Blackburn Rovers

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Former Blackburn Rovers striker Kevin Gallagher thinks Rovers fans will be pleased with their showing in the Lancashire derby against Preston on Saturday, but small margins decided an unwanted outcome.

Preston were leading from the ninth minute thanks to a goal from Callum Lang, who went on to to double his lead in the first half, and Rovers were only able to peg it back to 2-1 via an own goal from Stan Mills in the second.

"Blackburn fans will go home happy, but they will be going, 'How did we get beat today?,'" Gallagher said.

"For the first nine minutes, Blackburn were banging at the door, and you're thinking, 'What could happen to this game if Blackburn get a goal?' But just as you say that, Preston gets it.

"Take the goal back further into midfield because that's where the battle was. Todd Cantwell has gone up for a header, but he's ducked underneath it. Didn't want to head it, and unfortunately then, Preston win possession."

Listen to the full post-match reaction below or on BBC Sounds here.

Blackburn Rovers have taken only one point from their past three Championship outings as they prepare to host Sheffield United on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

The Blades head to Ewood Park unbeaten on the road so far with two draws from their away games.

• After their 3-1 win in April, Blackburn Rovers are hoping to record back-to-back league victories over Sheffield United for the first time since April 1993 in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United have won each of their past three away games at Blackburn Rovers in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory in this season's EFL Cup in August. Only from 1949 to 1953 have the Blades ever won four in a row away to Rovers.

• After their 2-1 home defeat by QPR, Blackburn Rovers could suffer back-to-back home league defeats for the first time since November 2025.

• Sheffield United have drawn both of their away games in the Championship this season. Only in 1898-99, 1984-85, and 2012-13 have they started a league campaign with three successive away draws.

• Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray has lost five of his past seven league games against Sheffield United (W2), including four of his past five.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Lancashire derby between Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers gave the Lilywhites their first points of the season.

Here are some of your comments:

Preston North End fans

Tony: At last, good performance, but we still need to sort the defence out. Clarke was like a leader, and, if Lang can stay fit, we should be okay.

Will: Good first half but under pressure for most of the second. Lang played well and also Clarke and Mills. No major problems from the defence, but Blackburn missing several players. Better squad depth and quality should help throughout the season.

Richard: A win is a win, both sides squandered golden opportunities. Preston's game management was poor for most of the game, but the final 11 that played started to bring it back into some sort of forward attacking play that was missing in the rest of the game. Not detracting from Lang's goals that were well taken and a much-needed win for Preston. Onwards and upwards.

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Blackburn Rovers fans

Gordon: Hard luck today against a PNE team desperate for a win. 12 injured players decimated the Rovers, but despite that, they easily won the battle of the stats, and but for some poor finishing and absence of Lady Luck, they would have won the only stat that matters, the final score.

Just a pity the signing of two new players this week was hijacked at the death.

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after their 2-1 derby loss at Preston North End. For a written selection of his quotes click here.

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Blackburn Rovers right-back Ryan Alebiosu and captain Todd Cantwell are fit for Saturday's Lancashire derby at Preston North End - but head coach Tony Mowbray says 12 players are still unavailable.

Alebiosu and Cantwell have returned to full training after they both went off in the 0-0 draw at Lincoln City on Tuesday.

But following Tom Atcheson's red card against the Imps, Rovers are left with just one fit senior centre-back to face the Lilywhites, with Hayden Carter and Scott Wharton still out injured, while those who missed the trip in midweek also remain out.

Despite an early-season injury crisis, Mowbray said he is "pretty relaxed" and insisted he will be able to field a "really competitive" team at Deepdale (12:30 BST).

"We need to get some of these lads back over the next month or so and then I'll be even more comfortable," the 62-year-old told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We're putting what I feel is a pretty strong team out with 12 injuries as well.

"I know it's not ideal to have so many injuries to so many players that could make a difference to the team, but that's not going to be the case all season."

Mowbray said the speed of the modern game has become "so much quicker", which could be contributing to more injuries at every club.

"It feels unusual to have so many people down," Mowbray added. "There's lots of work being done behind the scenes regarding the medical and the sports science of how the training's looking, what we are doing, are we training too much?

"Is it just the volume of games - literally a game every three days for three weeks?

"That's what we're in the middle of at the moment - seven games in 21 days. And so my frustration as a coach is that we're not being able to train the team.

"We can't work on anything because you finish a game, you recover. And then you've got one day before you play the next game and so basically you're using video footage to try to get the gameplan across to the team."

Preston North End are seeking their first Championship points as they welcome Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Lilywhites are yet to get their season started after four games, while Rovers are sitting in the midtable five points ahead.

• Preston are winless in six home league games against Blackburn Rovers (D3 L3) since a 3-2 victory in October 2019 under Alex Neil.

• Blackburn have won each of their last three league games against Preston, last winning four in a row against the Lilywhites in August 1919.

• Preston are the only Championship side to lose each of their opening four matches this season, and are looking to avoid losing their opening five of a league campaign for just the third time, after 1924-25 and 1929-30.

