Preston vs Blackburn prediction, betting tips, odds and probable lineups. Read our Championship match preview with stats and top bet builder insights.
Preston vs Blackburn Match Summary
Competition | English Championship |
|---|---|
Match Date | Saturday 5 September 2026 |
Match Time | 12:30 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Deepdale |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Main Event |
Preston host Blackburn at Deepdale in a Lancashire derby, and this looks a scrap for the ages given how the season has started for both. Our Preston vs Blackburn prediction follows below.
Paul Heckingbottom's Preston are bottom of the Championship for form, having lost their last five in all competitions. Home advantage counts for little when the goals keep flying in at both ends.
Blackburn arrive winless in three, held to a goalless draw last time out despite finishing with 10 men. Even so, Rovers rank far higher for form and will fancy the trip.
Recent history is with the visitors, too. Blackburn have won their last three meetings against Preston in all competitions, so the away side carry real derby-day momentum into this one.
Preston vs Blackburn Form
It has been miserable for Preston, who sit rock bottom of the form table having lost their last five matches in the Championship. They have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight league outings, and there have been 27+ shots in each of their last three games. Caleb Wiley did at least grab his first Preston goal against Bristol City.
Blackburn are steadier, ranked 14th for form, though they are winless in three in all competitions after that goalless draw with Lincoln. Rovers stay busy in front of goal, with 26+ shots in each of their last four league games. Ryoya Morishita has hit the target in each of his last four league outings, while Andri Gudjohnsen has scored or assisted in three of his last four.
Preston vs Blackburn Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Preston: B. Potts (Injured/out), A. McCann (Injured/out)
Blackburn: L. Miller (Injured/out), M. Jørgensen (Injured/out), Y. Ohashi (Injured/out), M. Baradji (Injured/out), A. Kargbo (Injured/out), M. Litherland (Injured/out), S. Wharton (Injured/out), H. Carter (Injured/out), R. Alebiosu (Injured/doubtful), T. Atcheson (Suspended)
Preston
Ben Potts and Ali McCann are both sidelined through injury. There is better news elsewhere, with Johnny Kenny in line to step straight into the squad after signing from Celtic, while Liam Gibbs had been managing a fitness issue before his loan arrival from Norwich. No other changes are expected.
Blackburn
Rovers have a long list of absentees. Tom Atcheson is suspended after his red card against Lincoln, while Ryan Alebiosu will be assessed after picking up a knock. Sam Morsy could deputise at centre-back, and Gady Beyuku is in contention to make his debut on the right.
Preston vs Blackburn Predicted Lineup
Preston
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Iversen; Gibson, Lindsay, Clarke; Wiley, Leroy, Thompson, Mills; Devine, Kenny; Erabi
Blackburn
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Tóth; Ribeiro, McLoughlin, Morsy, Beyuku; Forshaw, Montgomery; Afolayan, Cantwell, Morishita; Gudjohnsen
Preston vs Blackburn Key Stats & Match Facts
Preston have lost their last five matches in the Championship.
Preston have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight Championship matches.
Preston have seen over 2.5 goals in 10 of their last 12 home matches against Blackburn in all competitions.
Blackburn have won their last three matches against Preston in all competitions.
Both teams have scored in seven of the last nine meetings between Preston and Blackburn in the Championship.
Preston vs Blackburn Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: This is a messy derby between two out-of-sorts sides, but the numbers lean towards a low-scoring away win. We are calling it Preston 1-2 Blackburn, with Rovers' recent hold over their rivals and Preston's leaky defence pointing the visitors' way.
Best Bets
Back Preston attacking midfielder Alfie Devine to record over 2.5 shots in the Player Shots market. Preston's whole setup is built on high shot volumes and long-range efforts, and Devine is central to that. The projections give him better than a coin-flip to fire off at least three shots, which reads as real value here.
Back Blackburn centre-back Sean McLoughlin to make over 1.5 tackles in the Player Tackles market. In a scrappy derby against an aggressive Preston attack, McLoughlin should be busy at the back. The projections have him odds-on to complete two or more tackles, and that looks a solid, grounded call.
Preston vs Blackburn Bet Builder
Our four-leg Preston vs Blackburn bet builder tips back Preston to win, with Johnny Kenny to score anytime, Liam Lindsay to be shown a card, and over 2.5 goals in the game.
Backing Preston to win is the anchor. It is a long shot given the form, but at home in a derby the Lilywhites can spring the sort of result that makes this price fly.
Johnny Kenny to score anytime makes sense with a fresh face fancied to step straight in from Celtic and give Preston a genuine focal point up top.
Liam Lindsay to be shown a card looks well placed in a heated derby, with the defender likely to be in the thick of it against a direct Blackburn front line.
Over 2.5 goals fits the pattern nicely, with 10 of the last 12 home meetings between these two going over that mark in all competitions.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 25/1 and is as short as 11/1 elsewhere.
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Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Preston vs Blackburn Talking Points
This is Preston's third match in the space of seven days, and fatigue could bite against fresher legs. Heckingbottom's men have lost five straight and need a spark, with new signing Johnny Kenny arriving from Celtic to add some bite up front. Caleb Wiley's first goal for the club against Bristol City was a rare bright spot in a grim run. Blackburn, meanwhile, will look to keep leaning on their attacking width, with Ryoya Morishita and Andri Gudjohnsen in decent nick and Rovers unbeaten in this fixture across their last three meetings in all competitions.
Preston vs Blackburn Predictions FAQs
When is the Preston vs Blackburn English Championship game?
The match kicks off at 12:30 UK time on Saturday 5 September 2026.
Where is Preston vs Blackburn being played?
The match will take place at Deepdale.
Where can I watch Preston vs Blackburn?
The match is broadcast live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event.
What competition is Preston vs Blackburn in?
Preston vs Blackburn is an English Championship fixture.
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