Football is a funny old game. After the defeat to Birmingham on Easter Monday and the goalless draw away to Watford last Saturday, it looked like Preston’s season was fizzling out.
Norwich City had beaten Ipswich Town in the early kick-off on that Saturday and they were looking strong to finish the season in the top six. Even at half-time on Tuesday night, with Norwich beating Sheffield Wednesday, and North End a goal down to Huddersfield Town, Preston were 10 points behind The Canaries.
Four second half goals for Preston, including a hat-trick for Milutin Osmajic, coupled with a comeback from The Owls to get a draw against Norwich, meant that Preston sit just five points behind Norwich now.
Preston face Norwich City at Deepdale on Saturday in a fixture that Ryan Lowe has claimed is the biggest in his reign as manager at the club. A home win would take them two points behind David Wagner’s side with a game in hand.
The game in hand is a very tough one away to Southampton, but it is back in Preston’s hands now to finish above Norwich.
Coventry City lost to Southampton on Tuesday, whilst Hull City and Middlesbrough drew with each other on Wednesday.
The table as it stands
If Preston were to win all their remaining games the only team that could pip them to sixth place would be Coventry. The Sky Blues would have to match their results, and with a 17 goal lead on the goal difference they would likely get that final play-off spot. Preston have had some heavy defeats this season, and their goal difference has always looked a lot shorter than the other competitors.
Preston do face some very tricky fixtures over the next month and it would be a huge ask to expect maximum points.
There are some interesting fixtures among the other teams as well, and Coventry also have an FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United to deal with next Sunday. Their game three days after that is against Hull City.
Remaining fixtures
Preston
13th April – Norwich (H)
16th April – Southampton (A)
20th April – QPR (A)
29th April – Leicester (H)
4th May – West Brom (A)
A tough run-in for Preston, with the game against Queens Park Rangers the only one you would make them favourites for. They are set to face four of the current top six in their remaining five games.
Norwich
13th April – Preston (A)
20th April – Bristol City (H)
27th April – Swansea (H)
4th May – Birmingham (A)
Saturday’s fixture is huge and will have a big say in how Norwich’s season finishes. Games against Bristol City and Swansea City are favourable with neither of those teams having anything to play for. But an away game against Birmingham City could be tricky as they are likely to be fighting against relegation on the final day.
Coventry
13th April – Birmingham (H)
21st April – Manchester United (N) – FA Cup Semi Final
24th April – Hull (H)
27th April – Blackburn (A)
30th April – Ipswich (H)
4th May – QPR (H)
An intriguing set of fixtures for Mark Robins’ side. Like Preston they still have five league games to fit in, but there is the added cup tie in there, and potentially a final as well if they beat Manchester United. The league games all come against teams still fighting for something as well.
Middlesbrough
13th April – Ipswich (A)
22nd April – Leeds (H)
27th April – Cardiff (A)
4th May – Watford (H)
Two very tough games for Boro in the next two weeks against teams still capable of winning the whole league. An easier end for Michael Carrick’s side if they are still in contention at that point.
Hull
13th April – QPR (H)
20th April – Watford (A)
24th April – Coventry (A)
27th April – Ipswich (H)
4th May – Plymouth (A)
A game in hand on Norwich like Coventry and Preston and a big game in the penultimate week against Ipswich. The Tigers have only won one of the last eight so will need to pick up their form if they are to challenge.
It’s sure to be an exciting end to the season, but Preston need three points on Saturday, and then anything can happen.
The post How the play-off picture looks for Preston heading into the final month, and the remaining games for the contenders appeared first on Deepdale Digest.