Newcastle vs Preston North End Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

Newcastle are doing exactly what was expected of them at the start of the season as they start to build a lead at the top of the Championship. Their 3-0 win over Ipswich on Saturday leaves them three points clear of Brighton & Hove Albion and extends their winning streak to five matches.

They are unbeaten since a shock 2-0 loss to Wolves eight games ago, and they have made short work of Cheltenham and Wolves in the League Cup with 2-0 victories. Since their defeat they have scored 16 goals in their seven matches and conceded five. Newcastle are most definitely the team to beat in the Championship at the moment.

Ayoze Perez, as talented as he is, has been largely absent from the score-sheet in the league this season. He netted two at the weekend though and took his tally to three goals in ten appearances, and in the League Cup he scored both goals against Cheltenham Town. Dwight Gayle is the man to watch though. The summer signing has 11 Championship goals to his name already, but although he came off the bench against Cheltenham to set a goal up he hasn’t started either League Cup clash. Perez is likely to start instead, so I fancy him as an anytime goalscorer at 6/4.

Preston North End don’t really have a danger man on the same level as Gayle. Their top scorer this season is Jordan Hugill with five goals to his name, one of which came in their League Cup win over Oldham Athletic. His tally may be relatively low compared to Gayle, but at 4/1 to score anytime he’s definitely worth a couple of quid.

It took extra time for Preston North End to see off Premier League opposition Bournemouth, although that win at the Vitality Stadium showed that they are well and truly up for this competition. That win sparked an excellent run of form for the visitors as well, and they haven’t lost a game since the weekend before that match, winning five and drawing two of their last seven.

Both of these sides have seen goals flying in from all directions recently. Preston North End have netted 14 in their last seven matches and Newcastle have scored 16 in the same period of time. Between them they have kept six clean sheets in these 14 games, and both will be looking to gain a psychological advantage ahead of their Championship clash at the weekend.

Seven of Preston North End’s last ten outings have seen at least three goals scored, as have five of Newcastle’s nine outings at home this season. Both teams’ recent form in front of goal make a high scoring match a likelihood, so I’m backing Over 2.5 Goals at 17/20 along with a 2-2 correct score prediction at 18/1.