Preston vs Blackburn prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-02-16 15:00.
A 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough on Wednesday made it three successive Championship wins for an improving Preston side, who ended the round level on points with the top-six. Manager Ryan Lowe praised the “fantastic team performances” across that run, and as they’ve also won three matches on the spin at Deepdale, there’s every chance of that continuing here as they look to finish inside the Championship play-offs spots for the first time since 2008/09.
A Lancashire derby tussle with Blackburn complicates matters however, as North End have failed to win any of the last three meetings on home soil (D1, L2). No matter the result, entertainment looks certain to follow at least for the neutral, as only basement boys Rotherham have kept fewer clean sheets than this pair, while this season’s reverse fixture was decided in Preston’s favour via a dramatic 90th minute winner!
That was just one of 17 Championship losses suffered by Blackburn in this miserable campaign, already the same amount as the whole of last season combined. New boss John Eustace also fell to defeat on his managerial bow with Rovers at former employers Birmingham in the week, and he admitted in the aftermath that his side have “a lot to work on” if they’re to climb the table in the near future.
Rovers have now won just one of their last ten league matches (D2, L7), and with just seven points separating them and the drop zone ahead of this matchday, fans may still be concerned about their future in the second-tier. That won’t be helped by an active six-match losing streak on the road – their joint-longest such run since relegation from the Premier League in 2011/12 – while only Rotherham have conceded more goals than their 57 so far this term.
Players to watch: After going over 15 months without a goal amidst a long injury lay-off, Preston striker Emil Riis has now netted in back-to-back matches, with both strikes handing the Lilywhites the lead. The division’s joint-top scorer Sammie Szmodics may relish this fixture, as he’s scored in back-to-back H2Hs, including in last season’s corresponding fixture!
Hot stat: Blackburn have conceded a league-high 20 goals between after the 76th minute in the Championship.