- Preston are 16th in the Championship
- Boro are up in fifth place
- Recommended bet: Draw

Preston have been very difficult to beat lately, especially at home and they can frustrate fifth-placed Middlesbrough in their Championship clash at Deepdale on Saturday.

North End secured an impressive 2-1 win at Watford on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to four games and Paul Heckingbottom's side look capable of holding Boro, who were beaten 2-1 by Portsmouth in their most recent road trip.

Preston have moved eight points clear of the relegation zone after the success at Vicarage Road, while Boro are fifth, two points ahead of Blackburn directly below them in the table, but 10 adrift of fourth-placed Sunderland.

Team news

Preston's Brad Potts is close to a return and will be assessed in the build-up to this clash. Robbie Brady is pushing for a start for the hosts after again coming off the bench in the win at Watford.

Boro did not appear to pick up any fresh injuries in their win over West Brom in midweek, but they still have several players in the treatment room.

Josh Coburn and Darragh Lenihan remain major doubts for Saturday's game, while the likes of Tommy Conway and Anfernee Dijksteel are unlikely to return for the visitors.

The stats

Preston are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions at home, although five of those matches have ended in draws.

Boro have won just one of their last five away games in the Championship.

The earlier fixture between the sides ended 1-1 at The Riverside Stadium in September.

Emmanuel Latte Lath is the Teessiders' top-scorer this season with 11 league goals, while Emil Riis is the Lilywhites' leading scorer with seven Championship goals to his name.

Prediction

Preston have frustrated plenty of the Championship's better teams at home this season, earning draws with high-flying Leeds and Sunderland, as well as West Brom, Blackburn and Norwich.

Heckingbottom's side have also beaten Watford, Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale to underline just how difficult it has been for opposition sides there this term.

Boro could well be the next promotion hopefuls to come unstuck in this part of Lancashire, with a draw this weekend doing little to aid their promotion push.

Michael Carrick's men are 14 points off the automatic promotion places, but remain well in the mix for the play-offs.

However, their away form has been disappointing over the winter and they could be in for more frustration on Saturday.

Back the draw at 9/4 with LiveScore Bet.

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