Preston

West Brom travel in strong form having taken maximum points from their last two matches and collecting three victories from five away trips this season. By contrast, Preston have lost four consecutive matches and have failed to keep a clean sheet in eleven league games, conceding 24 goals in total. With Preston missing four players through injury including A. McCann and T. Carroll, West Brom hold significant advantages across form, defensive structure, and recent head-to-head records. Backing the visitors on the double chance accounts for potential low-scoring friction away from home while offering strong coverage against an out-of-form host.

Preston have managed just one victory and eight defeats across ten league matches this season, remaining winless on the road with four losses and a draw from five trips. They have conceded an average of 2.2 goals per away game and have kept zero clean sheets all season. Wrexham have found the net in each of their five home fixtures and have avoided defeat in three prior head-to-head encounters against Preston, recording two wins and a draw. While Wrexham have drawn half of their league fixtures, covering both the home win and draw accommodates their high stalemate rate while strongly opposing a struggling Preston side.

Birmingham have proven difficult to beat this season, losing only one of their nine Championship matches. While they have yet to register a home victory, drawing all four fixtures at St Andrew's, they face a Preston side that sits 24th in the table with seven losses from nine games and zero victories on the road. Preston have also failed to record a single clean sheet all season, conceding 1.8 goals per match. Backing Birmingham to secure at least a draw respects their high draw rate at home while accounting for Preston's prolonged struggles away from home.

Millwall or Draw — 76% confidence

Preston have managed just one win from eight league games this season, losing six times and struggling particularly in defence where they have kept zero clean sheets. Millwall have established complete dominance in this fixture over recent years, remaining unbeaten in ten straight head-to-head matches against Preston with four wins and six draws. Backing Millwall to secure at least a point covers both an away victory and the frequent stalemate between these two sides while reflecting Preston's current lack of winning form.

BTTS Yes — 71% confidence

Both teams exhibit clear patterns of scoring and conceding. Preston have conceded 15 goals in eight matches and have zero clean sheets to their name, yet they have scored in six of those eight games. Millwall possess significant firepower with 15 goals scored overall and have found the net in every single away league match this season, though their depleted defence has leaked ten goals in four away games. Seven of the previous ten meetings between these two clubs have also seen both teams get on the scoresheet.

These two calls are about different parts of the match (double chance and both teams to score), so neither one determines the other. The figure shown is the lower of the two — a combo can never be more likely than its weaker leg.

Both teams exhibit clear patterns of scoring and conceding. Preston have conceded 15 goals in eight matches and have zero clean sheets to their name, yet they have scored in six of those eight games. Millwall possess significant firepower with 15 goals scored overall and have found the net in every single away league match this season, though their depleted defence has leaked ten goals in four away games. Seven of the previous ten meetings between these two clubs have also seen both teams get on the scoresheet.

Preston have managed just one win from eight league games this season, losing six times and struggling particularly in defence where they have kept zero clean sheets. Millwall have established complete dominance in this fixture over recent years, remaining unbeaten in ten straight head-to-head matches against Preston with four wins and six draws. Backing Millwall to secure at least a point covers both an away victory and the frequent stalemate between these two sides while reflecting Preston's current lack of winning form.

QPR have avoided defeat in six of their seven league games this season, conceding an average of only 0.7 goals per match. Preston have lost six of their seven fixtures, including all three road trips where they conceded five times and scored twice. Furthermore, QPR are unbeaten in their last six competitive meetings against Preston, winning four and drawing two. The defensive solidity of the hosts provides a strong foundation to secure at least a point.

Preston have endured a difficult start to the league campaign, suffering five defeats in six matches while conceding an average of 2.0 goals per game. They have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have lost two of their three home league fixtures. Lincoln have been more compact defensively, conceding 1.2 goals per game and earning results in three of their five league games, including an away victory at Bolton. Backing Lincoln to win or draw covers two of the three match outcomes against a struggling home side.

