Preston vs Stoke Prediction & Betting Tips (20 March)

17th in the Championship, Preston are 10 lengths ahead of the red zone but too far from the race for the top 6. The season therefore seems to be over for the local team which should continue in the coming weeks. Note nevertheless the slight drop in speed experienced by the local players, who lost in the last 4 Championship matches against Millwall 0-2, Oxford Utd 1-3, at the leader Coventry 3-0 and during the previous day on the Norwich turf 2-0. Opposite, Stoke City is 13th in the Championship with no less than 9 lengths behind 6th place, qualifying to participate in the playoffs accession to the Premier League. The road is still long, but remains open.

On condition of achieving an almost perfect final sprint. Problem, Stoke City have lost 2 of their last 3 matches in the league against Coventry 2-1 and Swansea 2-0. In the process, Stoke were held to a draw by Ipswich at home 3-3 before finally finding the key to success against Watford in the previous score 3-1. 

Usual holder in the middle, Ali McCann is injured like Callum Lang and Lewis Gibson (starting defender). On the other hand, the Preston coach will be able to rely on Lewis Dobbin (7 goals, 5 assists), the Montenegrin international Osmajic (7 goals) as well as Alfie Devine and Daniel Jebbison (6 goals, 2 assists each in the Championship). At Stoke City, the attackers Ato Ampah, Bozenik and Divin Mubama will most likely be missing, all three injured. Same case for goalkeepers Bazunu (loaned by Southampton) and Swedish international Viktor Johansson (starting goalkeeper) or defenders Aaron Cresswell (ex-West Ham), Bosun Lawal and starting Ben Wilmot.

Midfielder Lewis Baker is also on the floor. Despite all these absences, Stoke City can field Million Manhoef (7 goals, 3 assists in the Championship), scorer of a double last weekend, or the returning injury Sam Gallagher (2nd goal in the Championship against Watford). Quite ghostly on the Nantes side, the Welshman Sorbon is enjoying himself in the Championship (9 goals, 9 assists).