2024-25 Sky Bet Championship: Week 30 – Friday

Play-Off chasing Blackburn Rovers host Preston North End in a Lancashire derby at Ewood Park. 

Victory will lift Blackburn up into the play-off spots in fifth position, whilst Preston can climb to 11th with a win.

 

Team News

Todd Cantwell is available for Blackburn after he missed their defeat at Bristol City with a calf injury.

Arnor Sigurdsson (thigh/calf), Sondre Tronstad (hamstring), Hayden Carter, Harry Pickering, Yuki Ohashi (all knee) and Scott Wharton (ACL) remain absent.

Preston could have Jayden Meghoma available after he shook off an ankle injury which he had suffered on his home debut in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.

Robbie Brady (back) could also be in contention but Ben Whiteman (ankle) remains absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Blackburn host Preston at Ewood Park on Friday 31 January at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Blackburn are winless in their last five league meetings against Preston (D3, L2).
• Preston have lost one of their last eight league trips to Blackburn (W5, D2, L1).
• Both teams have scored in four of their last five clashes at Ewood Park, except for a 1-0 home win for Blackburn in December 2021.
• Blackburn have claimed just five points in their last nine league matches (W1, D2, L6).
• Preston have kept just one clean sheet in their last six league matches (W3, D2, L1).

 

Prediction

Currently with one win in their last nine games, Blackburn have done well to keep pace with their immediate play-off rivals but they really need to turn the tide soon and find their defensive edge if want to find more wins to boost their top-six ambitions.

Preston meanwhile might be firmly in mid-table in 15th position but are actually just five points off seventh-placed Blackburn, which will offer some motivation given how tight the play-off race is currently whilst their clinical win over sixth-placed Boro shows that they could mount a late play-off push if can put a lengthy winning run together.

Nevertheless there is regional pride at stake in this derby but given Preston’s better form since Christmas, I would fancy them to have the clinical touch if there is a winner but a draw feels the likely bet.

Prediction: Blackburn 1-1 Preston

Result: Blackburn 2-1 Preston