Preston vs Swansea City Predictions

• Swansea have conceded 15 goals across their last 6 away games.
• Preston have scored 2+ goals in 11 of 15 home matches this season.
• The hosts are back in scoring form, having averaged 2.1 goals per game at Deepdale.
• Swansea have lost 5 of 8 clashes against the top 7 ahead of this trip to the Championship’s strongest home side.

Top Six Test

Two sides in the running for the playoffs clash in one of Saturday’s most interesting Championship encounters. There are a lot of similarities between these two sides – both weren’t expected to contend in the top six race at the start of the season, while neither have the squad depth expected of a top six contender and yet the two remain in the top eight. However, this clash is a serious test for both, especially Preston’s great home form.

Swans Wobble

This probably isn’t the best time for the visitors to take on a fellow playoff contender – especially on the road. Swansea have had their problems on their travels recently after starting the campaign in good form away from home. A failure here for the Swans would mean they’ve won just once on the road in three months, while that victory was a narrow success at bottom club Luton.

The Swans have seen things get worse in recent weeks, including an FA Cup annihilation at QPR in a 5-1 loss. The Welsh side have lost three of their last four on their travels, while they have shipped 15 goals across their last six away games alone. That doesn’t seem like a freak outcome to us, as Swansea’s defence have been riding their luck all season. The visitors have conceded fewer goals than expected of a side who allow over 16 shots per game against them away from home.

Stable Preston

A worry for Swansea is that this is one of the places where that kind of weakness at the back could really be punished. The hosts have converted 16% of their shots at home, so they will take chances if given them on Saturday. The hosts are the highest scorers at home in the division, while they have recently returned to form with six points and five goals from their last two games. They’ll expect to continue a great run at home which has seen them score two or more in 11 of 15 home league games.

Preston are back to their best so we expect them to carry on the form which has seen them average 2.1 goals per game at home this season. They are well placed to take advantage of Swansea’s issues in defence, while the Deepdale side have already proven that after scoring twice at the Liberty earlier this season. Following that, we’re backing over 1.5 Preston goals in this Championship encounter.

With Swansea losing three of their last four on the road, we expect them to struggle here. They’ve lost five of their eight clashes with sides above them, while Preston lead the way in home form in the Championship. The hosts have 10 wins in 15 matches at home, so we are backing them to pick up a third win in four at home to Swansea. A 2-0 victory for the hosts is our correct score selection.