Callum Lang scored his first two goals for Preston North End to earn manager Paul Heckingbottom a huge win over Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire derby.
Preston’s first three points of the season ended their miserable losing start to the Championship season and eased some of the pressure on Heckingbottom.
Lang had failed to score in his previous 11 appearances for North End since his February move from Portsmouth and he seized his chance after Heckingbottom started him ahead of Jusef Erabi.
Blackburn will feel they deserved a draw and Jayden Fevrier hit the bar after Stanley Mills scored an own goal to reduce the arrears.
Lang struck after nine minutes when he showed predatory instincts to direct home Delano Burgzorg’s shot at the back post.
The forward then had to change his shirt because of a nose bleed, but it did not deter him and he headed home Jordan Thompson’s whipped-in free-kick from close range on 27 minutes to double Preston’s advantage.
Blackburn had twice as much possession and had their moments. Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen saved from Todd Cantwell while Ryoya Morishita should have scored when Andri Gudjohnsen pulled the ball back to him, but his shot deflected off Leo Leroy before Ryan Alebiosu drove narrowly over.
Preston, who handed debuts to Johnny Kenny and Liam Gibbs from the bench, were in control, only for Blackburn to claw their way back into the derby on 51 minutes when Alebiosu’s dangerous cross was deflected off Harry Clarke and the unfortunate Mills turned it into his own net.
Burgzorg tried to re-establish Preston’s two-goal lead, only for Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears to save his shot at full stretch with his right hand.
Rovers, who brought on 17-year-old Harvey Higgins for his debut, pushed for an equaliser and substitute Fevrier went agonisingly close just two minutes after coming on when his curling shot came off the crossbar.
Iversen saw Preston home and he made crucial saves to deny Cantwell and Gudjohnsen and earn the Lilywhites this significant victory.