Soccer

Championship: Football - Bragging rights at stake at Deepdale

bet365 News Team Published: Sep 12 2022 10:40

Preston North End host their second Lancashire derby of the month and, after a 1-0 win over fierce rivals Blackpool in early-April, they will be hoping to claim the bragging rights against Blackburn at Deepdale.

Preston suffered a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn in December and are five points adrift of ninth-placed Rovers in the Championship standings.

However, Deepdale is becoming a bit of a fortress for Ryan Lowe's side, who have lost only three of their 21 home league games this season, so they may be fancying their chances of exacting some revenge.

Preston are 17/10 for victory, with Blackburn 9/5 and the draw available at 21/10.

Home is where the heart is for Preston

The Lilywhites were no match for champions-elect Fulham at Craven Cottage last Tuesday, suffering a 3-0 loss, but they tend to save their best efforts for their home fans.

Lowe's men have lost only three of their 21 home league games and their recent performances on their own patch have been particularly impressive, as they have beaten second-placed Bournemouth and held Nottingham Forest, who sit fourth, to a goalless draw.

In fact, they have lost only one of their last 12 at their Lancashire home, with that sequence of results also including points against table-topping Fulham and playoff occupants Huddersfield and Sheffield United.

Preston could also be boosted by the return from injuries of skipper Alan Browne, top scorer Emil Riis and defender Patrick Bauer.

Striker Ched Evans is a doubt though, after sustaining a toe ligament injury against Fulham last time out.

Three points for North End would see them reach their final points tally (61) from the 2020-21 campaign, with two games against Barnsley and Middlesbrough still to go.

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Rovers hoping to put an end to travel sickness

After a strong first half to the season, Rovers looked in the thick of the automatic promotion battle, but an almighty collapse sees them not even involved in the race for the playoffs.

Another season in the Championship is what is in store for Blackburn, who have won only one of their last nine league matches.

And Tony Mowbray's side have been particularly poor on their travels, with them making the short trip to Deepdale winless in their previous nine away fixtures.

In fact, Blackburn have collected only 22 of their 63-point total away from Ewood Park and they suffered a 2-1 defeat at relegated Peterborough on their last road trip.

Mowbray will be without Brighton loanee Reda Khadra but has insisted he otherwise has a clean bill of health as they bid to get back on track.

Diaz plotting strong finish to tee-up summer interest

Blackburn's poor form coincided with the injury to star striker and Chilean international Ben Brereton Diaz, who has scored almost 40 per cent of Rovers' goals this season with 21 strikes in 34 appearances.

The 23-year-old is going to be the subject of plenty of summer interest after this season's heroics but will be well aware he must finish strongly after a recent dip in form.

Brereton Diaz has netted only once in 11 appearances since the end of December, although he did grab the winner when these two Lancashire rivals clashed at Ewood Park earlier in the season.

The Chilean is 9/2 to open the scoring again and 6/4 to get on the scoresheet.