Cardiff City v Preston North End: Tips, Predictions and Odds

Cardiff are winless in their last five games and find themselves in the midst of a relegation battle thanks to their struggles in front of goal. No team has scored fewer than the Bluebirds’ 17 this season and improving Preston North End could pick up their first away win of the season when they visit South Wales on Wednesday.

This could be a crucial clash in the context of the battle to avoid the drop in a congested bottom half of the second tier. 

Cardiff City v Preston North End betting tips and predictions

Preston North End draw no bet - 6/5

Stalemates have been Preston North End’s biggest issue this season. They have drawn 10 of their 19 games going into this clash with Cardiff, but there have been some definite positive moves in recent games.

PNE were the better team for large parts of their 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday last time out and they have also held highflying Burnley, West Brom and Sunderland this term. 

They had seven shots on target against the Owls and put up an expected-goals figure of three, so they are doing the right things going forward.

An upturn in their finishing should see them take a big leap forward and it may come in this game.

They face a Cardiff team who are winless in their last five games and have lost three of those.

The Bluebirds have some of the worst expected-goals figures in the division and their run of four wins from six games across October is starting to look like the outlier.

Uncertainty surrounding caretaker manager Omer Riza has hung over the club recently and although he has now been given a deal until the end of the season, this does not look like a team going in the right direction.

The Bluebirds have lost their last two home games, conceding five goals in the process, and they could be vulnerable against a Preston team who may be on the up.

North End were 2-0 winners when they visited this ground in February and are fancied to pick up their first win of the season on the road here.

However, given the sheer number of stalemates they have played out this season, it may make sense to take that option out of the equation altogether and back them in the draw-no-bet market.

Emil Jakobsen to score at any time - 15/4

Goals have been an issue for Preston for some time but Emil Riis Jakobsen remains a quality striker at this level when fit and firing.

The Dane scored 16 league goals a few seasons ago and has netted three times in his last four starts.

With the visitors still missing other attacking options Robbie Brady and Ched Evans, Jakobsen is likely to lead the line once more for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.

He is fancied to get on the scoresheet in this one and punish what has been a leaky Cardiff defence.   

Alistair McCann to be shown a card - 21/10

Alistair McCann has a crucial role in Preston’s midfield, but he often has to do plenty of his team’s dirty work.

As a result he has been shown six yellow cards in just 14 starts this season and looks a big candidate to receive another on this visit to Cardiff.

Take McCann to fall foul of the referee once more.

Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.

Cardiff City v Preston North End Odds

Cardiff City - 27/20
Draw - 21/10
Preston North End - 21/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.