Preston vs Blackburn predictions: North End to prolong Rovers’ road gloom
- Preston are outside the play-off places on goal difference
- Blackburn have lost six away games in a row
- Recommended bet: Preston to win
Preston have won three in a row to shoot up to the fringes of the play-off places and have to be confident of making it four against poor travellers Blackburn.
Granted, Rovers’ 30-minute coach trip west will be their shortest commute of the season but the fact is they are struggling whenever they leave Ewood Park.
New Rovers’ chief John Eustace has lost his one away game so far, a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham on Tuesday, and a second setback of the week is on the cards.
Team news
Ryan Lowe may make a tweak or two with Andrew Hughes, the right centre-back in his 3-4-3 set-up, limping off in midweek. With Brad Potts out, Greg Cunningham would be the obvious replacement.
Right-sided midfielder Duane Holmes is also fit again and should make the bench.
New Rovers’ boss John Eustace also prefers a 3-4-3 set-up but is set to make at least one change to it with midfielder Joe Rankin-Costello (knee) unlikely to figure.
Scott Wharton is also available to pressurise young Ben Chrisene for a starting place.
The stats
Preston have won three in a row and taken 13 points out of their last possible 18.
Only seven of Blackburn’s 31 matches this season have produced two goals or fewer.
They are one of four sides in the division not to have been involved in a 0-0 draw.
Sammie Szmodics has 20 goal involvements this season (17 goals, three assists).
Blackburn have lost each of their last six away games.
Prediction
Since Christmas, Preston have played five matches at Deepdale, winning four of them, including against Leeds and Ipswich.
On Wednesday night they made it three wins in a row - home or away - with a 2-1 triumph against Middlesbrough with Lowe continuing to get a tune out of a side few appeared to fancy being a play-off contender at the start of the campaign.
Derby day should encourage him to think he can make it four in a row.
Rovers were freefalling under Jon Dahl Tomasson and Eustace looks a decent appointment after the Dane disappeared.
His first proper game in charge, however, ended in a loss, 1-0 at his former club Birmingham, and they look like a bottom-half team currently.
Take out a pair of FA Cup wins and Blackburn have won just one of their last ten, with seven losses. They haven’t kept a clean sheet since the end of November and that’s a major negative.
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