Blackburn vs Preston prediction 20.02.2026 | Championship

Once an established Premier League side, Blackburn Rovers now find themselves battling uncertainty again. They are only three points above the relegation zone, and it will not be surprising if they return to League One. However, after two wins in the last three matches, there should be much more optimism at Ewood Park. In the most recent outing, Blackburn won 3-1 on the road against QPR. The hosts ended with 14 shots on the goal more than the visitors, but Blackburn's superb efficiency was enough for an important victory.

A victory in the previous league round was the first for Michael O'Neill as Blackburn manager. After a debut triumph, he said, "When you are in this situation that we are in, it's not necessarily about how you play your football, it's about making sure you stay in the game, particularly when you come to a tight ground like QPR. I thought we defended our box brilliantly."

Blackburn have some problems with missing players. They will be without Todd Cantwell, Ryan Hedges, Matty Litherland, and Signei Tavares. Also, Augustus Kargbo, Lewis Miller, and Scott Wharton are questionable and their status will be clearer closer to the kickoff.

Preston are excellent this season. They are in contention for the promotion playoff spot and could end up in the Premier League in a couple of months for the first time in more than 60 years. However, Preston's form is far from ideal, as they won in only one of their last seven matches across all competitions. In the previous game, Preston played 2-2 at home against Watford. The teams were fairly even, so it is no wonder they split the points. Paul Heckingbottom's team will have to do much better if they want to sneak into the promotion playoffs. 

Daniel Iversen and Brad Potts are injured and will not travel to Blackburn. Daniel Jebbison and Robbie Brady are injured as well, but they might recover in time.