Preston North End v Leeds United: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Leeds United could do with improving their modest away form if they want to sustain their top-two charge in the Championship, but Preston North End at Deepdale may not be pushovers.

Daniel Farke's Whites have the fewest away wins of any of the top seven in the table and that will encourage their former boss Paul Heckingbottom, whose Lilywhites side have become hard to beat.

Preston North End v Leeds United betting tips and predictions

Preston or Draw Double Chance - 6/5

It's been a good week for Leeds with two wins at Elland Road in the space of three days, but that doesn't necessarily mean they should be seen as good for the hat-trick.

Their form at home, where they have picked up 28 points, is in stark contrast to their toils on the road with just three wins and 13 points accrued from nine away fixtures.

Their most recent away day was at Blackburn Rovers two weeks ago which ended in a 1-0 loss, while their only win in their last six away matches was a 4-3 success at Swansea City.

Farke's men are a class act in this division who are unlikely to fade away from the hunt for an automatic promotion spot, but their record on the road still suggests they might be too short at 13/20 for their lunchtime rendezvous at Preston.

Indeed, North End, managed by ex-Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom, are just the type of blue-collar outfit who the Yorkshire side could struggle to overwhelm.

They come into the game off the back of a fully-deserved 2-0 win at Cardiff City on Wednesday, their first win since October 19th.

But they have also drawn 10 of their last 16 matches, demonstrating an indefatigability that should stand them in good stead for the onslaught which presumably is set to come their way.

Indeed, since losing 2-0 at home to Sheffield United on the opening weekend of the season they have drawn with Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Burnley, Norwich City, Sunderland and West Brom.

If top teams like those can't put the Lilywhites away, then there are clear grounds for believing they can hold off Leeds.

Farke's side will be confident, of course. They bounced back from that loss at Ewood Park by beating Derby County 2-0 last Saturday and then overcame a very decent Boro 3-1 on Tuesday.

They have won five of their last six, but until they start to completely convince away as well as at home they still look worth taking on.

The Preston or Draw option in the Double Chance market at 6/5 looks a fair play.

Josh Bowler Over 0.5 Shots on Target - 6/4

North End have an almost fully-fit squad for the visit of Leeds though they will have a tweak to make in attack with Sam Greenwood, on loan from Elland Road, ineligible.

Preston will be doing more defending than attacking but they can take a leaf out of Blackburn's book. Two weeks ago when Rovers stunned Leeds 1-0 at Ewood Park as they matched the mighty Whites almost shot for shot despite seeing under 29 per cent of the ball.

The key then is accuracy of pass and execution and they boast forwards who can cause problems, among them Josh Bowler, their tricky winger on loan from Nottingham Forest.

Bowler is averaging 1.4 shots per game despite having played only one full 90 minutes this season.

Leeds do offer chances on the break and Bowler is exactly the type of player who can exploit gaps in behind.

Daniel James Over 0.5 Shots on Target - 5/6

If North End will get the odd sight of goal, then Leeds will get plenty. They lead the league in shots per game and head for Preston on the back of a 3-1 triumph over Middlesbrough in which they unloaded 17 efforts.

Top of the shooting parade for United against Boro was Daniel James with five, two of which were on target.

The Wales international has got four goals this season and is averaging 1.9 shots per game.

He will drift in and out of games, but he can also be explosive and the 5/6 he gets at least one shot on target looks a super play.

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Preston North End v Leeds United odds

Preston - 4/1
Draw - 3/1
Leeds - 13/20

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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.