Leeds vs Preston Prediction: Farke’s men can close in on automatic rivals

Leeds sit in fourth place in the Championship table and seem to have little chance of catching runaway leaders Leicester at the top of the second-tier section at this stage.

However, with Ipswich heading to the King Power to take on the Foxes on Monday night, there is an opportunity for Leeds to move closer to Southampton and the Tractor Boys and Southampton who sit level on points in second and third place respectively.

There is a seven-point gap to the second automatic place for Leeds to claw back, but that could be down to four by the time the Suffolk side head to Leicester on Monday night.

Preston can get in the mix for the play-off places with a victory at Elland Road, but Ryan Lowe’s side have lost five of their last seven matches and that isn’t the form of a top-six side.

Team news

Karl Darlow, Stuart Dallas, Pascal Struijk and Jamie Shackleton remain sidelined. Liam Cooper could return to the Leeds defence, but Luke Ayling has left to join Middlesbrough on loan.

Will Keane, Emil Riis and Mads Frokjaer could be in line for a start for Preston, but Lowe will be without the services of injured pair Jack Whatmough and Ched Evans. There could yet be further absentees for the Lilywhites, who have had illness in the camp this week.

Match odds;

Leeds 2/7 Draw 9/2 Preston 10/1

Leeds & over 2.5 goals @ 5/6

Leeds made a huge statement when they hammered Ipswich 4-0 just before Christmas, but the Whites were then beaten by Preston and West Brom. However, Daniel Farke’s men have bounced back to win three matches on the bounce and they look a side nearing their peak.

Leeds bashed Birmingham 3-0 at Elland Road on New Year’s Day, before following up with a 3-0 victory over Peterborough in the FA Cup. The Whites then crushed Cardiff 3-0 last time out and Farke’s attack is proving difficult to resist.

The Elland Road outfit have one of the Championship’s most destructive forwards at their disposal in Crysencio Summerville, Daniel James’ pace is always a threat on the break and Patrick Bamford has found his goal-scoring touch, hitting the net three times in his last three matches.

Preston have lost five of their last seven matches and Lowe’s men have shipped 15 goals on that poor run. The Lilywhites were good 2-0 winners over Bristol City last time out, but they face a major step up in opposition at Elland Road and backing Leeds to win a high-scoring contest looks a bet.

Crysencio Summerville to score at any time @ 13/10

Summerville promised plenty in the Premier League last season and the Dutchman has delivered on that potential in the Championship this term. The 22-year-old forward has hit 12 second-tier goals this season, and while that’s a tidy tally, the pace and skill of Summerville has been even more impressive.

The 22-year-old is likely to get plenty of opportunities to expose a leaky Preston rearguard, and in a contest that the betting expects Leeds to win, Summerville looks good value to find the net.

Football betting tips, from Betfred Insights.