Preston only sit two places and two points above Saturday's guests Portsmouth in the Championship table but the home side are the clear favourite with the bookmakers.
Contents
Preston vs Portsmouth prediction: A home win and a clean sheet?
Key Stats
- Portsmouth have lost 12 of their 18 away games in the Championship this season and have failed to score in 39% of their away trips.
- Under 2.5 goals have been produced in 72% of Preston's home games in the league this season.
- Portsmouth score an average of just 0.94 goals per away game in the Championship.
Correct score prediction: Preston 1-0 Portsmouth
Preston don't score many goals, in fact, Saturday's hosts are only averaging 1.06 goals per game at Deepdale. However, the home side have a good defensive record in their own backyard, conceding just 0.78 goals per game, which is why we've backed Preston to claim a 1-0 victory this weekend.
Pre-game odds and win probability: PNE the favourite
- HOME: 6/5 (2.20) – 45.5%
- DRAW: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
- AWAY: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Preston are the expected winner of this game with a probability of 45.5% and we can't argue with the bookmakers on this selection.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: All square
The last five competitive meetings between these two clubs have been split evenly with each side securing one win, three draws and one defeat apiece.
England Championship 09/11/24
Portsmouth
Preston
Preston preview: A well-earned point in midweek
Preston would have been expecting a tough test at the Stadium of Light but Paul Heckingbottom's side gave as good as they got and managed to come away with a share of the spoils.
Emil Riis fired the visitors in front in the 65th minute, but the Black Cats hit back late on to make the final scoreline 1-1.
Saturday's hosts have a clean bill of health and no suspended players, so could go with the same starting lineup that faced Sunderland.
Predicted lineup: Woodman (GK), Hughes, Porteous, Gibson, Kesler-Hayden, Meghoma, Potts, Ledson, Poroarson, Greenwood & Riis
England Championship 11/03/25
D
Sunderland
1
Preston
1
England Championship 08/03/25
L
Sheff Utd
1
Preston
0
England Championship 04/03/25
D
Swansea
0
Preston
0
England FA Cup 01/03/25
W
Burnley
0
Preston
3
England Championship 22/02/25
L
Coventry
2
Preston
1
Portsmouth preview: Edged out by Plymouth
Portsmouth simply weren't good enough against bottom-of-the-table Plymouth on Wednesday night, suffering a 2-1 defeat in their own backyard.
The visitors scored just before the break and early in the second half to take a commanding two-goal lead and although Adil Aouchiche pulled a goal back for Pompey after Plymouth had had a man sent off, there was no time left to carve out an equaliser.
Jordan Williams, Callum Lang, Conor Shaughnessy, Jacob Farrell and Ibane Bowat could all miss out this weekend through injury.
Predicted lineup: Schmid (GK), Ogilvie, Poole, Swanson, Ritchie, Pack, Murphy, Dozzell, Aouchiche, Potts & Bishop
England Championship 12/03/25
L
Plymouth
2
Portsmouth
1
England Championship 09/03/25
W
Leeds
0
Portsmouth
1
England Championship 01/03/25
L
Luton
1
Portsmouth
0
England Championship 22/02/25
W
QPR
1
Portsmouth
2
England Championship 15/02/25
W
Oxford Utd
0
Portsmouth
2
Player to watch: Emil Riis Jakobsen
Emil Riis Jakobsen is enjoying his fifth season at Deepdale where he currently top scores for the club in the Championship with ten goals.
Riis, as he prefers to go by, scored 16 times in 44 appearances during the 2021/22 campaign and will be hoping to at least emulate that total this season.
The Preston forward has 12 goal involvements in the league
The 26-year-old Danish forward was on target in midweek at Sunderland and is expected to lead the line against Portsmouth this weekend.