Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Luton Town's return to England's second tier is proving to be extremely challenging. A run of four consecutive Championship defeats is likely to compel them to adopt a defensive strategy against Preston North End, as the gap from the relegation zone is minimal — securing any points is crucial.
Luton Town
The streak of poor results for Luton Town began post-Christmas, with only two shots on target in five matches. Last Saturday, the former Premier League side was eliminated from the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest (0:2), against whom the Championship's underdogs managed 0.85 xG. In three of their last five home matches, the total under 2.5 has come through — they increasingly opt for a rudimentary approach in the opposition half to avoid creating issues in their own.
Preston North End
Likely, Preston North End's fans are not entirely satisfied with their team's outcomes either, but they lose far less frequently: only two losses in the last 12 matches. Against Oxford United (1:1) in the previous round, they recorded their 10th under result of the season — sharing the lowest scoring record with four other teams. Preston North End have claimed just one win in 12 away games.
Luton Town vs Preston North End Prediction
The first leg encounter ended in a narrow defeat for Luton Town (0:1). Away from their home turf, Preston are unlikely to take risks either — they are content with a mid-table position, and their recent cup match took a toll on their energy.
