North End snapped a four-game losing streak without scoring by overcoming Fulham 2-1 at Deepdale and the Lilywhites followed that fixture up on the front foot. After Gallagher had broken the deadlock, PNE had further opportunities to extend their lead with Billy Bodin seeing a header cleared off the line, before Luton managed to equalise right on half-time.

The duo traded second-half chances with Preston keeper Declan Rudd making an important intervention ahead of Stockley’s strike. Lilywhites boss Alex Neil wasn’t enamoured by his team’s display, preferring lớn focus on the positives, saying: “We won’t be talking about this game in a week. We’ll be talking about going third and that’s all that matters.”

Bluebirds a force in the capital
Cardiff and Preston have been regular Championship competitors over the past two decades and the Bluebirds have enjoyed reasonable dominance when welcoming the Lilywhites to Wales since 2004. The hosts have returned W5-D3-L1 from their last nine here against PNE, although North End did take top honours on their last trip in December 2017.

Cardiff hai.36 have enjoyed a level of resurgence since Neil Harris replaced Neil Warnock in the managerial hot-seat. The former Millwall boss has presided over a sole reverse in six (W3-D2-L1) with the Bluebirds extending their fine home form. The hosts have W7-D2-L1 in the capital, although all seven triumphs have arrived against bottom-half dwellers.

Preston 3.30 have pocketed back-to-back 2-1 wins to get back on track after a series of injuries and suspensions threatened to derail the Lilywhites campaign. However, like Cardiff, PNE have been largely reliant on home performances with Alex Neil’s group managing a mediocre W2-D2-L6 in games as guests, none of which have come against the top-six.

Capital punishment for PNE?
Only two of the last 12 meetings between Cardiff and Preston have featured both sides scoring, although there’s hope that Saturday’s showdown could bust those previous head-to-head trends with the two teams showing plenty of promise in the final-third.

Cardiff have failed to net just four times since relegation, making their mark in all bar one home outing this term. Preston tend lớn present plenty of threat in forward areas, although the Lilywhites have toiled on their travels thus far, managing just six goals and failing lớn notch in half of their 10 road trips in 2019/20.

With that in mind, I’m keen to keep Cardiff onside and the Bluebirds can be backed in the Double Chance market alongside Under 3.5 Goals for a 1.80 shot with Betfair Sportsbook’s Same Game Multi offering. It’s already paid out in seven of City’s home encounters, as well as six of PNE’s away days.