Blackburn vs Preston preview
Thursday 7 March 2019 17:28, UK
Blackburn will have defender Derrick Williams back from suspension for their Sky Bet Championship clash against Preston on Saturday.
Manager Tony Mowbray will be without centre-back Darragh Lenihan with a knee injury. Lenihan limped off on February 2 in a 5-2 defeat at Brentford as is expected to be out for another week.
Ben Brereton will again be among the substitutes but Harry Chapman and Jacob Davenport are not yet ready to return. Forwards Dominic Samuel and Ben Gladwin remain on the long-term injury list for Rovers.
Preston captain Tom Clarke could make a welcome return after missing the 1-1 draw against Bristol City, with a late call to be made on his fitness. Midfielder Ben Pearson serves the second of his two-match ban after collecting 10 yellow cards this season.
Callum Robinson and Louis Moult have both returned to training this week after suffering hamstring injuries but the game could come too soon. Connor Ripley (ankle) and knee ligament victims Billy Bodin and Josh Harrop remain sidelined.
Opta stats
Blackburn Rovers are winless in four league matches against Preston North End (W0 D1 L3) since winning 2-1 in November 2015.
Preston haven't completed a league double over Blackburn since the 1978-79 season.
Blackburn are winless in their last six games in the Championship (D1 L5) - only 24th-place Ipswich currently on a longer run without a win (eight games).
Preston manager Alex Neil has a 100% win record against Blackburn in the Championship, winning all three matches he's managed against them.
Blackburn have scored 21 goals from set pieces in the Championship this season - only Aston Villa have profited from more (26 set piece goals).
Paul Gallagher has been directly involved in five of Preston's last seven goals in the Championship (one goal and four assists), while providing the assist for each of the last three.
Prutton's prediction
David Prutton predicts: 1-3 (22/1 with Sky Bet)
