Preston vs Barnsley Predictions

• This will be Preston’s first game under new manager Ryan Lowe, who had success at Bury and Plymouth.
• Barnsley have lost ten of their last 13 Championship fixtures.
• Barnsley have conceded at least two goals in six of their last ten Championship matches.

Lowe and behold PNE’s new manager 

Saturday marks the dawn of a new era at Deepdale as Ryan Lowe takes charge of his first North End game – and he could hardly have wished for a more obliging opponent.

Visitors Barnsley have the worst record in the Championship and arrive in the midst of a run that has seen them win just once in their last 19 league games. Even with just a few days to prepare and get his ideas across to a new group of players, Lowe should be targeting three points in this game.

Preston were not a terrible side under his predecessor, but too many draws proved costly to Frankie McAvoy. The Lilywhites will probably become a little more direct under Lowe, who has been one of a new breed of tactically astute coaches influencing the lower leagues.

Lowest scorers in the Championship to draw a blank

It may take time to create something as impressive as his transformation of Plymouth, but Lowe will certainly have Preston playing on the front foot pretty quickly and we believe it can pay instant dividends here.

Although the Tykes have stopped the rot with back-to-back league draws against Peterborough and Huddersfield, they remain toothless in attack. Poya Asbaghi’s side are the lowest scorers in the Championship and may struggle to breach a PNE backline that has only conceded four goals in their last five.

Barnsley have conceded at least two goals in six of their last ten Championship matches – hence our forecast of a 2-0 home win.