Bolton vs Preston North End Predictions

Can Bolton boost their push for safety this weekend when they host Preston? The Trotters are aiming to move out of the bottom three, after falling to 23rd place in the Championship after a rotten run of form. They will be targeting a victory in this meeting with Preston, but the visitors come into this one as favourites to make the most out of Bolton’s miserable campaign. While the hosts are desperate to return to form, we aren’t quite convinced that they’ll take this chance to move clear of danger.

The hosts come here in terrible form, after a season which has been tough for all involved. Last weekend they struggled to bridge the gap to one of the main promotion contenders. A 2-0 defeat at third-placed Sheffield United kept the Trotters in the bottom three. While that loss was another blow, the real damage was done when they could only draw 1-1 at home to Reading – the side directly above them in the table. Failing win relegation six-pointers like that leave huge doubts about their ability to match better sides.

Preston are may no means on par with Sheffield United, as they sit down in 18th place in the table. They’ve spent much of the season within reach of the drop zone, but they have moved to put some distance between themselves and danger, without managing to climb up the standings. This season still seems like a major disappointment compared to last term, when they made a push for the playoffs. However, they’re set to avoid relegation to League One, and they can move closer to safety with a win here.

The hosts have lost four of their last five games in all competitions, while they have one win in their last 20 league games. The hosts have the worst home form of any Championship side, which gives Preston a chance here. Bolton have lost over half of their matches at the University of Bolton Stadium in the league this term. After their recent losing streak, it is maybe set to get worse.

The visitors don’t have a stellar away record, but they’ve won their last two on the road. Victories at QPR and Stoke should give them confidence, while they’re unbeaten in six meetings with Bolton. We see the visitors edging this clash, so we’re backing an away win in this game, while we see Preston grinding out a 1-0 victory in this trip.