Eng. Championship
2020-07-01 - Preston North End vs Derby County
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Wednesday 1st July 2020 - Kick Off 5pm
This game is live on TV
Preston North End
There is going to be some major frustrations in the Preston North End camp going into this latest fixture as they have earned just a single point from the first two League games played. A late goal cost them two points at Luton Town, but the home loss to Cardiff City this past Saturday has made a huge dent in Preston North End's hopes of making the Play Offs.
For some time the form has not been the best and Preston North End have slipped to 7th in the Championship table and 3 points behind Cardiff City in the final Play Off spot. They do have an 11-3-6 record at Deepdale where Preston North End have scored 36 goals and conceded 27, although the gap to the top six may be wider with some of their Play Off chasing rivals playing on Tuesday.
Preston North End have not won any of their last 5 games in the League either side of the three month break and they have been beaten in 4 of those to lose ground in their efforts to earn a Play Off spot. The side have won 1 of their last 5 games here and Preston North End have lost 3 of their last 4 including consecutive 1-3 defeats to Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City.
Derby County
The slow start to the season might ultimately prove costly for Derby County, but they have continued to play very well during the time Wayne Rooney has arrived at the club. Wins over Millwall and Reading keep Derby County's hopes of finishing in the top six alive for another week, but Phillip Cocu will know his team can't make too many errors in their final seven games to earn a Play Off spot.
The Rams have moved up to 8th in the Championship table and 3 points off the Play Off spots, but the fixture list looks a tough one even if they are in control of their own fate. Over the next six games, Derby County face teams that are all currently above them in the League table beginning with this one at Deepdale. The side have a 4-5-10 record away from home during which time they have scored 24 goals and conceded 38.
Derby County were comfortably beaten by Manchester United in the FA Cup Fifth Round prior to the three month break, but they have won 4 Championship games in a row. The away form has been a touch more inconsistent, but Derby County have won 3 of their last 6 on their travels in the Championship including back to back wins at Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall.
Andre Wisdom was stabbed in an 'unprovoked' attack in Toxteth and will likely miss the remainder of the season.
Head to Head
Derby County beat Preston North End 1-0 at Pride Park earlier this season.
Preston North End have not won any of their last 6 at home against Derby County. They had been beaten 4 times in a row before the goalless draw last season.
Prediction
Goal difference is separating these two teams in 7th and 8th in the Championship table and it is a big game for both Preston North End and Derby County.
Both teams will be hoping they can still push into the Play Off spots, but the momentum is with Derby County who have won 4 in a row. They have won consecutive away games in the League and Derby County have scored at least three times in both wins, but The Rams continue to be vulnerable at the back.
The home team have not been winning games which has seen them moving in the wrong direction compared with Derby County and Preston North End have lost 4 of their last 5 League games. They were beaten 1-3 by Cardiff City on Saturday and Preston North End have lost back to back games here by the same scoreline either side of the three month break.
Both Preston North End and Derby County have shown they can get forward and score goals, but neither can really rely on their defence to keep the other out either. Picking a winner is not easy, but you can't ignore momentum and Derby County look to have that.
However the bigger feeling is that we are going to see a fair few goals in this one despite the last 8 between these clubs finishing with two or fewer goals scored.
In recent games both teams have been creating plenty and conceding plenty and 5 of the last 7 home Preston North End games have ended with three or more goals shared out. The last 7 away League games played by Derby County have done the same and with neither team likely to be settling for a point I do think this game being played in front of the television cameras can produce three or more goals on the day.
The Pick :
Preston North End 1-2 Derby County
