2023-24 Sky Bet Championship: Week Nine – Saturday

Preston North End look to continue their promotion push in a home clash against West Bromwich Albion at Deepdale. 

Victory would see Preston move top if Ipswich lose elsewhere, whilst West Brom can move into the top ten with a win.

 

Team News

Preston have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-1 draw at Rotherham as Will Keane (adductor) nears a first-team return, although it is unclear if he will be risked here.

Calvin Ramsay (unspecified), Emil Riis Jakobsen (knee) and Ched Evans (neck) remain absent.

West Brom could be without defenders, Semi Ajayi and Erik Pieters after the pair missed training earlier this week due to knocks.

Josh Maja (ankle), Daryl Dike (Achilles), Pipap, Nathaniel Chalobah, Caleb Taylor and Tom Fellows (all fitness) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Preston host West Brom in a 3pm BST kick-off at Deepdale on Saturday 30 September, albeit untelevised in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Preston are unbeaten in three of their last five meetings against West Brom (W2, D1, L2).
• West Brom have lost just one of their last five visits to Preston (W2, D2, L1).
• Both teams have won one of their last three meetings at Deepdale by a 1-0 result, except for 1-1 draw in September 2021.
• Anything other than defeat would see Preston go unbeaten in nine consecutive league matches for the first time since April-August 2022.
• Another draw would see West Brom draw four consecutive league games for the first time since a run of five straight draws between August-October 1999.

 

Prediction

Sat third coming into this matchweek but still unbeaten, Preston simply need to continue playing with the same attacking quality which has served them well but their end product needs to be more polished, after scrapping their way to a 1-1 draw at Rotherham.

West Brom meanwhile must find consistency if they’re to challenge for promotion because they were flat at times against Millwall, yet excellent in other parts of the game but crucially lacked end product to break down the Lions’ tough defence.

You therefore might feel that the first goal if there is one might just be decisive but given the talent in both teams, my instinct is that this could well be a score draw if both teams can improve their final touches.

Prediction: Preston 1-1 WBA

Result: Preston 0-4 WBA