Tackles will be flying at Deepdale.
Friday night means the return of the domestic day job in the EFL Championship following a cracking end to the November international break.
The first game back is a Lancashire derby as in-form Preston play host to old foes Blackburn Rovers on what will be a cold night at Deepdale.
Ahead of what should be a red-hot derby to warm the cockles, football tipster James O’Rourke has put together four selections for a belting Bet Builder. He’s got one player pick in here too, which is covered by Paddy’s Super Sub offer, meaning if the player is replaced, the pick carries over to his replacement.
Let’s get his Preston v Blackburn betting tips.
Preston v Blackburn Bet Builder Tips
Blackburn and draw
Halftime draw
Preston to receive the most cards
Benjamin Whiteman to be shown a card
A Bet Builder with these selections pays approximately 8/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
WHEN: Friday, November 21st, 8pm
WHERE: Deepdale, Preston
TV: Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Football
Blackburn and draw
A quick glance at the Championship table may suggest this Friday night Lancashire derby should be a routine home victory. After all, Preston could jump into second with what would be a fourth win in their last five at home. However, a case can be made for Blackburn to gain a positive result.
Rovers had been on a three-match winning sequence of their own before coming off second best in a tight 2-1 setback to in-form Derby before the international break.
Also, only high-flying Coventry and Stoke have earned more Championship away points than Blackburn this season. This team has also been away to the top-half trio Hull, Bristol City, and Leicester, and not only left with clean sheets each time, but also maximum points.
Preston’s home record is pretty decent as well, but only one of those matches in league action saw either side win by a two-goal or more margin.
Games at Deepdale this season are often very tight affairs and, with this also being a local derby, it would be no surprise to see another even contest. Furthermore, Preston have also failed to win both games this season held immediately after an international break.
Halftime draw
To continue the theme, alongside this being an expected close encounter, a draw at half time must also be considered. Three of the last five head-to-head renewals, which were all held since the beginning of 2023, were also level after 45 minutes.
North End also have a 50-50 split in their league goals, with half in the first half and half in the second. This shows they aren’t necessarily a side that looks to come out of the blocks quickly, as they are just as effective as the game wears on. In fact, the average time for their opening goal across all league fixtures this season is 44 minutes, so they can be a slow burner.
For the away side, it is a little different as nine of their 14 league goals arrived after half time. Despite this, Valérien Ismaël’s men have still only been behind in four of their 14 league assignments in 2025/26.
They have some notable defensive absentees for this game, but that shouldn’t necessarily be deemed a major negative for this particular selection. This is because they can be expected to dig deep to protect their goal, and they have a record on the road to prove they’re capable of doing this.
Preston to receive the most cards
Paul Heckingbottom has been known to build a team of grafters, and this Preston side is no different. They’ve certainly stepped up a level this season in terms of their quality on the pitch, on account of being 11 points better off now compared to this stage in 2024/25.
However, one thing hasn’t changed from last season: the sheer volume of yellow cards they receive. Only Portsmouth have picked up more bookings than they did last season, and now in the current campaign, only Derby has claimed more yellows than the Lilywhites.
For Blackburn, just five other Championship clubs can say they have earned fewer cards of the yellow variety than them.
Of course, the local derby element could see anything happen, but the visiting team has shown that they can handle their emotions. Preston have been high in the table for pretty much the whole season and yet they’re still frequently picking up cards, which probably goes somewhat against the expected grain.
Over their previous five matches, Preston have averaged 2.80 cards. As for Blackburn, it’s been 1.60.
Benjamin Whiteman to be shown a card
A regular contributor to the Preston booking count, not just this season but also in recent years, is captain Ben Whiteman. Playing the deep-lying midfielder position means this is very much an occupational hazard for any player in this role, and it’s certainly the case in the North End team.
The 29-year-old is ranked only second to teammate Andrew Hughes for yellow cards this season in all competitions. It’s also a Hughes one and Whiteman two combo for most fouls made in league action for Preston. If there is someone to attract the referee’s attention on Friday, then one of these two should be at the head of the queue.
In the 2024/25 Championship season, Whiteman was the joint-highest booked player with 12 cards. He’s already a third of the way to that total. Again, the local derby aspect comes into play, and it’s worth noting that the midfielder was carded in two of the last four head-to-head clashes.
Preston v Blackburn Bet Builder Tips
Blackburn and draw
Halftime draw
Preston to receive the most cards
Benjamin Whiteman to be shown a card
A Bet Builder with these selections pays approximately 8/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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