Blackburn Rovers vs Preston Predictions

• Blackburn have won only one of their last five home league games
• Only Sheffield Wednesday have taken fewer home points than Rovers
• Preston have lost only two of their last 10 away Championship matches

Rovers pin hopes on O’Neill

Blackburn will hope the appointment of Michael O’Neill has the desired effect in steering them away from the lower reaches of the Championship, but Preston will make it hard for Rovers to record a second win on the bounce this week.

The Northern Ireland boss’ job share got off to a good start with a 3-1 win at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, although Blackburn still remain only three points above the drop zone. Remarkably for a team with the second-worst home record in the division, Rovers look set to go off as odds-on favourites for Friday’s Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.

PNE, admittedly, have gone off the boil and fell outside the top six after their 2-2 home draw with Watford at the weekend. Paul Heckingbottom’s side lost four games in a row in January, but are now unbeaten in three following a good draw at Ipswich and a home win over Portsmouth.

Preston’s dry January has passed 

North End faced some tough opponents during their dry January, including table-toppers Middlesbrough and play-off chasing Hull and Derby, so this trip should be more to their liking.

The Lilywhites have lost only two of their last 10 away Championship matches and look a bit of value to take something from this clash too. Blackburn have won only one of theur last five at Ewood – against doomed Sheffield Wednesday.

Preston have won three of the last five encounters between the clubs and lost only one while 2-1 has been a popular outcome in past contests, so back a North End victory by that scoreline in correct score betting.