Championship LIVE: Preston North End vs Blackburn Rovers - BBC Sport

Sam Greenwood after his challenge on Lewis Baker — Image caption,
Sam Greenwood (centre) paid the price for a reckless challenge

Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic was accused of biting Blackburn defender Owen Beck as both sides ended a feisty Lancashire derby at Deepdale with 10 men.

North End's Sam Greenwood was sent off three minutes before half-time for a crude challenge on Lewis Baker.

But the visitors were unable to take advantage and themselves had a player red-carded late on, when Beck was dismissed for lashing out at Duane Holmes.

Beck furiously protested to referee Matthew Donohue that he had been bitten by Osmajic, who was given a yellow card.

Rovers remain unbeaten in the Championship this season but a win would have taken them to third in the table, above rivals Burnley.

They instead moved up one place, to fourth, while the point moved Preston, who began the day in the bottom three, up to 21st.

Owen Beck and Milutin Osmajic argue — Image caption,
Owen Beck (centre) alleged Preston's Milutin Osmajic bit him in the aftermath of the Blackburn man's red card

Blackburn's Beck 'has bite mark' after Osmajic clash
Published
23 September 2024

Owen Beck speaks to the officials — Image caption,
Owen Beck told the officials he had been bitten on his back before he left the field following his red card

It was the first time in 43 years this fixture has produced a goalless draw.

Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances before the game suddenly sparked into life shortly before half-time when Preston keeper Freddie Woodman palmed Ryan Hedges’ shot towards Tyrhys Dolan, whose half-volley hit the post.

Greenwood was red-carded a couple of minutes later but his team nevertheless finished the half strongly.

Brad Potts’ shot brought a near-post save from Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears, who then did superbly to keep out Andy Hughes’ header from the resulting corner.

Blackburn boss John Eustace made an attacking change at the break in an attempt to capitalise on the numerical advantage, sending forward Makhtar Gueye on in place of midfielder Baker.

Gueye saw a tame effort gathered by Pears, who was largely comfortable as the hosts defended well.

And Beck’s frustration got the better of him when he was shown a red card for reacting angrily to a challenge, kicked out at Holmes, and then claimed he had been bitten by North End substitute Milutin Osmajic - who received a yellow card - in the melee which followed.

Pears was called into action twice in the final stages, saving strikes from Ben Whiteman and Potts but Blackburn held on for a point.

Position	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1	West Bromwich Albion	6	5	1	0	10	2	8	16	Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win
2	Sunderland	6	5	0	1	13	4	9	15	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win
3	Burnley	6	4	1	1	13	4	9	13	Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win
4	Blackburn Rovers	6	3	3	0	12	6	6	12	Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw
5	Sheffield United	6	4	2	0	9	3	6	12	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win
6	Leeds United	6	3	2	1	9	4	5	11	Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Win
7	Swansea City	6	3	1	2	7	4	3	10	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Win
8	Watford	6	3	1	2	10	9	1	10	Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
9	Oxford United	6	3	0	3	10	8	2	9	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss
10	Derby County	6	3	0	3	8	7	1	9	Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss
11	Norwich City	6	2	2	2	8	7	1	8	Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win
12	Middlesbrough	6	2	2	2	6	5	1	8	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Loss
13	Bristol City	6	2	2	2	8	12	-4	8	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
14	Queens Park Rangers	6	1	4	1	8	9	-1	7	Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw
15	Luton Town	6	2	1	3	5	8	-3	7	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win
16	Hull City	6	1	3	2	5	7	-2	6	Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
17	Stoke City	6	2	0	4	4	9	-5	6	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
18	Millwall	6	1	2	3	9	9	0	5	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Draw
19	Coventry City	6	1	2	3	6	8	-2	5	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
20	Plymouth Argyle	6	1	2	3	5	10	-5	5	Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
21	Preston North End	6	1	2	3	3	9	-6	5	Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw
22	Sheffield Wednesday	6	1	1	4	6	12	-6	4	Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss
23	Portsmouth	6	0	3	3	7	13	-6	3	Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss
24	Cardiff City	6	0	1	5	1	13	-12	1	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss

Key Events

Preston North End

Blackburn Rovers

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Sunday 22nd September

Championship Table

Key

Team Lineups

home team, Preston North End

Pitch Formation

Starting lineup

Substitutes

home team, Preston North End

away team, Blackburn Rovers

Pitch Formation

Starting lineup

away team, Blackburn Rovers

home team, Preston North End

Pitch Formation

Starting lineup

Substitutes

away team, Blackburn Rovers

Pitch Formation

Starting lineup

Substitutes

Match Officials

Match Stats

Overall possession

Shots

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Total touches in the box

Goalkeeper saves

Fouls

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