Callum Lang made an immediate impact, netting a brace that helped Preston slip past their local rivals Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Deepdale. The 27‑year‑old opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a poacher’s finish, and then doubled the lead in the 28th minute by heading home a precise delivery from Delano Burgzorg.
Early in the second half, Preston’s Stanley Mills inadvertently reduced his own advantage when he turned an own‑goal into the net on only his second start for the club. Despite that setback, the team held firm to claim their first win of the season. Preston’s previous match against Bristol City had begun poorly, with goalkeeper Daniel Iversen forced into two crucial saves within the opening five minutes.
He first scrambled back to tip a looping corner from Yuri Ribeiro onto the line, then denied Todd Cantwell in a one‑on‑one situation after the former Norwich midfielder latched onto a deflected pass from Adam Forshaw. Those early scares quickly gave way to jubilation as the North End faithful rose to their feet. Lang, ever‑present in the box, timed his run to the far post and powered Burgzorg’s expertly placed cross across Aynsley Pears and into the corner for the opening goal. Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was left questioning how his side fell behind so quickly.
The visitors pressed forward, with Ryoya Morishita providing their best chance in the 23rd minute. He linked up nicely with Andri Gudjohnsen, but his shot from the edge of the area clipped a defender and sailed over the bar.
The visitors then fell two goals behind in the simplest fashion. Lang latched onto an inswinging free‑kick delivered by Jordan Thompson, and Pears, with a quick reflex, nudged the ball past the 28‑year‑old Blackburn keeper to double Preston’s lead.
Later in the match, Preston had an opportunity to extend the margin when Leo Leroy sent a through‑ball to Burgzorg, but the striker’s finish was poorly weighted, allowing Blackburn’s defence to recover. Meanwhile, Morishita continued to trouble the hosts, linking again with Gudjohnsen before his effort was saved. Blackburn started the second half with the same attacking intent they had shown in the first period. Their persistence paid off in the 51st minute when Ryan Alebiosu’s cross was partially deflected by Lewis Gibson, and Mills, under pressure from Dapo Afolayan, turned the ball into his own net.
Preston could have restored a two‑goal cushion shortly after the hour mark when Leroy found Burgzorg with a chance that left only the goalkeeper to beat. Pears, however, made a crucial save, keeping the scoreline tight.
Substitutions added fresh energy to the contest. Jayden Fevrier entered for Blackburn and, just two minutes later, struck the post with a bold effort from the edge of the box. The game’s rhythm resembled a basketball match in the 72nd minute when Kristi Montgomery bravely blocked a low shot from Alfie Devine, which had originated from a Harry Clarke centre aimed at the corner.
Iversen continued to be tested, turning away another swivelling strike from Cantwell before making a similar denial of Fevrier’s follow‑up attempt. Ultimately, Preston’s defensive resolve held, and they secured the three points. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom praised Lang’s performance, noting, “He’s worked incredibly hard during the off‑season. He trained all summer, staying sensible with his workload, and we’re building resilience in his body.
When he’s on the pitch, we want him to be able to go flat‑out like he did today. His movement in the box is excellent, and his two goals illustrate that perfectly.
The best thing about today was the spirit and determination to see the game through.” Blackburn’s boss Tony Mowbray reflected on the defeat, saying, “If you drop below the standards you set for yourself, you can’t expect to win. We came in believing we would win, but we conceded two soft goals, which is uncharacteristic of us.
After a tough game at Lincoln three days ago, we chased countless crosses and cleared them, never reaching the level needed for a second goal. In terms of possession and tempo, we dominated much of the match, but Preston’s half‑space was where the game was decided.
They threatened and scored twice, which is the result they wanted. From what I saw, they played a bit better than losing five games in a row, so good luck to them.” The match also featured several media prompts, encouraging viewers to use Chrome for a better video experience, watch EFL games on mobile devices, and enjoy free Championship highlights. Additionally, fans were reminded of a promotional Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available.