Cardiff City v Preston: prediction, team news, odds and free tip

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Cardiff City v Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Draw-Cardiff double result
1pt 5-1 Betfred

Team news

Cardiff
Sean Morrison was sent off at Leeds last weekend and Cardiff failed with an appeal so the defender is banned. Aden Flint limped off in that game and is doubtful.

Preston
Louis Moult is out injured while Daniel Johnson will be given an opportunity to prove his fitness. Darnell Fisher and Joe Rafferty are banned.

Match preview

Preston's travel sickness has meant they have fallen ten points behind Sky Bet Championship pacesetters West Brom and Leeds and that could continue in Wales against rejuvenated Cardiff.

The Bluebirds parted company with Neil Warnock in November after a home defeat by Bristol City and new manager Neil Harris has taken them into the calmer mid-table waters.

Harris has won both his home fixtures since taking over and the remarkable fightback from 3-0 down at Leeds last week proved that they can compete with anybody in the division.

For a side who have been so strong at home, winning nine of their 12 league matches, just two wins away from Deepdale will be hugely frustrating for North End manager Alex Neil. They have lost their last three games on the road, failing to score in all of those matches.

Successive home wins over Fulham and Luton have at least ensured that the Lilywhites have stayed in the playoff places with a huge Boxing Day clash against Leeds at Elland Road following this game.

Cardiff are hoping for a strong festive period to propel themselves into the playoff picture. They are currently three points off Fulham in sixth. Like Preston, Cardiff have taken their the majority of their league points at home this season with seven wins from ten games.

Midfielder Lee Tomlin is enjoying an upturn in form since Harris took the reins at the Cardiff City Stadium. He scored in the their last home game, a 3-2 victory over Barnsley, before netting again and laying on a tremendous assist for Robert Glatzel in the comeback against Leeds.

The Lilywhites have been missing top scorer Daniel Johnson for the last three matches but he could return to provide a timely boost.

The sides appear evenly matched and a close game could be on the cards. Preston have the upper hand in recent meetings, having completed a double over Cardiff the last time the clubs were in the same division in 2017-18.

Cardiff's confidence gained from the comeback at Elland Road should be enough to help them claim a valuable victory.