Brighton vs Preston Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Preston struggled in the opening few weeks this season with the suggestion being that they over-achieved with their solid top half finish last term. However, once again Simon Grayson’s side have proved they are much better than they often get credit for. They went into the international break having won 4 of their previous 6 games and that includes a League Cup triumph at Premier League Bournemouth and a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Deepdale in their most recent outing.

This though will be a real test of their metal and the one game they didn’t get a result from in the previous six was a 5-0 hammering at Brentford. Brighton were another side that many people suggested over-performed last term but they again look like very genuine promotion contenders in 4th place currently with 21 points from their opening 11 matches. They picked up an excellent 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday last time out to enact some kind of revenge for their play-off defeat against the Owls last term.

It would have sent the Seagulls into the international break on a real positive note. At home they are almost always very strong and it is just 1 defeat in 16 home Championship matches now for Brighton. That defeat was this season when they lost 2-0 to Brentford but aside from that they have been very dominant at home, winning their other 4 league home games to nil and scoring 9 goals in the process.

Preston are just lacking a bit in terms of creativity still and it’s hard to see the visitors causing many problems here, with the hosts likely to dominate possession and territory. Preston can be stubborn opponents, as Brighton found out last term when both games ended 0-0 but the Seagulls have a bit more in their locker now. The likes of Anthony Knockaert, who is having an excellent season, are capable of breaking Preston’s resistance. So backing Brighton -1.0 Asian Handicap at 2.100 looks a solid punt here.