Match Preview: Blackburn Rovers (H)

16 February 2024

Following three successive victories, Preston North End are taking on Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale this weekend.

Match Details

Date: Saturday 17^th February, 3pm kick-off
Venue: Deepdale
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Home kit

Supporter Information

Subject to availability, tickets will remain on sale until kick-off online, over the phone on 0344 856 1966, and in person from the ticket office.

Home fans can head down to Deepdale early to join us in The Gentry Bar from 11am for pre-match drinks and live entertainment. The fan zone will also reopen following the full-time whistle.

Supporters can get to and from the stadium by using the club’s shuttle bus service which runs from Leyland through Bamber Bridge on its way to Deepdale. Return tickets cost £6 on-board and timings are as follows:

Leyland Tesco (Stop A – Car Park) – 1.20pm
The Railway Pub, Leyland – 1.30pm
Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge – 1.35pm
Beam and Brycg Pub, Bamber Bridge – 1.40pm
Arrive at Deepdale, Lowthorpe Road – 2pm

Who’s Available?

Ryan Lowe said in his pre-match press conference that everyone in Wednesday night’s matchday squad will once again be available for this weekend.

Andrew Hughes, Ben Whiteman and Liam Lindsay were all taken off with knocks in the win over Middlesbrough, but appear to have recovered in time for this one.

Brad Potts will miss the next few weeks, as will Ched Evans, while Duane Holmes is expected to be available for next Friday’s match against Coventry City.

Opposition Focus

There’s been a change-up at Rovers in recent weeks with their captain and manager vacating, and they’re now under the guidance of head coach John Eustace – formerly of Birmingham City.

Eustace took his new side to his ex-employers during the week and it wasn’t a happy return as Blues came out on top, and the new boss has called for patience in the early days of his tenure.

Rovers, who sit 16^th, have been hindered this season by their 57 goals conceded – the second-worst record in the league – however, Sammie Szmodics’ 17 strikes in the Championship have gone some way to evening that out.

A Recent Clash

North End came out on top of the reverse fixture at Ewood Park in November 2023 thanks to a last-gasp Liam Lindsay header.

Follow The Action

Fans around the world are able to listen to this match live on iFollow PNE, with Jonathan Breeze and Andy Fensome on commentary duty. Audio match and monthly passes are available to purchase here.

Supporters outside of the UK & Ireland will be able to watch live for £10, or with a seasonal pass.

There will also be in-depth coverage before, during, and after the game here on the website and across social media channels.

Match Officials

Referee: David Webb
Assistant Referees: Rob Smith and Nigel Lugg
Fourth Official: Peter Wright

David Webb will referee’s Saturday’s derby in what will be his fourth PNE match of the season, with the most recent of those being the late defeat at Elland Road.

Webb has history when it comes to Lancashire derbies, having overseen a 2-1 victory at Ewood Park in February 2021, and North End’s 1-0 win over Blackpool in April 2022.

So far this season, Webb has taken charge of 23 matches, showing 97 yellow cards and one red.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 2 Blackburn Rovers 2

17 February 2024

Preston North End came from two goals down to take a point at home against Blackburn Rovers.

The visitors took an early lead through Sammie Szmodics, before Sam Gallagher made it two in the 23^rd minute.

Robbie Brady got one back for North End with a superb strike 39 minutes in and just four minutes later Emil Riis scored his third goal in as many games to level matters and ultimately earn a point.

North End went unchanged from the midweek victory over Middlesbrough, with Andrew Hughes, Ben Whiteman and Liam Lindsay all recovering from knocks.

Rovers went ahead seven minutes in when Gallagher sent a clever ball over the top for Szmodics to run on to, and the division’s top scorer found the bottom corner.

Liam Millar offered North End’s first threat in the 12^th minute as he cut inside from the right, in a similar situation which led to his goal during the week, but Aynsley Pears made the save.

Midway through the half, the visitors doubled their lead as Callum Brittain’s long ball found Gallagher, who poked it beyond Freddie Woodman.

After Liam Millar had a penalty shout turned down in the 37^th minute, North End built up a period of pressure and made it count a few minutes later as Brady’s corner came back to him, and the former Burnley man bent a beautiful left-footed effort into the top corner for his first PNE goal.

That unsurprisingly cranked the noise inside Deepdale right up and the 16,000 home fans were cheering once again in the 43^rd minute when Riis drew level. Millar’s corner fell for Liam Lindsay, whose acrobatic effort led to a scramble on the goal-line, and the Dane just did enough to force it over.

PNE had all the momentum at that point and carried it into the second half, where Brady could have doubled his tally after superb build-up play by Mads Frøkjær, but a defender made the block.

Rovers had a positive spell of their own, midway through the half, although without really testing Woodman in the North End goal.

The hosts weathered that storm and looked to find a late winner with the backing of the home crowd, and skipper Alan Browne had the final chance of the day in the third minute of stoppage-time, as he saw a header tipped wide, meaning the points were shared.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Whiteman, Browne, Brady (McCann, 81); Frøkjær, Riis (Osmajić, 81), Keane (Stewart, 69). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Ledson, Woodburn, Whatmough, Seary.

Blackburn Rovers line-up: Pears; Hyam, McFadzean, Wharton; Brittain, Fleck (Garrett, 17), Tronstad, Hedges (Chrisene, 64); Dolan (Sigurðsson, 64), Szmodics, Gallagher. Subs not used: Wahlstedt, O’Riordan, Markanday, Telalović, Ayari.

Attendance: 20,924 (4,722 Blackburn Rovers fans).

Referee: Mr D Webb.

Ticket News

Join Us At Deepdale For Lancashire Derby

15 February 2024

Tickets remain on sale for Saturday's Lancashire derby at Deepdale against Blackburn Rovers.

North End are taking on John Eustace's side at 3pm on Saturday 17th February as they look to secure a fourth successive victory in the Sky Bet Championship.

Supporters can buy tickets from Deepdale or over the phone on 0344 856 1966 during opening hours, while tickets will remain on sale 24/7 online.

Tickets are also on sale for the following two home matches against Hull City and Stoke City respectively, and fans can also buy for the trip to Coventry City on Friday 23rd January.

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