West Brom vs Preston North End: Betting Odds & Prediction

(Featured image: Alamy Images)

Written by: Bradley Walker

West Brom look to secure their position in the Championship play-offs when they host Preston North End on the final day. 

The hosts know a draw will see them cement their sixth-place finish due to Hull City's inferior goal difference. The Baggies secured a comfortable 4-0 away win in the reverse fixture earlier this season. 

Kick-off is set for 12:30pm UK time on Saturday afternoon. 

Recent Form 

West Brom 

Carlos Corberán's men look set for another run at a Premier League return, sitting in sixth heading into the season's final weekend. A loss could derail any promotion ambitions however, with Hull City waiting to pounce as they travel to Plymouth Argyle on the same day.

Their recent form has hardly been convincing; West Brom have suffered three consecutive defeats, including their most recent home outing, which saw them lose 1-0 to mid-table Sunderland. The Baggies were unbeaten in four at home prior to the loss. 

Despite their recent troubles, only five sides boast better home records than West Brom this season. Averaging 2.09 points, Corberán's side have won 14 of their 22 home outings and have only lost four at home so far. 

An average 1.49 goals scored is a healthy return, but the goals look to have dried up in recent weeks, with West Brom failing to score in two of their last three matches. Nevertheless, they've scored two or more in eleven home outings. 

Fortunately for them, their defensive record makes for good reading; an average of 0.77 goals conceded at home has seen them register eleven clean sheets at the Hawthorns so far. 

Preston North End

A run of four consecutive defeats have cooled any ambitions of a late promotion push for the Lily Whites. Preston now sit in tenth, and are targeting a second consecutive top-half finish since 2018. 

Ryan Lowe's side are however winless in their last four away fixtures, losing three, and have failed to score a goal in any of those matches. This has been the theme for most of the season, with Preston averaging a measly 0.95 goals scored on the road. 

Their 1.27 goals conceded isn't awful, but given the lack of threat going forward, it's no surprise to see them as the lowest-scoring away side in the top half of the Championship.

Prediction

Neither side have been free-scoring in recent weeks. West Brom's home fixtures have averaged only 2.36 goals in total so far, while Preston's games on the road have seen an average of only 2.23. 

OddsNow anticipate another low-scoring encounter this weekend as the home side look to avoid any late season slip-up in their quest for a Premier League return. 

OddsNow's Pick: Under 2.5 goals scored (10/11 @ bet365)