Preston North End will be looking to move into the top six when they host a stuttering Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides suffered disappointing results in midweek, with Preston losing at Swansea City, while Rovers squandered a lead in the dying stages to draw against Coventry City.
Match preview
© Reuters
Preston made it back-to-back defeats on Wednesday night, losing 4-2 at the Swansea.com Stadium against Russell Martin's in-form Swans - the Lilywhites are having a dip in form at the worst possible moment.
Ryan Lowe's men went into the half-time interval three goals behind but threatened to make a comeback after Thomas Cannon and Troy Parrott goals, but a second for Joel Piroe late on put the game beyond the visitors' grasp.
Due to other teams in the playoff-chasing pack also failing to win, Preston are still 11th in the Championship standings - a mere two points behind Saturday's opponents in sixth.
With Rovers, Sheffield United and Sunderland to come in their final three league matches, the Lilywhites know they need an inspired finish to the regular season in order to reach the top six.
Lowe's charges will be happy to be back at Deepdale this weekend following two-straight away losses - the Lancashire club have won four of their last five fixtures in front of their home faithful.
© Reuters
Blackburn's worrying run of form continued on Wednesday night with a 1-1 draw against fellow promotion hopefuls Coventry, with the way Rovers managed to drop points being quite remarkable.
It looked for the majority of the game that Sam Gallagher's first-half strike had decided the contest, although a 95th-minute corner led to Sky Blues keeper Ben Wilson grabbing an unlikely equaliser - one which the 30-year-old may have bundled in with the use of his hands.
Nevertheless, it was certainly two points dropped for Jon Dahl Tomasson's men who have now won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
Rovers - thanks to the likes of Sunderland and Norwich City failing to win - held onto their top-six standing in the league table after the midweek round of fixtures, although it is inevitable that another game without victory would see their playoff status vanish.
Following a trip to Deepdale, Blackburn face Vincent Kompany's Burnley, Luton Town and Millwall - it is safe to say Tomasson's men will need some inspired performances to maintain their top-six spot.
Team News
© Reuters
Preston suffered a major injury blow over the Easter period, with midfielder Alan Browne sustaining a ligament injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
Forward duo Ched Evans and Emil Riis Jakobsen are also out for the rest of the season, meaning youngsters Cannon and Parrott will carry the burden of firing in the goals during these last three matches - and possibly in the playoffs.
Blackburn boss Tomasson warned of some injury casualties during their battle with Coventry last time out, with Joe Rankin-Costello and Callum Brittain both being substituted in the second half.
Aynsley Pears has kept hold of the number one jersey for Rovers despite the return to fitness of Thomas Kaminski, and the 24-year-old is expected to start at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Diaby, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Johnson, Ledson, Brady, Fernandez; Parrott, Cannon
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Rankin-Costello, Carter, Hyam, Brittain; Travis, Morton, Wharton; Szmodics, Gallagher, Brereton Diaz
We say: Preston North End 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Preston return to Deepdale after back-to-back away losses, and Saturday's clash with Blackburn will play a large part in deciding whether they make the playoffs this season.
Rovers fans have been forced to deal with a lot of heartbreak over the past month in both the Championship and the FA Cup - we expect their winless run to continue on Saturday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
