Preston look to make it four wins on the bounce against Millwall

Photo Credit – Josh Knowles, Prost International

After making it three consecutive wins against Reading last time out, Preston North End look to make it four wins in a row for the first time since 2020/2021 season.

North End remained unbeaten in the final five games of that season winning their last four as Frankie McAvoy earned himself a permanent job.

They face a Millwall side who are struggling for goals but will be looking to end the run of fixtures of a high ahead of the upcoming World Cup break.

North End have been short of goals themselves this season, but after scoring in each of their last five games, Ryan Lowe’s side is full of confidence ahead of the final game before the break.

Ched Evans had gone for over a year without a goal, but in typical fashion, two came at once as his double against Reading sealed the points live on sky.

As for the visitors, they haven’t scored in three games after drawing their previous two against Birmingham and Hull respectively. But with the championship being in the crazy state that it is, just three points separate the two sides at Deepdale despite there being four places between the teams.

The second tier is renowned for being the most unpredictable league in England, but this season has been like no other. Whether it’s a lack of quality or just great entertainment, just ten points separate 4^th and 21^st which is virtually unheard of.

A win could take Preston as high as fourth but a loss could see them slip to as low as 11^th, which could hugely affect Ryan Lowes’s sides confidence heading into the weeks off.

In terms of team news, Lowe is taking no risks with midfielder Ben Whiteman who pulled a muscle in his thigh in the early stages of the contest with Swansea City.

Lowe joked in his pre-match press conference that Whiteman was wanting to be included on the bench but the scouser has chosen not to risk the midfielder and give him the correct amount of time to recover in time for the first game back which sees North End play Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers.

As for Gary Rowett’s men, they’ll be without Shaun Hutchinson and Benik Afobe due to hamstring and knee injuries respectively but the Lions will be boosted by the return of Murray Wallace who returns from suspension whilst Ryan Leonard is also back in contention following a hamstring injury and could play some part at Deepdale.

With it being the final game for the next three or four weeks, both sides will be wanting to boost their position in the standing and go into the break on a positive note after mixed results across the season so far.

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