Dominic Hyam’s 95th-minute own goal denied Blackburn the chance to move back into the Championship’s top six and rescued local rivals Preston a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Deepdale.
Hyam was left holding his head in his hands after turning Liam Delap’s cross past his own goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, only moments after Ryan Hedges had missed a sitter to double the visitors’ lead.
Blackburn had looked like leaving Deepdale with three points through Sammy Szmodics’ classy strike 10 minutes from time, which would have lifted them up to fifth in the table and left Preston four points off the play-offs.
Preston had failed to regularly test Pears before Hyam’s blunder, with only Ben Whiteman and Ali McCann forcing any meaningful saves out of the visiting goalkeeper, while Szmodics saw what appeared to be an earlier opener ruled out for a Maradona-esque handball.
But after Preston’s late equaliser earned them a share of the local bragging rights, they move two points adrift of the top six, while Blackburn sit behind sixth-placed Millwall on goal difference.
More to follow…
What’s next?
Blackburn are live on Sky Sports again on Tuesday with another Lancashire derby against already-promoted Burnley; kick-off at 8pm.
Preston’s next game is away to another promotion hopeful, Sheffield United, next Saturday; kick-off at 3pm.