Every year that these two clubs spend in the second tier seems to grow their animosity towards each other.

Whilst both have bigger historical rivalries (Blackpool and Burnley respectively) the rarity of those derbies in recent years, and the insistence of both Lancashire clubs, who are actually the geographically closest to each other, not to get promoted or relegated, makes this a very regular live TV derby spectacle.

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📈 Preston v Blackburn Form & Stats

Preston were among the favourites for relegation with both the bookmakers and a lot of pundits prior to the season starting. Much of this scepticism stemmed from the under delivery of results from Paul Heckingbottom at the back end of last season. However, a full pre-season and some enterprising recruitment seems to have worked wonders, and North End find themselves deservingly in the top six.

Their form directly before the international break was good, four matches unbeaten with three wins. There is a touch of overperformance about their points tally and league placing, though, the expected points table have Preston in a much more familiar position of 12th, and their attacking data would support that position.

Defensively they also rank 12th for expected goals against, so they must be effective in both boxes, which is obviously a very good and important trait.

Indeed, Blackburn have had the opposite problem to Preston. Rovers now sit fourth in the expected points table. This is the biggest difference between position in the real table v the expected points, a notable 15 places. Rovers are sixth for expected goals, ninth for big chances created, and, in an indication of their performances so far, are also ranked top five in the league for expected goals against.

Valerien Ismael will be hoping for a turnaround in results given their performance data. Whilst his team are now out of the relegation zone in 19th, they lost their 150th anniversary match at home to Derby just before the international break, which sucked some of the momentum from them, having won three in a row against Southampton, Leicester, and Bristol City before that.

📔 Preston v Blackburn Formation & Team News

Preston have continued to use a three at the back formation, as has generally been the club’s style for a number of years now. They have many solid central defenders, so this makes sense, but Heckingbottom has gotten more out of the midfielders and forwards than his predecessors so far.

Preston will have to cope without one of those forwards, top scorer Milutin Osmajic, until 2026 due to a suspension handed to him for racist abuse. Daniel Jebbison and Will Keane are both currently absent through injury, leaving Michael Smith as Preston’s only centre forward. Lewis Dobbin is likely to play off Smith, but central midfield is looking very strong, with Harrison Armstrong having an excellent loan.

Blackburn have alternated between a back four and a back three system throughout the season. However, Ismael seems to have really hit on something with their recent use of 3-4-1-2, primarily because it allows them to use their best two attackers, Yuki Ohashi and Andri Gudjohnsen, in tandem, whilst keeping a really solid back three defence.

However, Rovers’ squad is a little threadbare due to injuries at the moment. Balazs Toth and Scott Wharton are still out, Moussa Baradji is yet to play a game since his signing, Augustus Kargbo and Todd Cantwell are also likely to still be missing. Hayden Carter could be fit enough to fill one of the central defensive spots, though.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.