Preston North End play host to West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday evening looking to end a four-match winless streak in the Championship.
While Preston currently occupy 14th position in the standings, West Brom are down in 21st place with Steve Bruce fighting to retain his job at The Hawthorns.
Match preview
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Given their ambitions to earn promotion back to the Premier League, it is somewhat of a surprise that West Brom have, so far, opted to retain the services of Bruce.
Ten points from 11 matches have already left the Baggies eight points adrift of the playoffs and with a lingering concern about becoming embroiled in a relegation battle.
Although West Brom have scored in all but one of their league fixtures this campaign, their only clean sheet came in the same contest with Cardiff City back on August 17.
On paper, West Brom have some more favourable fixtures in the short term, but they will only make progress up the table if they find a way to keep clean sheets.
While conceding seven times from five away matches is respectable enough, they are yet to prevail on the road this season, instead recording four draws.
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From Preston's perspective, their supporters will not exactly be enthusiastic about watching their games at the moment with yet another goalless draw being recorded at the weekend.
The stalemate at Sunderland was their sixth in 11 outings, and Preston have now netted just twice in the most recent 720 minutes of football in the second tier.
With his side sitting in 14th place, Ryan Lowe is not exactly under pressure at Deepdale, but there will be an acknowledgement that he at least has to keep Preston in contention for the playoffs.
However, the North West outfit are yet to win six matches at Deepdale this campaign, something which must change as soon as possible if they want to be regarded as dark horses for the top six.
Team News
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Lowe may opt to make changes in the final third with Troy Parrott in line to return to the Preston XI.
Alistair McCann and Ben Woodburn are also alternatives with Ched Evans potentially dropping down to the substitutes' bench.
Defender Andrew Hughes will hope to return to the squad after missing the trip to the Stadium of Light through illness.
As for West Brom, Tom Rogic should retain his place in central midfield after coming through 57 minutes on his debut versus Swansea.
However, Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby are alternatives in that area of the pitch, while Karlan Grant will expect a recall in place of Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham; Browne, Whiteman, Ledson, Fernandez; Parrott, Riis Jakobsen, Brady
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Button; Furlong, O'Shea, Townsend, Pieters; Livermore, Rogic; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant
We say: Preston North End 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
Everything points to this contest being a low-scoring affair, especially with both clubs desperate for a win and to avoid defeat in equal measure. Despite their lack of goals, we feel that Preston's extra defensive resoluteness should help them to maximum points at Deepdale.
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Top tip
Darren Plant
