Cardiff City vs Preston North End Prediction: Tight encounter expected in Wales

I’ll let you have a peak behind the curtain here folks. I’ve just written the preview for Leeds United vs Middlesbrough, so seeing Cardiff City vs Preston North End (19:45, Sky Sports+) as the next on my ‘to-do list’ is quite the comedown. Still, every Championship game deserves its flowers, so I promise I’m equally excited about this battle between 21st and 17th. 

This game will actually have major consequences on the relegation battle in the second tier, with both teams currently hovering just above the drop zone. Below you can find my Cardiff City vs Preston North End predictions featuring team news and betting tips. 

Team News

Omer Riza has now been named as Cardiff’s manager until the end of the season, but his side aren’t in great form. They haven’t won in their last five matches, and their weekend match against Watford was called off due to high winds. That means they haven’t played in 10 days, so freshness shouldn’t be an issue for Riza’s side. 

However, they will be without two key players as Manolis Siopsis is serving a suspension and David Turnbull has picked up an injury. Andy Rinomahota and Rubin Colwill could be the likely replacements, while Chris Willock, Ollie Tanner and Joe Ralls are options in midfield and attack if Riza decides to go for a more attacking line-up for this home game. 

Football Odds

Preston North End manager Paul Heckingbottom should stick with the same side that played well at Hillsborough this weekend, even though they failed to gain all three points. Robbie Brady is now back in training and working his way back to match sharpness, and other than that, they’ve got a fully-fit squad to choose from, which is a great position for Paul Heckingbottom to be in.

Emil Riis Jakobsen found the net again at the weekend and should lead the line, supported by Sam Greenwood and Mads Fronkjar-Jensen. Meanwhile, Ben Whiteman is still trying to force his way back into the XI.

Cardiff City vs Preston North End Odds

Having won four and lost five of their home games so far, Cardiff City are priced at 13/10 to win this game, giving them an implied win probability of 43%. Meanwhile, Preston are yet to win an away game this term and are 23/10 to end that run. 

A draw can be backed at 11/5, while over 2.5 goals is 6/5 and has only come in during 33% of Cardiff games, while BTTS is 5/6. Callum Robinson is the favourite to open the scoring at 6/1, having scored five goals in 15 games for the Bluebirds this term. 

Under 2.5 goals @ 8/13

I don’t rate either of these attacks particularly highly, so I think we could see a fairly turgid affair at the Cardiff City Stadium on Wednesday night. Robinson is Cardiff’s top scorer with five, while no other player in blue has scored more than twice in the Championship this term, which shows a real reliance on a number nine who hasn’t been that prolific in front of goal across his career. Cardiff have only seen over 2.5 goals in six of their 18 games so far, which gives them a success rate of 33 per cent, while PNE sit at 42 per cent. 

Preston’s last four matches have all seen under 2.5 goals, and given they rank 22nd in terms of xG created this season, only above Oxford United and Plymouth Argyle, so the underlying numbers give me have serious concerns about them this term. Riis is a decent striker, but he simply doesn’t get enough chances to do serious damage. I’m happy to back under 2.5 goals once again.

Correct score: Cardiff 1-0 Preston @ 6/1

I’ll go for a narrow home win in this game, based on the fact that Preston have only picked up five points on the road this season, from nine away games so far. Meanwhile, Cardiff are yet to draw at home, winning four of their nine home matches. They’ve only scored 11 goals and conceded 12 during that time, so this shouldn’t be a game packed full of goals, and I’ll lean towards the home side to secure a narrow home win. 

Now the manager situation has been sorted until the end of the season, I think the players will have a point to prove, and can end this winless run. 

Offers

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