Andri Gudjohnsen nets winner as Blackburn claim derby spoils against Preston

Andri Gudjohnsen’s fourth goal in his last five Championship games earned Blackburn a 2-1 win at Preston and denied their Lancashire rivals a chance of going second.

Although Alfie Devine cancelled out Lewis Miller’s opener within seconds in a frantic finish to the first half, Blackburn were the better side after the break and Gudjohnsen’s 62nd-minute header extended Rovers’ unbeaten run at Deepdale which dates back to 2019.

Their fifth win in eight away from home moved Blackburn up to 16th as they continue to recover from a poor start while Preston rued a missed opportunity after losing at home in the league for only the second time this term.

Despite the bluster of a Lancashire derby, there were few clear first-half chances but Preston should have led half an hour in but for Aynsley Pears’ heroics.

Michael Smith stretched to turn a deep cross goalwards but saw the ball pushed off the line by Pears, who then denied Andrew Hughes on the rebound before George Pratt – making his Championship debut after recently being recalled from a loan at Chorley – made the block as Jordan Storey followed up.

Blackburn finally began to build momentum late in the half and Yuki Ohashi had the first clear sight of goal but Hughes slid in at the key moment. Ryoya Morishita’s drilled effort from a tight angle was then repelled by Daniel Iversen.

The pressure told in the 45th minute corner. Ryan Hedges whipped the ball in and Miller, who played 90 minutes for Australia against Colombia in New York in the early hours of Wednesday morning, rolled away from Storey to head home from close range.

But the lead lasted only 80 seconds. In stoppage time, Lewis Dobbin flicked the ball into the path of Devine and the Tottenham loanee broke clear of three defenders before hitting a low shot on the turn. Rovers skipper Sean McLoughlin got a toe to it but could only help it over the line.

Blackburn were on top at the start of the second half and got back in front from another set-piece after Odeluga Offiah fouled Kristi Montgomery.

Morishita bent in a tempting free-kick from just outside the box and Gudjohnsen ghosted in at the far post to head home.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom shuffled his pack in search of a response but Devine was unable to keep his shot down as he met Thierry Small’s cross on the volley before Small cut into the box impressively only to slip as the chance opened up before him.

Makhtar Gueye and Ohashi had chances to seal it for Blackburn late on before Preston’s frustrations boiled over at the end, with captain Ben Whiteman earning a yellow card that rules him out of Tuesday’s trip to Watford.