Time looks right for Preston to reach end-of-season bunfight

Local betting expert Joe Whitaker casts his eye over Preston North End’s prospects for promotion to the Premier League and the best bets in the Championship
Preston North End's Josh Harrop scores his side's fourth goal against Mansfield in the Carabao CupPreston North End's Josh Harrop scores his side's fourth goal against Mansfield in the Carabao Cup
Preston North End's Josh Harrop scores his side's fourth goal against Mansfield in the Carabao Cup

North End fans were hoping for an addition or two to the squad before the big kick off against Swansea at Deepdale.

If Alex Neil must make do with what he has got, their current price of 25/1 to win the league and 8/1 to be promoted is a decent reflection of their chances. I would probably want slightly bigger odds myself, though it must be said it isn’t a particularly strong renewal of the Championship this season.

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For a start, I cannot see their being any standout big spenders and the days of clubs gambling financially to go up have all but gone.

Derby and Sheffield Wednesday are reminders of the need to operate within financially secure business models, and given the current climate, the guaranteed commercial stream from fans in the ground is not guaranteed for the time being.

The clubs to come down are also clubs who could easily become accustomed to playing at this level again.

This should help clubs like Preston a tad, though the influx of top-flight loan players to clubs deemed more suitable, as seen by this weekend’s opponents Swansea last season, does not help.

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The squad is not short of quality at Deepdale, however, and big seasons are surely ahead for attacking midfielders Josh Harrop and Brad Potts, whilst I fancy last season’s star signing Scott Sinclair to make 
more of an impact now he has had to time to settle.

There is very good competition for places in the starting XI, with squad players such as Jordan Storey and Ryan Ledson looking like ones who could be knocking on some doors increasingly going forward.

Looking at the list of clubs to be promoted, there aren’t many who I could back with confidence, given the impending break-up of squads at Brentford and Bournemouth.

I would have fancied Watford had they stuck with proven manager Nigel Pearson but given the fact it’s a first job in the country for new boss Vladimir Ivic, I wouldn’t be parting with my cash on the Hornets this season.

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Norwich have ensured some continuity by keeping Daniel Farke and most of their squad together. They were very poor for large parts of last season, though they will be at their level again and at 5/2 they look just about value to be backed to go back up again.

The best bet for me is the 5/1 being offered for North End to make the play-offs this season.

That will be the aim, and its one I feel is achievable. They have some real experience and winners in that dressing room with the likes of Paul Gallagher and Sinclair, combined with others slap bang in their prime.

At the other end I feel the bookies have been quick to give Neil Warnock the thumbs-up at Middlesbrough.

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Whilst I have always rated Warnock at this level, he inherited a tough job from Jonathan Woodgate and given the departures of experienced players like Ayala, Shotton and Gestede I think the 16/1 for them to finish in the bottom three looks a tad generous.

BEST BETS: Norwich to win promotion 5/2, Preston to make the play-offs 5/1, Middlesbrough to be relegated 16/1.