MansionBet Match Preview: Preston North End (A)

In partnership with MansionBet, here’s a preview of what you can expect from the next fixture, with City travelling to Preston for a match under the Deepdale lights, live on Sky Sports (December 18th, 8pm KO).

A super September turned into a hit and miss October, before a better return the following month with just one defeat. But three losses in December – two in a row after Tuesday’s game against Millwall in BS3 – has seen City slide out of the play-off places.

City know they haven’t been at their fluid, attacking best and will be working hard to get back to the sort of form seen earlier in the campaign.

Going up against a 'bogey' side in Preston may not be the fans' ideal fixture in that case. Much has already been written about City's long run of games without victory over the Lilywhites - 14 previous fixtures without success - but then again, the past plays no part in the fixture and records are always there to be broken!

The Robins last beat Preston on February 5^th 2011 in a 4-0 win with Kalifa Cissé, now of the coaching staff, featuring in that game.

They did come close to three points in this fixture last year, however they were held to a 3-3 draw as the rain pounded the North West, and again the sides shared the points in a 1-1 draw in the 2019/20 season finale.

Strong on the counter-attack and good in the air (Andrew Hughes, Patrick Bauer and Jayden Stockley average more headers won than Tomas Kalas who leads the City charts), Preston men pose a real threat but they are prone to conceding chances, so if City can get their rhythm going, they could put the hosts under the cosh. The Robins may also find success on the counter so it could be an open and lively contest in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

As for Alex Neil's team, they have secured only two wins at home in the league all season and like City, enter this latest fixture on the back of two consecutive defeats. 

Despite taking an early lead through Sean Maguire, they succumbed to a 2-1 loss in the week to Barnsley as the Tykes battled back with two second-half goals.

It's all to play for in this pre-Christmas encounter with Head Coach Holden and his players aiming to bring home the perfect present in the form of three points.

All fans (Season Card and Non-Season Card holders) are reminded the match is not available via Robins TV, due to EFL regulations.

MATCH DETAILS 

Where: Deepdale
When: Friday, December 18th, 8pm KO
Competition: Sky Bet Championship

Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Assistants: Steven Meredith and Mark Jones
Fourth official: Darren Bond