We are at the part of the season where matches are rearranged in the Sky Bet Championship because of FA Cup commitments and we have one of those on Tuesday evening when Preston North End play host to Millwall.
Just goal difference separates these two sides in the table heading into the match and with both sat seven points off the play-off spots and with this being their game in hand, this is a match both will be eager to win to keep their hopes alive.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Sky Sports+ channel with the short build-up to the contest beginning at 7.35pm ahead of the kick off at 7.45pm.
Preston North End
This was a season which wasn’t going anywhere for Preston North End as they approached the turn of the year but the FA Cup came at the right time for them and things have turned around in a positive fashion in 2025 and they head into this match off the back of one defeat in their last nine in all competitions. Given the perilous position they were in when Paul Heckingbottom took over the side that will be delighted to be safely in mid-table but a win here and there is a chance that they can push on in the final quarter of the campaign.
Preston have played 32 matches this season and have only lost nine of them so that is very much a positive for them. The problem is that they have they have drawn 14 times and only West Brom have drawn more so if they could have turned some of those draws into wins they would be in the top half and much closer to the top six. Preston don’t concede many goals but they are one of the lower scorers in the league and that will be the thing they need to change if they are going to keep their season alive.
Millwall
After flirting with relegation last season, Millwall will be more than happy to be in no danger of the drop this time around. Earlier in the campaign there were signs of life that they might actually be a team who could push on and challenge for the top six. That went a bit awry as Christmas approached and the enforced change of manager took place but Alex Neil looked like he was getting a tune out of a side which sold its best player in the January window.
It is a little harder to judge Millwall because Alex Neil hasn’t been in the job for as long as Paul Heckingbottom but he’ll be motivated to get the better of his former club. If that is to happen then the Lions are going to need to defend a whole lot better than they did when they were beaten 5-1 at Plymouth Argyle last week. Scoring goals hasn’t been an issue for Millwall recently. Even though only two teams in the Championship have scored fewer than them, the London outfit have scored in their last six matches.
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Team News
Preston North End will be able to call upon the services of their skipper Ali McCann who has completed his two-match suspension. Emil Riis and Robbie Brady both returned at the weekend but Ben Whiteman, Jack Whatmough and Jordan Storey remain out.
Alex Neil has no fresh injury concerns leading into the match but he might have striker Josh Coburn available. His fitness will be checked on the night. Record signing Camiel Neghli could make a start along with George Honeyman and George Saville.
Betting
When you look at this match, the fact that they are two of the lower scoring teams in the league and are separated in the league table by just three goals, you would imagine a low scoring draw might be the order of the day. That is certainly what the bookmakers think because the odds on both teams to score and on under 2.5 goals are very prohibitive. They would be the popular bets but I just wonder if the prices have skewed the other lines a little bit too much.
Although a low scoring match is expected, Millwall have scored in their last six matches and Preston have scored in seven of their last nine with the two they didn’t score in coming against Burnley at the weekend, who nobody scores against these days, and against Luton where Paul Heckingbottom admitted he changed his side to deal with the set play threat of the Hatters. There have been two or more goals in six of the last nine Preston games in the league and four of the last six Millwall matches. Statistically I don’t think the line should be much worse than a narrow favourite on the over 2 but the Asian lines have the goal line at 1.75 at a juicy enough 1.75 price so we win half with two goals and in full if there is a third. That feels the value play here.
Tips
Back Over 1.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.75 with Bet365
