Preston North End 
Southampton End of Season, Nothing to Lose
Preston versus Southampton at Deepdale on Saturday lunchtime has the feel of a match where both teams have very different things on their minds. Southampton made it to the FA Cup semi-final, only to lose 1-2 to Manchester City last Saturday. That run, which included a famous 2-1 win over Arsenal in the quarters, will have lifted the mood at St Mary's considerably. But now it's back to the Championship grind with the season winding down.
Paul Heckingbottom's Preston have been inconsistent over their last five games. A 3-2 win away at Sheffield United looks good on paper, but they also shipped two goals at home to West Brom and lost 1-2 away at Birmingham. Seven goals scored and eight conceded across that run tells you this is a side that stays in matches but can't keep a clean sheet to save themselves. The 1-1 home draw with QPR and wins sandwiched around losses sums up a Preston side that lacks the consistency to push in either direction at this stage.
Southampton's form is more encouraging. Three wins from their last four Championship games, with 7 goals scored in those three victories. The draw at home to Bristol City, 2-2, is the only blemish. They're going into Saturday with genuine momentum in the league, even if that FA Cup semi-final exit will sting.
Injuries and Team News
Preston have a few concerns, with Brad Potts, Jordan Thompson and Liam Lindsay all missing this fixture. Losing Thompson and Lindsay in particular hurts the midfield and defensive structure, and Heckingbottom will need to patch things up in the middle of the park.
Southampton are also without Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Samuel Edozie. Harwood-Bellis is a significant absence at the back, and Downes is a key presence in central midfield. Tonda Eckert has got players missing too, though the depth in the squad should allow them to cope at Championship level.
Head-to-Head
The recent head-to-head record is interesting. Last November, Preston won 2-0 at Southampton in this very Championship campaign. That result shows Preston can absolutely do a job against this opposition, and it's the most recent meeting between these sides.
Cast the mind back to 2024, though, and Southampton hammered Preston 3-0 at St Mary's. The two results show a rivalry where the away side has tended to get the result. With Preston at home on Saturday, that cuts both ways.
Preston's attacking threat is real even if their form has been patchy. Luke Dobbin leads the line with 9 goals and 8 assists in 38 appearances this season. Momo Osmajiฤ has 8 goals from 27 starts, and Aidan Devine chips in with 8 goals and 6 assists. There is genuine creativity and firepower in this side, and at Deepdale, they'll fancy putting it on Southampton.
The Betting Angle
This one is harder to call than it looks. Southampton's league form is strong and they have quality in the final third. But they're coming off an emotionally draining FA Cup semi-final, they're missing key players in Harwood-Bellis and Downes, and they're travelling to a ground where Preston beat them just six months ago.
Preston at home with a patched-up Southampton side doesn't feel like the disaster scenario the price might suggest. Both teams have been scoring freely. Preston have conceded in all five of their last games. Southampton drew 2-2 at home to Bristol City and needed late goals to win at Swansea. Goals look nailed on here.
Both Teams to Score stands out as the sharpest play. It has landed in three of Preston's last five and in four of Southampton's last five. Both squads have attacking weapons and leaky defences right now. With key defensive players out on both sides, this has goals written all over it.
Odds: 10/11 โ BoyleSports
Preston have scored in all five of their last games and Southampton have found the net consistently throughout their recent run. Both sides are missing defensive cover through injury, and this Deepdale clash looks set to be open and scrappy. Back goals at both ends.