Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction

Follow live coverage as Blackburn Rovers face Preston North End in the Championship today.

An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.

Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.

Blackburn Rovers FC 2 - 1 Preston North End FC

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

22:03

Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Preston North End 1.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:59

Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:57

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Callum Brittain.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:57

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:56

Delay in match because of an injury Brad Potts (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:56

Attempt blocked. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Gibson.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:53

Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:52

Goal! Blackburn Rovers 2, Preston North End 1. Brad Potts (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:51

Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:51

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Adam Forshaw replaces Ryan Hedges.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:51

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Dion Sanderson replaces Tyrhys Dolan.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:48

Offside, Preston North End. Emil Riis is caught offside.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:48

Attempt missed. Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Stefán Thórdarson with a cross following a corner.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:47

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Callum Brittain.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:46

Attempt missed. Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:45

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Ali McCann.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:44

Attempt missed. Ched Evans (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:43

Duane Holmes (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:43

Attempt blocked. Emil Riis (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Brad Potts with a cross.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:42

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Joe Rankin-Costello replaces Lewis Travis.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:42

Attempt missed. Emil Riis (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ched Evans following a set piece situation.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:42

Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:42

Substitution, Preston North End. Ched Evans replaces Sam Greenwood.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:42

Substitution, Preston North End. Duane Holmes replaces Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:37

Goal! Blackburn Rovers 2, Preston North End 0. Todd Cantwell (Blackburn Rovers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:37

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:35

Delay in match because of an injury Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:33

Penalty conceded by Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) after a foul in the penalty area.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:33

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:33

Attempt blocked. Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:33

Attempt blocked. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Hedges.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:32

Foul by Sam Greenwood (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:31

Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a corner.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:29

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Owen Beck.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:28

Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Todd Cantwell is caught offside.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:28

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Todd Cantwell replaces Andreas Weimann.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:24

Substitution, Preston North End. Stefán Thórdarson replaces Ryan Ledson.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:24

Substitution, Preston North End. Brad Potts replaces Jayden Meghoma.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:23

John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:22

Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:18

Offside, Preston North End. Kaine Kesler-Hayden is caught offside.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:15

Attempt missed. Ali McCann (Preston North End) header from the centre of the box following a set piece situation.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:14

Foul by Owen Beck (Blackburn Rovers).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:12

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Jayden Meghoma.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:10

Attempt blocked. Owen Beck (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:10

Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:10

Attempt blocked. Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andreas Weimann.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:08

Attempt missed. Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Owen Beck with a cross following a corner.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:07

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:05

Attempt missed. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Owen Beck.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

21:04

Second Half begins Blackburn Rovers 1, Preston North End 0.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:49

First Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Preston North End 0.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:46

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:46

Foul by Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:43

Attempt saved. Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:42

Andrew Hughes (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:41

Goal! Blackburn Rovers 1, Preston North End 0. Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tyrhys Dolan with a cross.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:37

Foul by Jack Whatmough (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:36

Attempt missed. Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:32

Foul by Sam Greenwood (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:32

Attempt blocked. Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:32

Substitution, Preston North End. Jack Whatmough replaces Jordan Storey because of an injury.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:30

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kaine Kesler-Hayden.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:24

Attempt missed. Owen Beck (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:24

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:24

Delay in match because of an injury Jordan Storey (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:17

Foul by Ryan Ledson (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:16

Attempt missed. Emil Riis (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jordan Storey with a headed pass.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:15

Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:14

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by John Buckley.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:13

Ali McCann (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:13

Foul by Ryan Ledson (Preston North End).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:10

Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:08

Foul by Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:06

Foul by Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers).

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:04

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Ali McCann.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:04

Attempt blocked. Makhtar Gueye (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:04

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Ali McCann.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

20:01

First Half begins.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

19:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End

18:00

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