Dave Seddon's verdict: Blackburn 1 Preston North End 2 - Ewood Park fears prove unfounded as Lilywhites reclaim local bragging rights
and live on Freeview channel 276
Playing on the mind was the heavy defeat in the reverse fixture in November and the perception that Rovers had somehow enjoyed a far superior campaign.
Fair enough, PNE had been taken apart at Deepdale 11 weeks ago and maybe that planted seeds in minds about a contrast in fortunes between the Lancashire rivals.
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Hide AdThe fact is the Lilywhites headed east along the M65 only three points behind Blackburn.
By 9.45pm they had pulled level with their hosts thanks to a 2-1 victory – a deserved one at that.
For Alex Neil, it was a fourth win over Blackburn in his six games against them as North End manager.
Stretching things back a little further to include Simon Grayson’s time as boss, the record is six victories for PNE in 10 meetings.
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Hide AdNovember’s 3-0 defeat was a blip in the sequence, one which can now be consigned to the back of the mind.
To coin the phrase Neil used post-match, his side ‘did a job’ on Rovers.
They switched formations and adopted a game plan to hustle Tony Mowbray’s men out of their stride.
Two goals from unlikely sources, Greg Cunningham and Liam Lindsay, put them in command.
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Hide AdThey only held a two-goal cushion briefly, a penalty from Adam Armstrong soon after Lindsay had scored, cutting the deficit.
It meant the second half was about sitting on a single goal lead rather than two, a task they did rather well.
In fact had they taken a couple of late chances on the break, victory would have been more handsome.
This was only North End’s second win in the seven league games played in 2021.
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Hide AdBoth have been on the road, the other at Birmingham City last month.
Eight away victories shows where their strength has been in this inconsistent and rather strange season.
The big thing missing from the win was nothing to do with the players, nor Neil’s approach.
It was the fact that the PNE faithful couldn’t be there to enjoy it in person which took a slight edge off it.
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Hide AdThe previous four visits had drawn away followings of 6,000 plus – as high as 7,500.
This time the Darwen End stood empty, there having been no countdown on social media to a ticket sell-out.
There was no walk up the hill to the Golden Cup for a pint or two, no convoy of coaches back to Preston.
Instead it was a night in front of Sky TV with the first anniversary of fans last being in grounds in proper numbers fast approaching.
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Hide AdCredit to North End and Rovers for producing a derby which still excited.
Tackles still flew in, one especially from Ryan Ledson on Tyrhys Dolan which led to a yellow card which the Sky commentators observed could easily have been red.
The fact the former PNE academy lad bounced straight up might have saved Ledson more bother.
Preston were wholehearted all over the pitch, keeping in shape and sticking to their game plan.
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Hide AdThe 3-4-1-2 worked well, the three-man defence affording more protection against Rovers’ frontline.
North End still had the numbers to compete in midfield, while two up front was key to the approach.
Strike pair Ched Evans and Tom Barkhuizen led the press on Rovers very well.
The plan was to stop Blackburn playing out from the back, instead having to kick long where the trio of defenders were waiting to compete in the air.
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Hide AdEvans’ hold-up play was excellent, as it was the week before against Rotherham.
He took home Sky’s man of the match trophy and was the choice of many others who had tuned in.
There were others who weren’t far behind Evans in terms of catching the eye.
Lindsay was rock solid at the back and had his goal to add to the mix.
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Hide AdDaniel Iversen produced a splendid save at 2-1 to earn his stripes, the goalkeeper again showing what an excellent replacement he’s been for the injured Declan Rudd.
You couldn’t knock what Cunningham did over the 90 minutes either, his finish for the opener as crisp a strike as you will see.
The odds on Cunningham and Lindsay scoring would have been quite long.
Not since February 2018 towards the end of his first spell with North End, had the Irishman found the net.
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Hide AdLindsay had last scored for Stoke in August 2019, before that in Barnsley colours against Blackpool in April that same year.
Cunningham’s 19th minute opener was a wing-back to wing-back creation.
Alan Browne got the ball on the right, the skipper lifting a pass across field to pick out the run of Cunningham down the left channel.
In a smooth movement, Cunningham brought it down with his first touch and with his second, drove a fine shot from the edge of the box across the keeper into the far corner of the net.
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Hide AdThe lead was doubled in the 43rd minute after PNE forced a corner on the left.
Ledson delivered it to the near post where Lindsay got in front of Jarrod Branthwaite to climb and head home.
North End would have hoped to get through to the interval with a two-goal lead but it was cut with 45 minutes on the clock.
There as slight contact between Andrew Hughes and Sam Gallagher as they chased a ball down the right hand side of the box.
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Hide AdReferee David Webb gave a penalty after quite a pause, Armstrong’s spot kick beating the dive of Iversen.
The PNE keeper was to deny Rovers an equaliser in first-half stoppage-time.
He plunged down on the goal line to claw Armstrong’s flick from Barry Douglas’ low cross past the post.
Victory saw local bragging rights seized back by North End after November's blip.
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Hide AdWith both sides in mid table, it seems likely they will be playing for those same bragging rights next season. Fingers crossed, there will be fans in Deepdale and Ewood to witness the battles.
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