Yes — 63% confidence

Both Watford and Preston have failed to record a single clean sheet across their five Championship matches this season. Watford have scored in every home game played so far, averaging 1.5 goals per match at Vicarage Road, while Preston have conceded at an average rate of 2.0 goals per game overall. With both defensive records showing vulnerabilities, there is a reasonable probability of both teams finding the net.

Watford or Draw — 74% confidence

Watford are unbeaten in their two home Championship matches this season, recording a 2-1 win over Southampton and a 1-1 draw against West Ham. In contrast, Preston have lost both of their away league fixtures and have conceded ten goals across five matches overall. While five of the past ten head-to-head encounters ended level, covering both the home win and the draw aligns well with Preston's away struggles and Watford's resilience at Vicarage Road.

These two calls are about different parts of the match (both teams to score and double chance), so neither one determines the other. The figure shown is the lower of the two — a combo can never be more likely than its weaker leg.

Watford are unbeaten in their two home Championship matches this season, recording a 2-1 win over Southampton and a 1-1 draw against West Ham. In contrast, Preston have lost both of their away league fixtures and have conceded ten goals across five matches overall. While five of the past ten head-to-head encounters ended level, covering both the home win and the draw aligns well with Preston's away struggles and Watford's resilience at Vicarage Road.

Both Watford and Preston have failed to record a single clean sheet across their five Championship matches this season. Watford have scored in every home game played so far, averaging 1.5 goals per match at Vicarage Road, while Preston have conceded at an average rate of 2.0 goals per game overall. With both defensive records showing vulnerabilities, there is a reasonable probability of both teams finding the net.

Preston have endured a difficult start to the Championship campaign, suffering four defeats from four matches while conceding an average of 2.25 goals per game overall and three goals per game at home. Blackburn remain unbeaten on the road with two draws from two away trips, and they have dominated recent clashes between the sides, winning the last three head-to-head fixtures and remaining undefeated in their last five visits to Deepdale.

Bristol City or Draw — 68% confidence

Preston have lost all three of their Championship fixtures this season, conceding an average of two goals per game. Bristol City have gathered four points from their last two league games, including an away draw at Birmingham and a home victory over Portsmouth. With five of the last ten head-to-head meetings between these sides ending in draws, backing Bristol City to avoid defeat is well-aligned with recent form trends.

Yes — 62% confidence

Neither side has kept a clean sheet in three league matches this season. Preston have conceded six goals in three outings, while Bristol City have scored four and conceded five across the same period. Additionally, 60 percent of their last ten head-to-head clashes have seen both teams find the net, suggesting defensive openings are likely for both attacks.

These two calls are about different parts of the match (double chance and both teams to score), so neither one determines the other. The figure shown is the lower of the two — a combo can never be more likely than its weaker leg.

Neither side has kept a clean sheet in three league matches this season. Preston have conceded six goals in three outings, while Bristol City have scored four and conceded five across the same period. Additionally, 60 percent of their last ten head-to-head clashes have seen both teams find the net, suggesting defensive openings are likely for both attacks.

Preston have lost all three of their Championship fixtures this season, conceding an average of two goals per game. Bristol City have gathered four points from their last two league games, including an away draw at Birmingham and a home victory over Portsmouth. With five of the last ten head-to-head meetings between these sides ending in draws, backing Bristol City to avoid defeat is well-aligned with recent form trends.

Charlton’s two‑game winning streak, superior goal‑difference (+2) and home advantage make them the stronger side. Preston’s lack of points, lower scoring rate and higher goals‑against average increase the likelihood that Charlton will at least draw. The combined evidence of form, standings and season‑long goal statistics supports a double‑chance home or draw selection, while the high over‑2.5 goal rate in both recent meetings and current season averages justifies an over 2.5 goals call.

Everton have demonstrated strong recent form with three victories and a draw from their last five games, whereas Preston have struggled defensively, losing four of their last five and conceding ten goals across that stretch. A double chance on the visitors provides a robust and well-hedged projection for this cup fixture.