Blackburn Rovers Manager John Eustace Aims For New Signings Following Victory Over Preston North End

Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace expressed his desire to strengthen the squad by adding three or four new players. This comes after Blackburn's narrow 2-1 victory over Lancashire rivals Preston North End, which propelled them back into the Championship's top six. Makhtar Gueye and Todd Cantwell scored, ending a streak of three consecutive losses and moving Blackburn to fifth place with 45 points from 30 games.

The win against Preston was significant as it marked their first Championship victory over them since April 2022, breaking a five-game winless streak. "We're in a good position," Eustace told Sky Sports. "If we can bring in three or four players to help this group who've been magnificent all season that would be brilliant." He highlighted the team's resilience, noting they were initially considered relegation candidates and had lost key player Sammie Szmodics.

To bolster their attacking options, Blackburn recently signed Sierra Leone forward Augustus Kargbo from Italian side Cesena. This addition aims to provide more depth and support for the existing squad. Eustace praised his team's performance throughout the season despite initial challenges and emphasised the importance of additional reinforcements.

The match saw Gueye head in a cross from Tyrhys Dolan past Preston's goalkeeper Freddie Woodman in the 39th minute. A controversial penalty was awarded to Blackburn when Jack Whatmough challenged Dominic Hyam during a corner, allowing Cantwell to score from the spot. Eustace defended the penalty decision, stating, "I think it was a blatant penalty."

The game concluded with tension as Brad Potts scored for Preston in stoppage time, narrowing the gap. However, Preston's appeals for a penalty following an incident involving Gueye and Potts were dismissed. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom criticised the decision, saying, "Everyone's seen it, not just me." He expressed frustration over refereeing decisions affecting match outcomes.

This victory marked Blackburn's second win in ten matches. They are set to face QPR next Tuesday. Meanwhile, Preston will prepare for their FA Cup fourth-round clash against Wycombe on February 8th. The focus remains on maintaining momentum and securing further victories in upcoming fixtures.