Preston North End vs Birmingham Predictions

Preston’s push for the top six continued in midweek, with a huge win over Middlesbrough. They blew the top six fight wide open with that success. Meanwhile, Birmingham basically surrendered any remaining chance they had of making the playoffs with another loss at home. They’ve been left six points off the pace, with time ticking away. Will they fall further down the table with a loss this weekend?

The hosts won 2-1 at Middlesbrough, which has left the fifth-placed side on shaky ground. They’re only three points shy of the side in seventh, while Preston are now just two points off the top six. There are five sides outside the playoff spots who have a chance of climbing back in. Derby and Middlesbrough are nervously looking over their shoulder, so the top six race should be thrilling.

The visitors are on an awful run of form, which has blown any chance of them making the top six. They’ve lost two big games at home, going down 1-0 to Aston Villa at the weekend before a 2-0 loss to Millwall on Wednesday. That defeat at St Andrew’s has pushed the Blues out of the top six race, leaving the possibility that their season could fall apart. With a 14 point lead over the relegation zone, while a 12 point deduction is being threatened, the Blues could yet have an awful finish to the season.

Birmingham look lost ahead of this trip, after losing three straight matches. They have a middling away record, losing out at Hull in their last trip. Now they meet one of the league’s form sides, as Preston try to continue their bid for a top six finish. The Deepdale side have won three of their last four games in the Championship, a run which they’ll be looking to continue in this clash.

Preston are unbeaten in 11 league games, and they’re making a great push for the playoffs. They’ve managed to see off Middlesbrough and Blackburn in the last few days, so Birmingham should be the latest to fall short. The visitors come here with a mixed away record and three straight defeats to nil. The hosts have a fantastic scoring record at Deepdale, which they should build on en route to victory here. We’re backing a home win in this clash, while we see the hosts winning 2-0.