Preston North End v Colchester United

For a team with a former Premiership manager who has been outspoken and oddly bronzed during his career, Preston have hardly been attracting the publicity that other northern sides have been getting used to in League One. However, while the likes of Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United may enjoy the focus of most of the attention at the moment, Preston may be the most trustworthy side in the division this season.
 

Phil Brown made great strides with North End prior to their relegation from the Championship a year ago and actually saw his side relegated with some decent form. The ‘Brown Bounce’ was more than the improvement in results that many relegated sides enjoy once the pressure is off, Preston played genuinely better football to end their stay in the Championship and Brown has considerable pedigree in the Football League - even if some have doubted his ability at the highest level.

 

North End’s main strength in 11/12 comes from the goal scoring ability provided by Iain Hume and Neil Mellor. Colchester meanwhile look weak in exactly this department heading into the new campaign and the difficulty of the task has not been played down by John Ward in the media this week. At just a shade of odds on, the hosts look value to kick off what could turn into a very successful campaign with a win – although one should be remember from Norwich that taking a spanking from Colchester on the opening day of the season is not always a bad thing.

SUGGESTION:

PRESTON NORTH END – 1pt @ 5/6 @ Bet365