoef 2+ shots combined with N’Zonzi to be carded is the logical pairing. Andrew Hughes to score anytime is a big price worth considering given 3 goals in 5 – unusual from a centre-back but the numbers back it up. Build it on the Statz Bet Builder Tool.
Stoke to edge a tight one on the back of better recent form. Under 2.5 goals and a narrow away win. Both teams to be carded is virtually nailed.