Preston vs Cardiff Prediction: Bluebirds hoping to capitalise on Lilywhites’ dip in form

Preston North End will look to end their three-match winless streak when they entertain Championship strugglers Cardiff City at Deepdale on Tuesday night (19:45pm, SkySports+). Paul Heckingbottom's side did themselves proud in the FA Cup this season, reaching the quarter-finals before they were eventually beaten by Aston Villa. 

Sat 14th in the Championship with a seven-point cushion on the bottom three, they may already be planning for next season, but Cardiff have some serious work to do to preserve their status. Omer Riza's troops are now in the bottom three, but with them unbeaten in three, they will fancy their chances of ending PNE's 13-game unbeaten home run in the league. 

Football Odds

Team News

Preston boss Heckingbottom is still without Alistair McCann, but Sam Greenwood, Ben Whiteman and Stefan Thordarson all started in midfield against Stoke City on Saturday and should be fit to keep their spots. 

Jack Whatmough and Brad Potts are both sidelined, while goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has already been ruled out for the season. 

Cardiff coach Riza is without the experienced duo of Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey, while goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has a hamstring injury, meaning Ethan Horvath is set to start in goal. 

Fitness issues mean Perry Ng and Anwar El-Ghazi will also play no part.

Preston vs Cardiff Odds

Preston are 7/4 to collect all three points on Tuesday, with the draw 23/10, while Cardiff are 15/8 to win on the road. 

Both teams to score is available at 10/11, while Preston's Emil Riis Jakobsen is the 9/4 favourite to score anytime at Deepdale. 

Preston won 2-0 the last time these two teams met, and a repeat of that is priced at 11/1. 

Cardiff to win @ 15/8 

Only two defeats in 20 means Preston should be proud of their home campaign, but they have never looked close to the play-offs and their season is in danger of fizzling out. 

Their 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa was expected, but it may have just knocked the squad's desire a little for the next few weeks. Preston were then beaten 2-0 by Derby at the start of the month, while they were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke. 

The Potters are fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table, as are Cardiff. 

The Bluebirds are unbeaten in three heading into Tuesday's game and their need for points is greater than Preston's and that may be all they require to grab the victory.

Under 2.5 goals @ 4/6

Tuesday's game should be a low-scoring battle in Lancashire. 

Preston have been relatively tough to break down, drawing five of their last nine matches in the second tier. 

Under 2.5 goals has landed in seven of Preston's last nine games, and they only managed to score more than one goal in one of those fixtures.

Offers

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