• Blackburn Rovers have only lost one of their last seven away games in the Championship (W3 D3), a 0-3 defeat to Southampton in April.

• No side has had fewer high turnovers in the Championship than Blackburn this season (11), with Rovers also the only side yet to have a shot from a high turnover.

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after Tuesday's goalless draw at Lincoln City.

For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

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Blackburn Rovers midfielder Sidnei Tavares has joined Polish side Wisła Płock on a season-long loan deal with the option to buy.

The Portuguese midfielder will spend the remainder of the current campaign with the Polish top-flight club, who finished eighth in the Ekstraklasa last season.

Tavares originally signed from Portuguese side Moreirense last summer and featured 14 times for Rovers last season in a campaign disrupted by injury.

The 24-year-old started out at Leicester City and also had a loan spell in Colorado before moving to Portugal.

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Transfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.

The transfer window closes at 23:00 BST, so we might have some late night scrambles to get deals over the line.

There has already been plenty of movement this summer and whether it's a busy or quiet day for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our EFL deadline day live text coverage throughout the day here

Get alerts and keep up to date with all the latest news, insight and fan views for your club

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray remained positive despite his side's 2-1 defeat against QPR.

The visitors came from behind to win at Ewood Park after Ryoya Morishita's spectacular strike had put Rovers ahead.

"I think there were lots of positives today," Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We played against a good team - I thought we managed them pretty well, to be honest - and it was a really tight game. We had spells where we were pretty dominant, and they had moments too.

"I've said to them in the dressing room: 'Lots and lots of positives today'. If we can maintain the performance from the first 60 minutes for 90 [minutes], we'll be fine.

"It's a very quiet, disappointed dressing room, and yet I think if they stick together, there's enough spirit, togetherness and camaraderie to be competitive this season.

"I'm still here after a defeat, and it's hard to find words other than that I felt pretty proud of how they performed for the vast majority of the game.

"Let's take the positives — I've said that to them in the dressing room. We were really good for a lot of that game."

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Blackburn Rovers midfielder Axel Henriksson has joined Randers on loan for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old joined the Championship side from Swedish team Gais last August and made 18 league appearances last season.

The Danish side have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

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Blackburn Rovers forward Yuki Ohashi is likely to be sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury picked up during his side's Carabao Cup loss to Sheffield United on Tuesday.

The former Japan international was withdrawn after just 11 minutes of Rovers' 2-1 defeat.

"It was a real blow to us all, it's a lad that never gets injured," Mowbray said.

"We are going to be without him for a few weeks minimum and we will wait and see how he recovers. Fingers crossed he will be a swift healer."

Left-back Harry Pickering also came off at half-time but his injury is "very minor" and could be back for the Championship game against QPR on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Midfielder Adam Forshaw is set for a return to the squad after missing out on the cup game in the week, while Jake Garrett is also likely to be fit.

Left-back Yuri Ribeiro could feature after only 11 minutes of playing time so far this season in their opening match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Defender Scott Wharton is also training but will not be rushed back into the squad having played just 12 games last season because of injury struggles.

"He needs a couple of weeks, probably needs an under-21's game to give him the confidence that his body is ready and okay to compete," Mowbray said.

Listen to the full interview below or on BBC Sounds here.

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Bradford City have signed Blackburn Rovers defender George Pratt on a season-long loan deal.

The 22-year-old made 10 Championship appearances for Rovers last season.

The Bradford-born player could make his debut in Saturday's home game at Plymouth Argyle in League One.

"We are very happy to bring a player in with his strong attributes, and his keenness to come here fills me with confidence we have signed a highly motivated player," boss Graham Alexander told the club website., external

These two sides have matched each other so far with a win and a draw from their opening two Championship matches.

It is five years since QPR went three games unbeaten at the start of a league season.

• None of the past 17 league meetings between Queens Park Rangers (6 wins) and Blackburn Rovers (11 wins) have ended level, since a 1-1 draw in September 2016.

• Queens Park Rangers have won away to Blackburn Rovers in two of the past three Championship campaigns (L1), having won on just two of their prior 18 trips to Ewood Park in the league (D3 L13).

• After beating Middlesbrough 2-1 last time out, Blackburn are looking to record back-to-back Championship victories for just the second time since the start of December last year (beating QPR and Preston in February).

• QPR beat Portsmouth on the opening day of the season before drawing with Bolton in their second match, now they are hoping to remain unbeaten across their opening three matchdays of a league campaign for just the second time in the past decade after 2021-22.

• Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray has faced QPR 17 times in the league previously – his first meeting with them in October 2006 ended in a draw (3-3 with West Brom) but none of the 16 since have ended level (W11 L5).

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Barnsley have signed Blackburn defender Connor O'Riordan on a season-long loan deal, with an option to make it permanent in the summer.

The 22-year-old, who has represented Republic of Ireland up to Under-21 level, spent the first half of last season on loan in League One with Doncaster.

He returned to Blackburn in January and made six appearances in all competitions for the Championship side.

O'Riordan could make his Tykes debut in Saturday's trip to Leyton Orient.