Where data experts' supercomputer think Preston North End will finish in the Championship this season

Wins over Middlesbrough, Swansea City, Reading and Blackburn Rovers have helped them secure a play-off spot, and more than one occasion, rising as high as fourth before their league rivals had played their games.

League positions are not decided in November or December however so North End will keep plugging away in the hopes of finishing in the top six come the end of the season.

But how do the data experts think they’ll do? FiveThirtyEight have predicted the Championship table in full and it seems North End are set to just miss out on their target.

Unfortunately, they think the season will end in heartbreak for PNE as they’re tipped to narrowly miss out on the play-offs, finishing seventh just one point off Millwall in the final play-off place. Although the prediction model does give the Lilywhites a 26% chance of reaching the post-season.

Current leaders Burnley are predicted to finish top of the tree, two points clear of Sheffield United with both getting automatic promotion.

The Blades are the only interruption to last season’s relegated trio, with Norwich City predicted to finish third, two points ahead of Watford in fourth – both set to usurp Blackburn in what would otherwise be today’s table, Rovers tipped to slip to 12th.

Boro, who are currently 12th, are tipped to rise up to fifth, with Millwall expected to round off the top six.

At the other end of the table it is bad news for Huddersfield Town who are in rock bottom now and supposedly at the end of the season too. Rotherham United, despite a good start to the season and currently being four places above the drop, are predicted to finish in 23rd on 51 points. Hull City are next on 52 points, with Blackpool and Wigan Athletic both surviving by their superior predicted goal differences.

Predicted Championship table:

1st – Burnley 85 (GD+31)

2nd – Sheffield United 83 (+30)

3rd – Norwich City 74 (+16)

4th – Watford 72 (+14)

5th – Middlesbrough 69 (+12)

6th – Millwall 68 (+6)

7th – Preston 67 (+2)

8th – West Brom 66 (+9)

9th – Coventry City 66 (+4)

10th – Swansea City 66 (+1)

11th – Luton Town 64 (+2)

12th – Blackburn Rovers 64 (-8)

13th – Birmingham City 63 (+5)

14th – QPR 62 (-3)

15th – Sunderland 61 (+2)

16th – Reading 61 (-12)

17th – Stoke City 59 (-5)

18th – Bristol City 58 (-2)

19th – Cardiff City 55 (-12)

20th – Blackpool 51 (-17)

21st – Wigan Athletic 51 (-18)

22nd – Hull City 51 (-24)

23rd – Rotherham United 50 (-16)

24th – Huddersfield Town 46 (-18)