Ben Brereton Diaz is only behind Aleksandar Mitrovic in the Championship scoring charts
Ben Brereton Diaz's 17th Championship goal of the season clinched victory for Blackburn over Preston in the Lancashire derby as they moved up to fourth in the table.
Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances on a rain-soaked pitch at Ewood Park.
But Brereton Diaz struck eight minutes into the second half when he headed home from Reda Khadra's cross.
It was the striker's fourth goal in as many matches and Blackburn have now won four of their past five matches.
Preston were unable to find an equaliser but will feel they should have been awarded a penalty when Ryan Nyambe appeared to handle the ball in the area.
At the other end, goalkeeper Daniel Iversen produced a fine save to prevent Brereton Diaz adding a second.
The win boosted Rovers' promotion bid, leaving them seven points behind second-placed Bournemouth.
They have responded superbly to a humiliating 7-0 home defeat at home against leaders Fulham, taking 12 points from a possible 15 in their five matches since that debacle.
Preston recently drew with Fulham and beat Bournemouth, but they have been inconsistent this season and this defeat leaves them in 18th place.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBlackburn
Formation 3-4-1-2
13Pears26Lenihan25van Hecke16Wharton2Nyambe27Travis8Rothwell3Pickering21Buckley22Brereton7Khadra
- 13Pears26LenihanBooked at 16mins25van HeckeBooked at 65mins16Wharton2Nyambe27TravisBooked at 68mins8RothwellSubstituted forEdunat 85'minutes3Pickering21BuckleySubstituted forJohnsonat 66'minutes22Brereton7KhadraSubstituted forDolanat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Johnson6Davenport10Dolan14Butterworth19Clarkson20Edun45Eastham
Preston
Formation 3-4-1-2
12Iversen14Storey6Lindsay3Cunningham22Olosunde13McCann4Whiteman32Earl8Browne9Evans19Riis Jakobsen
- 12Iversen14Storey6Lindsay3CunninghamSubstituted forSinclairat 78'minutes22OlosundeSubstituted forLedsonat 82'minutes13McCannSubstituted forJohnsonat 78'minutes4Whiteman32Earl8Browne9EvansBooked at 83mins19Riis JakobsenBooked at 65mins
Substitutes
- 5Bauer11Johnson15Rafferty18Ledson24Maguire28Hudson31Sinclair
Referee:Gavin WardAttendance:18,487Match StatsHome TeamBlackburnAway TeamPrestonPossessionHome43%Away57%ShotsHome6Away10Shots on TargetHome3Away1CornersHome2Away1FoulsHome10Away9Live TextPost update
Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Preston North End 0.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Preston North End 0.
90'+5'Post update
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Bradley Johnson tries a through ball, but Ben Brereton is caught offside.
90'+2'Post update
Alan Browne (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Tayo Edun (Blackburn Rovers).
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
89'Post update
Alan Browne (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Blackburn Rovers).
88'Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
88'Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Brereton (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harry Pickering.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Tayo Edun replaces Joe Rothwell.
84'Post update
Foul by Liam Lindsay (Preston North End).
84'Post update
Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
83'Booking
Ched Evans (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card.
82'Post update
Foul by Joshua Earl (Preston North End).
82'Post update
Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'Post update
Attempt blocked. Daniel Johnson (Preston North End) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joshua Earl.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Ryan Ledson replaces Matthew Olosunde because of an injury.
78'Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Daniel Johnson replaces Alistair McCann.
78'Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Scott Sinclair replaces Greg Cunningham.
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Source: bbc.com