Cardiff City vs Preston North End Prediction and Stats | Championship Gameweek 17
Championship · Tuesday 24 November 2026 · 19:45 UTC · Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff · updated 2026-11-13
Cardiff City welcome Preston North End to Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff in Championship Gameweek 17 action on Tuesday 24 November 2026, kick-off 19:45 UTC.
Cardiff City have played 15 matches in the Championship this season, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.8 goals a game and winning 27% of them. At home they average 2.6 goals scored and 1.6 conceded over 8 matches, with a 100% win rate. Preston North End have played 15 matches in the Championship this season, scoring 0.9 and conceding 2.0 goals a game and winning 13% of them. Away from home they average 0.7 goals scored and 2.4 conceded over 7 matches, with a 0% win rate.
On Moneyball's model, from this season's numbers, Cardiff City are clear favourites at 66%, with the draw at 19% and Preston North End at 15%.
Moneyball's estimate
- Expected goals: Cardiff City 2.47, Preston North End 1.12.
- Over 2.5 goals: 70% · both teams to score: 62%.
- Most likely score: 3–1 (8%).
From each side's goals and expected goals this season (Sportmonks), pulled toward the league average while a side has played few matches (15 and 15 so far), through a Dixon-Coles score model.
Cardiff City: form and key numbers
In style Cardiff City keep the ball, press high, play long and direct.
- Expected goals: 2.13 a match created, 1.61 conceded (goals minus xG: -5.0).
- Shots: 16.5 a match, 6.3 on target.
- Possession: 60.1% on average.
- Clean sheets: 7% of matches (100% at home).
- Both teams scored in 73% of their matches.
- Corners: 6.4 a match.
- Discipline: 1.9 yellow cards a match, 1.0 reds.
- Average Sportmonks player rating: 6.90.
Preston North End: form and key numbers
In style Preston North End are happy without the ball, play long and direct, cross a lot.
- Expected goals: 1.13 a match created, 1.73 conceded (goals minus xG: -4.0).
- Shots: 11.7 a match, 2.4 on target.
- Possession: 39.3% on average.
- Clean sheets: 7% of matches (0% away).
- Both teams scored in 60% of their matches.
- Corners: 4.7 a match.
- Discipline: 2.3 yellow cards a match, 1.0 reds.
- Average Sportmonks player rating: 6.69.
Cardiff City vs Preston North End: season averages side by side
| Cardiff City | Per match this season | Preston North End |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Matches | 15 |
| 1.8 | Goals scored | 0.9 |
| 1.8 | Goals conceded | 2.0 |
| 2.13 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.13 |
| 1.61 | xG conceded | 1.73 |
| 16.5 | Shots | 11.7 |
| 6.3 | On target | 2.4 |
| 60.1 | Possession % | 39.3 |
| 7% | Clean sheets % | 7% |
| 73% | Both teams scored % | 60% |
| 6.4 | Corners | 4.7 |
| 1.9 | Yellow cards | 2.3 |
| 6.90 | Average rating | 6.69 |
Players to watch
Cardiff City
- Alex Robertson DMF · Deep-lying playmaker · Moneyball Score 45 · Disciplined, Blocks shots (top 14% of his position)
- Will Fish CB · Box defender · Moneyball Score 42 · Hard to dribble past, Dominant in the air (top 12% of his position)
Preston North End
- Jordan Storey CB · Box defender · Moneyball Score 42 · Reads the game, Dominant in the air (top 5% of his position)
- Liam Lindsay CB · Box defender · Moneyball Score 40 · Dominant in the air, Duel winner (top 3% of his position)
Scouting spotlight: Yousef Salech
Yousef Salech, 24 · Cardiff City · CF · Poacher · Moneyball Score 51
Yousef Salech, 24, plays as a centre-forward for Cardiff City in the Championship. Strongest for his role in shot quality (xG per shot) and shots on target. Weakest in key passes. Moneyball Scout, the engine behind our Scouting Players Research, rates him against every centre-forward in Europe's top five leagues - and this is what he does better than almost all of them.
Percentile against his position on each figure: 50 is the average centre-forward, 90 the top tenth.
Positions he can play
- ST · Centre-forward Natural, 51
- SS · Second striker Accomplished, 44
Where he is strongest
| Figure | His number | Better than |
|---|---|---|
| Shot quality (xG per shot) | 0.20 xG/shot | 87% |
| Shots on target | 51% | 80% |
| Aerial duels won | 3.61 / 90 | 79% |
| Expected goals | 0.65 / 90 | 73% |
| Goals, luck taken out | 0.60 / 90 | 63% |
Roles he suits
- ★★★★ Shadow striker Second striker
- ★★★½ Poacher Centre-forward
- ★★½ Complete forward Centre-forward
Scout's notes: Takes high-quality shots, Accurate shooter.
- What Yousef Salech is worth on the market, and the most a club should pay
- How many league points he would add to your club (Win-Rate Impact)
- The players who play like him, cheaper - the Replacement Finder
- His chemistry with your squad, his fit with your style, his projection by age
Open Yousef Salech's full file Moneyball Scout from $39 a month
Cardiff City vs Preston North End prediction
Cardiff City should have more of the ball, with Preston North End likely to sit in a compact block and look to break; Cardiff City go long and direct; Preston North End are a threat in the air and from set pieces. Moneyball's model expects about 3.6 goals - 2.47 for Cardiff City and 1.12 for Preston North End - with over 2.5 goals at 70% and both teams scoring at 62%. Cardiff City have the stronger numbers, and we expect them to make home advantage count.
Prediction: Cardiff City 3-1 Preston North End
Cardiff City vs Preston North End: what the numbers say
- 1. Cardiff City win, the likeliest result 66% on Moneyball's model, from this season's numbers
- 2. 3 or more goals 70% by the model, 3.59 goals expected
- 3. Both teams to score: yes 62% by the model
- 4. 4 or more cards the two sides average 6.1 cards a match between them
- 5. 10 or more corners 11.1 corners a match between them
Statistical leanings from the data, not certainties.
The full analysis
Moneyball reads every match in full: win, draw and loss, the most likely scores, goals and both teams to score, with the players who decide it.
More Championship previews
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- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Charlton Athletic Saturday 21 November 2026
- West Ham United vs Preston North End Saturday 21 November 2026
- Swansea City vs West Bromwich Albion Saturday 21 November 2026
- Stoke City vs Birmingham City Saturday 21 November 2026
- Sheffield United vs Watford Saturday 21 November 2026
Cardiff City vs Preston North End: questions and answers
When is Cardiff City vs Preston North End?
Cardiff City vs Preston North End is on Tuesday 24 November 2026, kick-off 19:45 UTC, in Championship Gameweek 17.
Where is Cardiff City vs Preston North End played?
At Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Cardiff City's home ground.
Who will win Cardiff City vs Preston North End?
Cardiff City are the favourites: Cardiff City 66%, draw 19%, Preston North End 15%. Our prediction is Cardiff City 3-1 Preston North End.
Who is the player to watch in Cardiff City vs Preston North End?
Yousef Salech of Cardiff City: a poacher with a Moneyball Score of 51 against every centre-forward in Europe's top five leagues.
How many goals will there be in Cardiff City vs Preston North End?
Moneyball's model expects about 3.6 goals, with over 2.5 goals at 70%.
Tags
Moneyball is a football statistics site. No model predicts football reliably: every figure is an estimate.