Blackburn keep play-off hopes alive with convincing win at Preston

Blackburn’s play-off hopes remain very much alive thanks to a convincing 4-1 win at neighbours Preston.

Tony Mowbray’s men strolled to a first away win since mid-January and moved to within three points of sixth-placed Sheffield United with two games remaining.

Impressive Rovers ended their five-match winless run in the Sky Bet Championship in some style while condemning the mid-table hosts to a second straight defeat.

Just when they probably needed it most, Rovers got off to a flying start in their eagerly anticipated Lancashire derby clash at Deepdale.

Joe Rothwell had already gone close before Rovers struck twice before 12 minutes had been played.

Sam Gallagher opened the scoring in the ninth minute, diving in superbly to nod home a rebound after Ben Brereton-Diaz’s header had bounced out off a post.

Barely three minutes later, Rovers profited from more disappointing North End defending.

Brereton-Diaz this time touched the ball to midfielder John Buckley, and he was allowed to dart forward before seeing a 20-yard strike fly into the corner via the slightest of deflections off North End defender Andrew Hughes.

The visitors were buoyant, but they ran out of steam somewhat after their early blast, with North End halving the deficit just before the half-hour mark.

Former Rovers man Greg Cunningham passed short to Alan Browne, and the Irishman fired home from 18 yards via another deflection, this time off Scott Wharton.

Cunningham fluffed a decent chance to level it up soon after, and it was becoming much more of an even contest.

However, eight minutes before the break Rovers struck again.

This was a super set-piece effort, with Darragh Lenihan leaping smartly to head home Rothwell’s precise free-kick.

After a rather