Preston North End vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet Championship.
DeepdaleAttendance19,165.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at Deepdale
Sunday 27 October 2019 17:48, UK
Preston produced a dramatic fightback to beat Blackburn 3-2 in a thrilling Lancashire derby at Deepdale to move into second place in the Championship.
The defeat increased Rovers' winless run to six games but a fantastic second-half comeback from Preston maintained their unbeaten home record in the division.
Tony Mowbray's side flew out of the blocks with two goals inside the first 11 minutes thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Declan Rudd and a Sam Gallagher strike.
However, their neighbours responded with a spirited display after the break as two goals from Tom Barkhuizen and a Daniel Johnson penalty secured all three points.
Rovers went in front inside the first 40 seconds, the ball going in off Rudd from Adam Armstrong's cross.
But, despite Preston rallying quickly through Paul Gallagher and Patrick Bauer, the visitors showed their ruthless side again after 11 minutes.
Bradley Dack found himself in space on the edge of the Preston box and he fed Gallagher who finished from 15 yards.
Alex Neil's side did look to rouse themselves before the break, but an alert stop by Rovers 'keeper Christian Walton from Barkhuizen preserved their two-goal lead at the interval.
The hosts were a different side in the second half, going straight onto the front foot as Alan Browne's long-range effort forced another save from Walton just after the restart.
With the noise levels increasing from the home fans, the Lilywhites clawed their way back into the game after 53 minutes.
Darnell Fisher did well to create an angle to cross in from the right and Sean Maguire cushioned a header down for Barkhuizen to slam home from close range.
Preston had their tails up from there on as Walton was called into action to tip away Jayden Stockley's drive just before the hour mark.
But there was little he could do about the hosts' equaliser after 65 minutes, as Johnson slotted home from the spot after a foul on Browne by Elliott Bennett.
The writing was on the wall for the struggling visitors from there as the home fans drove Neil's side on for the win.
It was to be Barkuizen that eventually sealed the comeback with eight minutes to go, firing past Walton from a tight angle from Browne's clever through ball from midfield.
Alex Neil: "We have shown real fight today, in what was always going to be a difficult game. Derby matches are always tough and full credit to Blackburn, they made it into a derby game right from the kick-off.
"Our tactics from the first half were not working, so I had to put my pride to one side and change things around at half-time. I think the substitutions were very important and allowed us the chance to get back into the game. I have to praise the players for how they reacted after the break and their response was emphatic."
Tony Mowbray: "Today was an example of a game of two very different halves of football, it really was. I thought the players looked to bring what we have worked on this week into the game in the first half, and we caused problems.
"After the break we had no luck, as Preston looked to go long and play higher up the pitch. We found that difficult to deal with and the referee has made it difficult for us."
