Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End Match Preview

9 January 2020

It is the eagerly awaited derby this weekend when the Lilywhites make the short trip down the A59 or the M65 to face Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Blackburn Rovers Away

9 January 2020

And for North End fans it could be the first chance to see new signing Scott Sinclair in action, subject to him receiving international clearance after his transfer from Celtic.

The attacker has been given the No.31 shirt and manager Alex Neil will hope to be able to include him in his squad for the game with the Lilywhites’ east Lancashire rivals.

After a hectic Christmas schedule disrupted by injury, illness and suspensions, the manager is close to having a fully fit squad available to him, with Daniel Johnson back outside running, giving him options to consider.

Fans are reminded that there sales on the day at the ground will be upper tier only at an increased price and lower tier tickets must be bought by 4pm on Friday 10th January from the ticket office at Deepdale or online at MyPNE.Com.

For Your Information
Match Details: Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End, Ewood Park, Saturday 11th January 2020, kick-off 3pm
Competition: EFL Championship (27/46)
PNE colours: Green shirts, yellow shorts and socks, black goalkeeper
Click here to buy a ticket

Here’s all the coverage accessible on PNE.Com in preview of the game…

Ticket Information: Over 6,000 PNE fans will be heading to Ewood Park for our first away game of 2020 to face Blackburn Rovers this Saturday, upper tier tickets will be available on the day with a slight price increase. Click here for more information.

Match Officials: Taking charge of his first Preston North End game of the season in Saturday’s derby with Blackburn Rovers is referee James Linington. Click here for details of all the officials.

We’ve Met Before: Preston North End travel to Ewood Park for the 49th time in a league encounter this weekend, looking to extend their head-to-head record. Click here for more details of past battles.

How To Follow The Game: If you can’t make the trip to Ewood Park for this Saturday’s clash with Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers, don’t worry, we will have full coverage on PNE.Com and iFollow PNE. Click here for details of how you can follow the match.

Team News: Preston North End manager Alex Neil will hope to be able to include new signing Scott Sinclair in the squad for the clash with local rivals Blackburn Rovers. Click here for details of the options.

Alex Neil: “Derbies Are What Football Is All About”: Preston North End manager has always been very clear that he understands the extra burden of pressure when it comes to derby games. Click here for the manager’s full interview.

Alan Browne Says Big Away Following Can Make A Difference: Preston North End’s Irish international Alan Browne says a big vocal away following at Ewood Park on Saturday can provide an extra level for the team on the pitch. Click here for more from Alan.

Match Reports

Blackburn Rovers 1 Preston North End 1

11 January 2020

Josh Harrop scored a stunning equaliser as the Lilywhites came from a goal down to take a point in a hard-fought Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.

The No.10 smashed home on the half volley from the edge of the penalty area 17 minutes in to level up after Adam Armstrong had given Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers an early lead in the driving rain.

The Lilywhite started with Patrick Bauer returning to partner Ben Davies, with Tom Clarke and Joe Rafferty at full backs, and Harrop was on the left of a three behind Maguire in the No.9 role.

And the Irishman started brightly and almost put the visitors ahead before the early Rovers goal. He made a run past three defenders right at the heart of the hosts’ backline, but his low shot was claimed by Christian Walton low to his left.

But in the third minute Mowbray’s men went ahead. Armstrong broke down the left and checked into the box. It looked like the ricocheting ball would be cleared, but it fell back into his path and slid the ball under Declan Rudd from 12 yards out.

The game was delayed for eight minutes as Corry Evans was injured in an accidental clash with Clarke, but Rovers went close after the restart to doubling their lead as skipper Darragh Lenihan had a volley 12 yards out just wide of the left-hand upright from Stewart Downing’s long ball into the box.

But a minute later, on the 17th minute, the green-clad Lilywhites were level as Gallagher’s 40 yard free-kick into the penalty area was headed down by Rafferty to the edge of the box and a sweetly struck half-volley with real power from Harrop flew past Walton into the roof of the net for his seventh goal of the season.

The home side had the better of the last 20 minutes of the first half, but rarely threated the goal in front of the 6,276 North End fans, Lewis Holtby the only one causing the PNE No.1 any difficulty, Rudd doing well to push the midfielder’s left-foot effort from the 20 yards around the post.

