Blackburn Rovers, near the bottom of the table, take on playoff-chasing Preston North End in this Lancashire showdown.
| Tournament: | Championship |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Ewood Park, Blackburn |
| Date: | 20.02.2026 |
| Time: | 20:00 GMT |
Blackburn vs Preston Form and Head to Head
Blackburn head into this fixture on the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 away victory against QPR. However, their recent form has been inconsistent. Over their last five Championship matches, Rovers have managed two wins, two losses, and a draw, with a 2-0 defeat to Norwich and a 1-0 home loss to Hull highlighting their struggles. They did secure a 1-0 home win against Sheffield Wednesday and a 1-1 draw at home against Watford in this run.
Preston's recent performances paint a mixed picture. Their last outing saw them salvage a 2-2 home draw against Watford. Looking back at their last six league matches, the Lilywhites have recorded one win, two draws, and three losses. This includes a 1-0 home win over Portsmouth, but also heavy defeats like the 4-0 thrashing by Middlesbrough and a 3-0 loss at home to Hull. They also drew 1-1 away at Ipswich and suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Derby.
The most recent clash between these two Lancashire rivals saw Blackburn emerge victorious with a 2-1 away win at Preston back in November 2025. Over the last six meetings between Blackburn and Preston in the Championship, the spoils have been relatively even. Blackburn holds a slight edge with two victories, while Preston has secured one win, and three matches have ended in a draw.
An interesting fact to note is that Blackburn have seen over 2.5 goals in their last three home matches against Preston in all competitions, suggesting an open game could be on the cards.
Who is the Betting Favourite in Blackburn vs Preston?
Blackburn are narrow favourites to beat Preston at Ewood Park in tonight's Championship Lancashire Derby, with the latest odds implying roughly a 47% chance of a home win. Preston are priced as slight away underdogs with around a 25% chance of victory.
| Match Result | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn | 11/10 | AK Bets |
| Preston | 3/1 | Betfred |
| Draw | 12/5 | bet365 |
Odds last updated at Friday 11:30AM, 20th February.
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Blackburn vs Preston Team News
Blackburn Rovers face a significant injury crisis ahead of this derby. They are set to be without several key players including Litherland, Wharton, Kargbo, Tavares, Hedges, Pratt, and Miller, all sidelined due to injury. Garrett is also unavailable due to being unfit. Lewis Miller, in particular, has undergone Achilles surgery and faces a lengthy spell out. Manager Michael O'Neill may consider recalling Yuki Ohashi to the starting XI after their recent win.
Preston also have their injury concerns, with Robbie Brady, Daniel Iversen, and Brad Potts all ruled out. Centre-back Liam Lindsay and striker Daniel Jebbison are both doubtful and will be assessed closer to kick-off. Paul Heckingbottom could opt for a 3-4-2-1 formation, potentially handing starts to Callum Lang and Milutin Osmajic.
Blackburn vs Preston Probable Lineups
Blackburn (4-2-3-1): Tóth; Alebiosu, Carter, McLoughlin, Cashin; Tronstad, Baradji; Morishita, Jørgensen, Afolayan; Ohashi
Preston (3-4-2-1): Cornell; Offiah, Storey, Gibson; Valentín, Whiteman, McCann, Vukcevic; Dobbin, Lang; Osmajic
Lineups powered by WhoScored.
Blackburn vs Preston Match Prediction
This Lancashire derby promises a tight, hard-fought battle. Blackburn, despite their lower league position, have shown resilience and a knack for winning the ball, using width and crosses to trouble defenses. Their struggle with possession and finishing could, however, limit their impact.
Preston thrive on counter-attacks and long-range efforts, often bouncing back from losing positions. They share Blackburn’s ability to press but also struggle with possession and defensive lapses, especially against through balls. With both sides likely to battle fiercely in midfield and injuries affecting Blackburn, a 1-1 draw seems the most likely outcome in an evenly matched clash.
Prediction: Blackburn 1-1 Preston
Blackburn vs Preston Match Stat Trends
Our EV Eagle has picked out five trending player stats for Blackburn vs Preston.
Find 100s more player stat trends in our Trends Tool, available to Oddschecker+ Premium subscribers.
Jordan Storey has exceeded 0.5 Shots in 7 of their last 10 games.
Best odds of 21/20 at Betway while publishing.
Alfie Devine has exceeded 0.5 Shots On Target in 7 of their last 10 games.
Best odds of 19/20 at William Hill while publishing.
Eiran Cashin has exceeded 2.5 Tackles in 5 of their last 5 games.
Best odds of 5/6 at bet365 while publishing.
Jordan Thompson has managed To Be Shown A Card in 5 of their last 6 games.
Best odds of 10/3 at Skybet while publishing.
Preston have received 2+ cards in 7 of their last 8 matches in Championship.
Best odds of 4/9 at Paddy Power while publishing.
Blackburn vs Preston Bet Builder Tip
Our Blackburn vs Preston Bet Builder Tip includes:
- Over 3.5 - Total Cards
- Yes - Both Teams To Score
- E. Cashin Over 2.5 - Tackles
- O. Offiah Over 2.5 - Tackles
Best odds of 8/1 available at bet365 while publishing.
Over 3.5 Total Cards
Blackburn have collected 2+ cards in each of their last four Championship matches, while Preston have racked up 2+ in seven of their last eight. Lancashire derbies are notorious for fiery challenges and tempers flaring, so seeing 4+ bookings looks almost inevitable.
Yes – Both Teams To Score
BTTS has been a hallmark of this fixture. Four of the last five Blackburn vs Preston meetings have seen both sides find the net. Defences are leaky on both ends. Blackburn have managed just one clean sheet in their last ten, Preston only one in six, so expect goals at both ends.
E. Cashin Over 2.5 Tackles
Blackburn's Irish Left Back is a tackling machine, hitting 3+ tackles in 6 straight Championship appearances. Facing Preston's attack on home soil, Cashin will be in the thick of it. His last 5 Game Count is: 6,6,3,3,8, averaging a stunning 5.2 tackles/game.
O. Offiah Over 2.5 Tackles
Brighton's loanee has been immense, racking up 4+ tackles in 5 of his last 6 Championship games (and 3+ in all 6). This high-stakes derby is perfect for Offiah to rack up those defensive numbers. His last 5 Game Count is: 4,6,1,4,5.
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