All set for a Lancashire derby under the floodlights

Blackburn fans have been struggling to find much to get excited about in recent years, but this season they look like a side that could push for a promotion to the Premier League after nearly a decade of struggling in the Championship and even dropping to League 1 for a year.

Rovers manager Tony Mowbray stuck with the club despite suffering relegation a few months after taking over at Ewood Park in 2017. He used all his experience to get back into the Championship and add some stability to the club, but the finishes of 15th and 11th in two subsequent seasons were hardly the stuff of dreams. A win in tonight’s Lancashire derby against Preston could give them some real momentum as they target one of the play-off places.

Preston North End are in danger of suffering another defeat against their rivals, but they may be helped by the absence of Declan Rudd, Patrick Bauer, Lewis Holtby, Tom Trybull and Scott Wharton, who will all be absent from the home side. Still, Mowbray is ready for a fierce battle.

"It’s always a tough game against Preston. It’ll be a tough and physical confrontation. We’ll be against a team who have aspirations to get in the play-offs. Their results away from home have been pretty good lately so they’ll probably approach the game with a positive mindset."

Preston have been finishing mid-table for the past five years since their promotion to the Championship. Their midfielder Ben Whiteman grew up in the area and he knows that this fixture is important to everyone involved.

"I am well aware of how big the game is, being from this neck of the woods. It is a massive game, one we are looking forward to and we want a reaction from the weekend’s defeat against Rotherham, where fine margins cost us again. We will be looking to put in a good performance and get the three points."

Only 20 kilometres separate the two grounds and local bragging rights will play a big role when the teams run out to Ewood Park’s pitch. It’s just a shame that due to Covid-19 restrictions there will be no fans that would surely generate a great atmosphere. Still, they will be glued to their television sets, hoping for a win and a signal that they could finally be escaping mid-table mediocracy.

Championship

Friday

22.45: (2.10) Blackburn (3.30) Preston (3.70)

Saturday

15.30: (3.00) Nottingham Forest (3.10) Bournemouth (2.50)

18.00: (3.90) Sheffield Wednesday (3.00) Swansea (2.15)

18.00: (1.85) Norwich (3.40) Stoke (4.60)

18.00: (2.75) Birmingham (2.75) Luton (3.00)

18.00: (2.70) Derby (2.95) Middlesbrough (2.90)

18.00: (1.73) Watford (3.50) Bristol City (5.30)

18.00: (2.15) Cardiff (3.10) Coventry (3.80)

18.00: (2.40) Reading (2.95) Millwall (3.40)

18.00: (2.75) Rotherham (3.05) QPR (2.75)

18.00: (1.75) Huddersfield (3.50) Wycombe (5.10)

Sunday

16.00: (1.65) Brentford (3.80) Barnesley (5.50)

***odds are subject to change