Both Preston and Blackburn were among the teams touted for relegation before the 2026-27 Championship season got under way and the early signs are that one of those sides’ worst fears may be materialising.
Rovers have made a solid if not spectacular start, picking up five points in four games, but their rivals are faring much worse, propping up the table without a solitary point to their name.
Derby clashes can often provide a springboard for a struggling side and Preston will be hoping that is the case when they host Blackburn at Deepdale on Saturday.
Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers Tips Summary
Best Bet - Blackburn draw no bet @ 11/10
Alternative Bet - Under 2.5 goals @ 10/11
Bet Builder - Todd Cantwell 1+ shot on target, Sam Morsy to be booked, Over 3 cards in the match @ 5/1
Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers Prediction
Best Bet: Blackburn draw no bet @ 11/10
Five points from four games is a decent return for a team tipped for relegation and the good news for Rovers fans ahead of derby day is that their best performances have been saved for the bigger games.
A 2-1 home defeat to QPR and Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Lincoln were disappointing but a 2-2 draw with title hopefuls Wolves and 2-1 win over promotion candidates Middlesbrough show they have the talent to up their level when necessary.
They showed that last season, too, when winning both Lancashire derbies in the Championship, and they are again looking in better shape than their rivals Preston, whose 3-1 home defeat to Bristol City made it five defeats in a row.
The one reservation in backing Rovers outright is an absence of defenders. Tom Atcheson is suspended, while Hayden Carter and Scott Wharton are injured, so play safe and back them draw no bet, in case derby day does fire Preston up enough to nab a point.
Alternative Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 10/11
Derbies are often cagey encounters and with these rivals scoring only nine goals in eight Championship games between them, this Deepdale dust-up is unlikely to be a thrilling affair.
It has been seven games since Preston scored more than one goal in a game, while Blackburn’s blank at relegation favourites Lincoln shows their attack isn’t firing fully either, making the under the play.
Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers Bet Builder Tip
Todd Cantwell 1+ shot on target
Sam Morsy to be booked
Over 3 cards in the match
Pays 5/1
Star players tend to step up in the big games and Todd Cantwell certainly has the ability to do that. The Blackburn playmaker will see lots of the ball and is a good bet to have a shot on target for the fourth straight game.
Further back, Sam Morsy is sure to get stuck in. The Egyptian battler is no stranger to a card, picking up 22 yellows in his last 62 Championship appearances, and is the obvious candidate for a booking.
He is unlikely to be the only name in the referee’s book, of course. The last four Lancashire derbies have produced a total of 18 cards and taking over four bookings looks a smart play for a bet builder.
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Key Match Stats
Blackburn have won the last three head-to-heads
Rovers have scored only five goals in their four Championship games
Preston have netted just four goals in six outings this term
North End have lost their last five Championship games
Blackburn have lost only four of their last 15 matches
Over 2.5 goals has been a winning bet in just five of Rovers’ last 12 league games
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