Even though there was not a change in personnel, there was a tweak in tactics from the North End boss after the break as he went man for man and with Ben Pearson driving this, despite being elbowed and kicked at different points during the half, both missed by referee James Linington, he helped drive his team on.

The introduction of Jayden Stockley and Scott Sinclair – for his debut – also lifted the team on and off the pitch, with the soaked supporters getting right behind their team and after a slight worry, when Armstrong’s from the left came off the right-hand post and into Rudd’s hands, it was Sinclair who was involved in a late chance to win the game.

He was freed down the left-hand side, finding Alan Browne with a pass. The No.8 tried a backheel back to the former Celtic man, but it deflected off Elliott Bennett and into the path of Paul Gallagher 15 yards out, his shot on target, only for left back Amari’i Bell to get across and block the goulbound effort.

There were four minutes of added time and in the final minute captain Clarke was needed to make a fine saving header at the back post ahead of Blackburn substitute Danny Graham, before from the resulting corner Rudd made one final stop to deny Manchester City loanee Tosin Adaribioyo at the back post as the game finished level.

Blackburn Rovers line-up: Walton, Nyambe (Bennett, 51), Armstrong, Gallagher, Bell, Downing, Holtby (Graham, 69), Adaribioyo, Lenihan (c), Travis, Evans (Johnson, 13). Subs not used: Leutwiler, Williams, Rothwell, Chapman.

PNE line-up: Rudd, Clarke (c), Rafferty, Pearson, Bauer, Davies, Barkhuizen (Stockley, 62), Gallagher (Potts, 88), Maguire, Browne, Harrop (Sinclair, 81). Subs not used: Ripley, Fisher, Huntington, Nugent.

Attendance: 19,963 (6,276 PNE fans)

Referee: Mr J Linington

Ticket News

Ticket Information: Blackburn Rovers Away

9 January 2020

Preston North End supporters can still purchase tickets for the first away game of 2020, as we head to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers this Saturday.

First Team News

Match Officials: Blackburn Rovers Away

9 January 2020

Closing in on 6,000 tickets of our 7,397 allocation have already been sold so far for the 3pm kick-off and tickets will remain on sale until 4pm on Friday 10th January for lower tier tickets.

Upper tier tickets also remain on sale and there will be a block of upper tier tickets available on the day, however, these tickets will see a price increase to: Adults £31, seniors (65 and over) £23, 18 to 25-year-olds £18, 12 to 17-year-olds £10, U12s £8. Anyone purchasing any concession priced ticket must take photo ID with them to the match.

Tickets in both the upper and lower tier remain on sale online at MyPNE.Com, by calling 0344 856 1966 or in person from the ticket office.

Anyone who has pre-ordered tickets and is collecting from Deepdale must do so prior to the coaches departing at 12.30pm on Saturday, with the ticket office open from 9am on matchday.

Ticket prices for both tiers on sale in advance at Deepdale, are as follows: Adults £28, seniors (65 and over) £20, 18 to 25-year-olds £15, 12 to 17-year-olds £8, U12s £6. Please note that all U12s must be accompanied by an adult.

First Team News

We’ve Met Before: Blackburn Rovers Away

9 January 2020

There are also 20 pairs of wheelchair and carer tickets available which are at pitch level, prices are as above with the carer ticket provided complimentary.

Tickets are also available at the front of the lower tier for ambulant disabled supporters with mobility restrictions who are unable to sit in the upper tier with prices also as above, with a carer ticket free of charge. Tickets are also available for ambulant disabled supporters from the main allocation in both the lower and upper tiers.

A reminder that supporters cannot swap their upper tier ticket to the lower tier or vice versa.

Coach travel is also available and is priced at £10 per person, with coaches departing Deepdale and Leyland at 12.30pm.

Preston North End

Standings

Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End Match Preview

Ticket Information: Blackburn Rovers Away

Blackburn Rovers 1 Preston North End 1

Ticket Information: Blackburn Rovers Away

Match Officials: Blackburn Rovers Away

We’ve Met Before: Blackburn Rovers Away

Blackburn Rovers Ticket Update

Blackburn Rovers Ticket Details

Standings

Ticket Information: Blackburn Rovers Away

Match Officials: Blackburn Rovers Away

We’ve Met Before: Blackburn Rovers Away

Ticket News

Blackburn Rovers Ticket Update

Blackburn Rovers Ticket Details

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