Saturday Championship Tips: Another absorbing 90 minutes at Deepdale

• Eight Championship tips including:
• Goals at Deepdale
• Tangerines to blunt Blades
• Baggies bounce after Bruce sacking

PNE and Potters to strike in Lancashire

Preston 2.486/4 v Stoke 3.39/4; The Draw 3.39/4

Preston were unable to build on last weekend's unexpected victory at Carrow Road as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Bristol City on Wednesday night. Ryan Lowe was critical of his side's performance, suggesting that they deserved to take no more than a point from the match.

The Liverpudlian will be looking for an immediate response on Saturday afternoon, however, they could find it tough against a much-improved Stoke outfit.

Having scored just three goals across their first 11 fixtures, PNE have finally started finding the back of the net. They have scored in each of their last three with both Emil Riis and Troy Parrott beginning to look more confident in front of goal. Nevertheless, with an xGA of 4.6 across their last three games, the Lilywhites have now conceded three times across their last two matches, a stark contrast to the defensive solidity that they displayed across their first 12 performances.

Stoke were victorious against Sheffield United last weekend and Alex Neil will be hoping that the Potters can secure consecutive victories for the first time this season. The former PNE boss will be looking to get one over on his former employers, although his side are far from guaranteed to keep a clean sheet.

They've conceded a xGA of 5.6 across their last three matches and although the injury situation is slowly improving, they could struggle to keep a much-improved PNE off the scoresheet.

Seasiders to take at least a point back home

Sheffield United 1.625/8 v Blackpool 6.86/1; The Draw 4.131/10

Sheffield United's injury crisis has prevented them from extending their lead at the top of the table. Having failed to win any of their last three matches, the Blades find themselves level on points with both Norwich and QPR and they'll be desperately hoping that the return of Oli McBurnie from suspension can help put their poor run of form firmly behind them.

If Anel Ahmedhodzic is passed fit for this game, then that would be viewed as a significant boost for the hosts. However, the recent change of system, caused by lack of availability, has undoubtedly affected their performances.

Blackpool required less than 30% possession to beat Watford last weekend and with the Seasiders slowly growing in confidence, they may not be easy opponents for the out-of-form Blades.

Michael Appleton's side are dangerous and have a number of players, including Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino, who have caught the eye in recent weeks. The Fylde Coast club have avoided defeat in three of their last five away games and could easily leave South Yorkshire with a point on Saturday.

Cardiff and Coventry to share the points

Cardiff 2.226/5 v Coventry 3.5551/20; The Draw 3.259/4

Coventry have picked up just a single victory so far this season, but they are putting in some decent performances. They rattled the woodwork against Burnley last weekend and probably should have picked up at least a point at the CBS Arena.

That was Mark Robins' side first defeat since the beginning of September and they will be tough to beat once again this weekend. The underlying numbers suggest that they are keeping things tight and they are unlikely to give much away against a much-improved Cardiff outfit.

Cardiff are unbeaten in their last three and have won each of their last two matches under the recently appointed Mark Hudson. Callum Robinson appears to finding his stride in South Wales and they are likely to create chances. Nevertheless, Cardiff have drawn twice at home and each of their three victories here have been decided by a single goal. This could be close.

BTTS at Turf Moor

Burnley 1.845/6 v Swansea 4.84/1; The Draw 3.8514/5

Burnley are the only unbeaten home side in the division and they will be hoping to maintain that record against Swansea. Although Vincent Kompany's men are yet to lose at Turf Moor, they have dropped points to Stoke, Hull, Blackpool and Luton already this campaign.

The Clarets are having issues putting games to bed, despite creating multiple chances throughout the 90 minutes, and having conceded a late goal in three of their last six matches, they appear unlikely to keep the in-form visitors at arm's length here.

Swansea have a great record against Burnley, winning seven of the last nine, and, having scored 10 times across their last four matches, they will be expecting to continue that impressive streak. Russell Martin's side have also been involved in some hugely entertaining matches on the road and BTTS has landed in each of their last four away games.

Baggies to respond to managerial sacking

Reading 3.55/2 v West Brom 2.245/4; The Draw 3.5551/20

West Brom dispensed with Steve Bruce at the beginning of the week following their disappointing goalless draw with Luton. Although they are unlikely to have a new gaffer in charge for this match, there is likely to be a response from the players.

WBA possess one of the most talented squads in the second tier, and they have been consistently creating chances throughout the course of the campaign. Despite failing to take all three points, they've looked dangerous going forward and with an xG of 4.2 across their last three matches, they should be able to register at the Madjeski.

Reading suffered a last-gasp defeat to QPR last weekend, but they have been extremely effective in Berkshire. They have suffered just a single home defeat so far and have netted in six of their first seven matches here. Although they've been fairly defensively savvy in front of their own fans, they've failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last four, and that run is expected to continue on Saturday.

Lions to suffer yet another away day defeat

Bristol City 2.6613/8 v Millwall 3.052/1; The Draw 3.39/4

Bristol City put their wretched run of form firmly behind them on Wednesday night with a 2-1 victory over Preston. Nigel Pearson will be pleased to see his side return to winning ways and although this is a fairly quick turnaround, they should be able to build upon their midweek triumph.

At home, the Robins have been fairly effective and have suffered just two defeats at Ashton Gate. High-flying QPR are the only side to have beaten them here since the beginning of August and they should be able to take something from this clash.

Millwall's Zian Flemming has been hugely impressive in recent weeks, but the Lions are still poor on the road. Gary Rowett has been linked to the vacancy at the Hawthorns and, even though the BBC reported that he was not in line for the job on Thursday, his side could potentially be distracted here. Given that they are yet to secure maximum points on their travels, they could struggle on Saturday afternoon.

Low-scoring clash at the Riverside

Middlesbrough 2.111/10 v Blackburn 4.131/10; The Draw 3.55/2

Middlesbrough are still managerless with Leo Percovich expected to take charge of this weekend's clash. Although they were victorious in their previous home game, they were extremely poor on the road last weekend and that has caused significant concern amongst the Boro fraternity.

Nevertheless, the hosts have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches at the Riverside Stadium and could be tough to break down here. Creativity remains an issue with the Teessiders having failed to register in three of their last four outings.

Blackburn have been hugely inconsistent this season and their poor away from continued on Tuesday night with a 1-0 defeat at Wigan. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side have failed to score in five of their last six away games and their xG on the road is extremely disappointing. They are unlikely to create too many chances here.

Sunderland to edge out Latics

Sunderland 2.166/5 v Wigan 3.55/2; The Draw 3.412/5

Sunderland are badly lacking firepower and they have paid the price for failing to recruit an additional striker this season. The Black Cats have failed to win any of their last four matches, although they've been fairly solid at the Stadium of Light and have suffered just a single defeat in front of their own fans. The Black Cats have drawn four of their first six matches here and have kept three consecutive clean sheets.

Wigan were victorious at home in midweek, however, the Latics have been far stronger on their travels this season. Nevertheless, they somehow slipped up at MKM Stadium recently and could find it tough to break down the defensively-robust Wearsiders on Saturday afternoon. There is likely to be very little between these two sides.