Preston v Burnley predictions: Clarets' fine form to continue in cup
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- Burnley are on 23-game unbeaten run
- Preston are without a win in their last three games
- Recommended bet: Burnley to win
Championship duo Preston and Burnley battle it out in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday with the visitors looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run to 24 games.
The Clarets have also gone nine games without conceding a goal, with the last time their opponents found the back of the net against them coming in their 3-1 FA Cup third-round victory at Reading.
Scott Parker's side are still very much in the automatic promotion hunt in the Championship and will hope to transfer their league form into the cup, while Preston have slipped to 15th in the second tier and have failed to win any of their last three matches.
Team news
Mads Frokjaer is rated as a major doubt for the hosts, while Duane Holmes, Jordan Storey, Jack Whatmough and Ben Whiteman are all still on the sidelines.
For Burnley, Jordan Beyer, Mike Tresor and Aaron Ramsey are all set to miss the cup tie due to injury, while Bashir Humphreys will be given a late fitness test.
The stats
Preston beat Charlton 2-1 and Wycombe on penalties, both at home, to reach the fifth round.
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North End are unbeaten in their last 12 home games in all competitions.
The two sides have drawn 0-0 twice in the Championship this season.
Burnley's incredible defensive record in the Championship has seen them go on a 12-game run without conceding a league goal.
The Clarets knocked out Reading in the third round, winning 3-1 away, and Premier League strugglers Southampton in the fourth round, thanks to a 1-0 win at St Mary's.
Burnley are aiming to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the second time in three years, having also progressed to the last eight in 2023.
The last time Preston reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup was 1966.
Prediction
Burnley's brilliant league form means they are in contention for an immediate return to the Premier League, but they can forget about their promotion push this weekend when they make the short trip to Deepdale.
Parker's side will be seeking a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals and their confidence should be sky high for Saturday's lunchtime tie, as they look to extend their long unbeaten run and their stunning clean-sheet record.
Preston's play-off hopes in the league are fading as they now sit nine points behind the top six and their involvement in the FA Cup also looks set to come to an end this weekend at the hands of their Lancashire rivals.
The two goalless draws between the teams in the league this season suggests this cup clash will be tight but the in-form visitors can come out on top this time.
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