Preston v Burton Betting Preview – Championship 6th May 12.30pm
This game and the Derby v Barnsley game are going to be intertwined on the weekend. Preston needs to win this while hoping Derby lose in order to get themselves up into the play offs. That’s the only scenario which works for them. Burton on the other hand needs Derby to win in order to give them a chance of getting safe with a point. Burton realistically needs a win out of this though.
Preston News and Form
Preston do have a shot at finishing in the top six this weekend. But they would need to produce a win in this fixture while hoping that the relegation-threatened Barnsley go to Derby and win. That’s the only way that Preston make the top six. Preston have put some good form on the board going W3 D1 in their last four league matches so they have finished strongly. They have nothing to lose really in this one so can just go for it. Compared to those starting the weekend inside the top six, Preston aren’t as strong going forward and therefore under 2.5 goals at William Hill is at 11/10 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 11:15 p.m. on May 1st, 2018). Preston have averaged just over a goal per game at home, but are backed up by a great defence which has conceded at under a goal per game. Preston have been level at half time in twelve of their home games this term and so a half-time draw bet is a decent proposition. 60% of Preston’s goals at home have been produced in the second half of matches.
Burton News and Form
Burton have done tremendously well to play themselves into a position of getting safe on the final day of the season. They have won their last three games in a row and that was started with a shock win over Derby who are in the hunt for a playoff spot. Burton followed that up with crucial victories over Sunderland and Bolton who are the two sides beneath them in the table going into the final weekend. Burton are third from bottom but would get safe with a point if Barnsley lose their final game. If they get three points that gives them a better shot of staying up because they could then potentially catch Reading and Birmingham if either of those fails to win. Burton have tallied just the 18 away goals this season while conceding an average of 1.6 per game. They have taken four points from their last two on the road, but against the current top six, Burton have lost all of their away games this season (Preston are seventh). So that’s a concern. Overall their away record is just W6 D6 L10 and only the already-relegated Sunderland have a worse defensive record than they do.
Preston v Burton Head to Head
This will be just the fourth game between Preston and Burton and from the previous ones, Preston are W2 D1 up. In their only previous game at Deepdale, there was a 1-1 draw played out in November 2016. Preston’s two wins in the sequence came by a one-goal margin.
Preston v Burton Betting Odds*
Preston 8/15, Draw 3/1, Burton 5/1* (Betting Odds taken at 4:15 a.m. on May 1st, 2018)
Preston v Burton Predictions
The Lilywhites are obviously the stronger of the two and on home soil, they should have enough in the tank to get the win on the board. They need help from elsewhere to make the top six, but they can do their part.
