Burnley vs Preston Predictions

• Burnley have won three of their four home Championship games this season
• Preston have lost three of their four away league matches this term
• Preston have scored in their last three away Championship matches

Clarets can seize chance to go to the top

Burnley can move back to the top of the Championship table with a win over Preston in Saturday’s Lanchester derby at Turf Moor. Scott Parker’s team picked up their third home win in four when they beat Plymouth Argyle at home in midweek.

It was a solid victory, albeit with one or two late scares from Wayne Rooney’s side. Burnley opened a deep-sitting opponent up several times but failed to find the finish before Liam Cullen was clumsily upended in the box and Josh Brownhill tucked home the resultant penalty.

The Clarets could face a sterner test from a Preston side that thrashed Watford 3-0 on Wednesday – or possibly not because the Lilywhites have been nowhere near as effective away from home this season.

Osmajic set to miss out

Paul Heckingbottom has only been in charge for the last three road trips, two of which were 3-1 defeats at Oxford and Millwall, but there appears to be little belief in the side when they go away.

Heckingbottom expects Milutin Osmajic, his striker who scored twice against Watford in midweek, to be banned by The FA before the weekend. Osmajic has been charged for biting Owen Beck in a 0-0 draw with Blackburn in September and faces a lengthy lay-off.

That, and the fact that Burnley have kept three clean sheets in their last four Championship games, will put a few off backing Burnley and both teams to score here. But there tend to be a few goals when PNE go away so backing Burnley and over 2.5 may be a worthwhile play.