Blackburn Rovers Vs Preston — Ohashi's 95th-minute header hands Blackburn a dramatic 1-0 derby win
Blackburn Rovers Vs Preston produced a late, defining moment as Yuki Ohashi headed home a 95th-minute winner to give Blackburn a 1-0 victory at Ewood Park. The result extended Michael O'Neill's positive start in charge and reshaped immediate concerns on both ends of the Championship table.
Blackburn Rovers Vs Preston: decisive moment and match context
The Lancashire derby remained scoreless deep into stoppage time before the late breakthrough. Yuki Ohashi's headed finish in the 95th minute proved decisive and secured all three points for Blackburn at home. The victory moves the Rovers six points clear of the relegation zone and marks Michael O'Neill's second successive win since taking charge.
Repercussions for Preston and Blackburn
For Preston, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to climb back into the play-off places ahead of the weekend fixtures. The visiting side saw territory and set-play moments but ultimately produced insufficient attacking chances late on, leaving them to reflect on what might have been.
Blackburn, meanwhile, gained breathing room in the relegation battle. The late winner at Ewood Park not only extended O'Neill's unbeaten start but also built a modest buffer above the drop zone, altering the immediate complexion of the lower end of the table.
Manager reaction and what it means next
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom described his primary emotion after the game as anger, saying he felt his side should have taken a point. He expressed disappointment with the attacking end of his team's performance, noting that while they had spells of control they did not fashion enough clear opportunities.
The match will also be viewed in the context of prior meetings: the two sides had met earlier in the season with Blackburn winning 2-1 at Deepdale. That prior result, combined with the latest win at Ewood Park, underlines a recent run of favourable outcomes for the Rovers in this fixture pairing.
Immediate outlook: fixtures and fine margins
The Championship schedule continues with further matches that could change both the race for the play-offs and the relegation picture. Preston will look to recover ground in upcoming fixtures, while Blackburn aim to consolidate the advantage created by their late victory.
- Final score: Blackburn 1-0 Preston
- Decisive scorer: Yuki Ohashi (95th-minute header)
- Venue: Ewood Park
- Managerial note: Michael O'Neill has won his first two games in charge of Blackburn; Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom described himself as 'angry' after the defeat
Recent updates indicate these details; further developments may evolve as the Championship season progresses and more fixtures are completed.
