Preston to prove prickly customers in Burnley’s bid for the title
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Burnley showed the sort of metal associated with title-winning sides when equalising late on against leaders Middlesbrough, but just days after that taxing Tuesday tussle the Clarets have another tough fixture against Lancashire rivals Preston North End.
Despite their exerts, Sean Dyche’s men should have no trouble getting up for this televised Friday night encounter, as a win would take them back to the summit by a point, thereby applying some pressure to Boro ahead of their Saturday fixture against Ipswich.
Being the best away side in the division, Ladbrokes make a Burnley victory the most likely match outcome at 11/10, however it may not be as simple as the odds suggest.
Simon Grayson’s Lilywhites are still one of only a quartet of second-tier teams who can boast a victory over Burnley in 2015/16, albeit that surprise 2-0 triumph at Turf Moor did arrive at the beginning of December.
Boxing Day was the last time the Clarets suffered defeat in the Championship and such a record does render a dabble on PNE to complete a famous double, a risky one at 13/5.
The draw does hold plenty of value at 11/5 it would seem though, with backers of parity rewarded in four of Burnley’s last six run-outs.
Play-off ambitions may have slipped away from 10th-place Preston, but they are not in terrible nick having drawn successive league games themselves.
The prospect of damaging a local rival’s promotion chances live on air is also extra motivation.
At Deepdale, Preston’s record against the current top-half sides stands up as well, especially in the second half of the season.
Only Brentford of the last half-dozen above-the-fold opponents have left with the spoils, while Brighton have been held and Hull defeated in that sequence.
The Lilywhites are 8/11 in the double chance market and given this form, the 6/4 to win without the draw also looks a decent wager.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
