Callum Lang scored twice early as Preston narrowly defeated local rivals Blackburn 2-1 at Deepdale.
The 27-year-old striker opened the scoring with a poacher’s finish in the ninth minute, then added a header just before the half-hour mark.
Stanley Mills inadvertently reduced the deficit early in the second half with an own goal on only his second start for Preston, but the side held on to claim their first win of the season.
Having trailed early in their previous encounter with Bristol City, Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen was called upon twice in the opening five minutes here—first punching away Yuri Ribeiro’s looping corner, then denying Todd Cantwell one-on-one after the ball fell to him following a deflection off Adam Forshaw.
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Callum Lang found space at the far post and converted from close range to give Preston the lead against local rivals Blackburn.
Following those early chances, Preston fans erupted as Lang slipped in at the far post to strike Delano Burgzorg’s pinpoint cross past Aynsley Pears and into the net.
Tony Mowbray likely wondered how his side fell behind, as Blackburn continued to press; Ryoya Morishita linked well with Andri Gudjohnsen on the 23rd minute, but his shot from inside the box was deflected over the bar.
Blackburn then fell two goals down in the simplest fashion: Lang met Jordan Thompson’s inswinging free‑kick, and Pears somehow nudged the ball past the 28‑year‑old goalkeeper to double Preston’s lead.
Leo Leroy missed a gilt‑edged chance to make it three, playing a weak pass to Burgzorg while Blackburn’s defense was stretched, and Morishita later skied high after another productive link‑up with Gudjohnsen.
Blackburn began the second half with the same attacking intent as the first, but they conceded in the 51st minute when Ryan Alebiosu’s cross glanced off Lewis Gibson, allowing Stanley Mills to divert it into his own net under pressure from Dapo Afolayan.
Preston North End’s Callum Lang (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal against Blackburn with team-mate Jordan Thompson
Preston had an opportunity to restore their two‑goal cushion around the hour mark when Leroy found Burgzorg with only Pears to beat, but the goalkeeper got a hand to the Suriname striker’s effort.
Jayden Fevrier entered the fray for Blackburn and, two minutes after his introduction on the 66th minute, rattled the crossbar with a daring effort from the edge of the box.
The game’s end‑to‑end nature continued in the 72nd minute as Kristi Montgomery bravely blocked a low shot from Alfie Devine, which had been set up by Harry Clarke and appeared headed for the corner.
Iversen then turned away a swiveling effort from Cantwell before making a similar stop to deny Fevrier shortly afterward, but Preston held on to secure the points.
The managers
Preston’s Paul Heckingbottom:
To follow…
Blackburn’s Tony Mowbray:
To follow…
What the result means and next fixtures…
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