Preston North End host Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale in race for Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
Victory would see Preston leapfrog Blackburn and return to the top-ten, whilst Blackburn could go fifth with a win if Millwall lose elsewhere in the mid-afternoon kick-offs.
Team News
Preston have no fresh injury concerns to report after their midweek loss at Swansea, although Bambo Diaby has been suspended for the Lilywhites’ next four games following his involvement in a mass brawl in that game.
Greg Cunningham (hamstring), Alan Browne, Emil Riis (both knee) and Ched Evans (unspecified) remain absent.
Blackburn could welcome Harry Pickering back into contention after he missed their 1-1 draw against Coventry in midweek with a knock.
Joe Rankin-Costello and Sam Gallagher (both knock) are doubts but Tayo Edun (knock), Daniel Ayala, Bradley Dack (both hamstring), John Buckley, Sam Barnes (both knee) and Jack Vale (ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Preston host Blackburn in a 5:30pm BST kick-off at Deepdale on Saturday 21 April, live on Sky Sports in UK.
Stat Attack
- Preston have won two of their last three meetings against Blackburn (W2, L3).
- Blackburn have lost three of their last five visits to Deepdale (W2, L3), but have won their two most recent visits.
- Both teams have scored in five of their last six meetings at Deepdale, except for a 3-0 win for Blackburn in November 2020.
- Tom Cannon has scored four goals in four of his last five appearances at home for Preston, only drawing blank in a goalless draw against Coventry in February 2023 (W4, D1)
- Blackburn are winless in their last three away matches in the Championship (D1, L2).
Prediction
Having wasted two huge chances to move into the play-off spots in the last week, Preston simply have to cut out their defensive errors which were particularly sloppy in the first half at Swansea, although they do deserve credit for their second half fightback before conceding a fourth goal.
Blackburn meanwhile have failed to win in their last five league games so can’t afford to slip up because they’re literally clinging onto a top-six spot at present, with their defensive quality having dipped since late February with just two clean sheets.
Jon Dahl Tomasson should also be concerned about how Rovers have scored just three goals this month which is the worst possible time for a goal drought, especially given how difficult their final three matches are after this trip to Deepdale.
Goals therefore are surely guaranteed but if Preston can play with their usual quality and cut out their defensive errors, they should have enough in them to snatch a vital win.
Prediction: Preston 2-1 Blackburn
Result: Preston 1-1 Blackburn
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