Leeds United vs Preston North End predictions: Draw kings can silence Elland Road
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- Leeds returned to the top with a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough
- Preston drew 2-2 with Cardiff on Tuesday - their 19th draw this season
- Recommended bet: Draw
It is getting nervous in the Championship promotion race where Leeds know that anything less than victory at home to Preston will be seen as a setback.
Daniel Farke's side had drawn three in a row prior to Tuesday night's 1-0 win at Middlesbrough and that will have stalemate kings Preston believing they can get something from their trip to an edgy Elland Road.
Team news
Leeds have been rocked by a hamstring injury to in-form Daniel James, who limped off at the Riverside on Tuesday. That should mean a start for Wilfried Gnonto against North End.
The Whites first-choice centre-back Pascal Struijk has been ruled out for the season.
North End will probably have the same squad as Paul Heckingbottom picked for Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Cardiff. Of his handful of injured players only Brad Potts could return this season.
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The stats
Leeds are the Championship's top scorers with 80 goals, 18 more than next-best Norwich.
Preston have drawn 21 matches in all competitions, including a Championship-high 19.
They have drawn each of their last two and have been involved in seven 0-0 draws.
The first game between the sides at Deepdale in December ended in a 1-1 draw.
Each of the last eight fixtures between Leeds and Preston has produced either two or three goals.
Prediction
The nerves have well and truly set in as the Championship promotion race intensifies and that could spell a problem for Daniel Farke's Leeds.
They went into this round of matches top of the table despite having drawn three in a row prior to Tuesday's 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.
Slips by both Sheffield United and Burnley recently have helped Leeds' cause and you get a sense that with edginess creeping in to all three, there are some more mishaps to come.
This certainly has the potential to be an awkward afternoon for Leeds, who are far too short given the state of affairs.
And Preston have plenty to fight for as well. Just one win in 10 has seen them drop down the table and they will want to get to 50 points and probably safety as quickly as possible. A point at Elland Road would take them on to the half-century.
Ex-Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom has overseen back-to-back draws against Stoke and Cardiff and they have drawn six of their last 10. They have drawn 19 in the league in total, the most in the division.
Given their propensity for a stalemate you have to think that 23/5 the draw with LiveScore Bet, even away at Leeds, is too big.
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