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Championship

Dec 10, 2016 at 5.30pm UK

Preston Preston North End
3-2
Blackburn Blackburn Rovers

Johnson (17', 31' pen.), Robinson (80')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Graham (23' pen., 70')

Build-up

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Football

Owen Coyle: 'We're capable of beating Preston North End'

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 09 December 2016

Blackburn Rovers manager Owen Coyle says that his side are "more than capable" of defeating Preston North End in the East Lancashire derby.

Blackburn Rovers manager Owen Coyle has said that his side are "more than capable" of claiming all three points when they visit Preston North End for the East Lancashire derby on Saturday evening.

After a disappointing start to the season, Rovers have finally lifted themselves out of the relegation zone thanks to a three-game unbeaten run that has seen them claim victories over Brentford and Newcastle United, as well as a draw with Huddersfield Town.

"If you'd have offered us seven points from nine then we would have been pleased with that, but that being said, we wanted to gather all nine," Coyle told the Lancashire Telegraph. "But we can't affect that now, what we can affect is the games coming up in the Christmas period and that starts with Preston.

"We have to make sure we're at our best against a very good side, a side that have picked up some very big results this year. In terms of passing and moving the ball, we didn't do that well enough last week but there were a lot of other things that we did well last week in terms of the blocks we made and the way we defended. If we can bring that all together then we have a chance to get all the three points and that's what we'll be looking to do.

"It's a great opportunity with the game live on Sky for us to go and show we are a good side, as we did against Wolves with the football we played, but equally you want to get those three points. We're going to have to make sure we're at our maximum, but if we are then we're more than capable of going and winning that tough game."

After Saturday's trip to Preston, Rovers go on to face tough ties against high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion and Reading at Ewood Park before Christmas.