Alex Neil hopes Preston’s strong recent form against Rovers can help get them back on track.

North End, like Rovers, took just two points from their four games over the festive period but remain in play-off contention.

They have won five and drawn one of their last six meetings with Rovers, including three successive wins under Neil.

And following back-to-back home defeats to Middlesbrough and Reading, as well as an FA Cup exit to Norwich at Deepdale, the North End boss hopes his side’s fortunes can turn on a positive result at Ewood Park this weekend.

He said: “We’ll be going there to try and win.

“We have a good record against Blackburn but I don’t think we played that well in the last two games against them. In the second half at our place we did a lot better.

“Blackburn have lost Bradley Dack, which is a big blow to them.”

Preston, who recovered from 2-0 down to win the reverse fixture 3-2 in October, have slipped to 10th following their recent run of results, but remain just two points outside of the play-offs.

And while Neil admits there is a slight concern about a dip in results, he doesn’t see the need to be too down on their chances heading in to the final four months of the season.

“We have not picked up the results we have wanted lately, there is no shying away from it,” he told the Lancashire Evening Post.

“What we need to do is go to Blackburn this weekend and get a good result.

“Two league games ago we played Leeds and were really buzzing about how we played, we were so close to winning. I think it’s important we don’t forget about that.

“Things can change really quickly and we need to get our momentum back.

“We are four points off third place, two points outside the play-off places.

“A couple of results can change things completely.

“Naturally our form is a concern and not good. We want to try and turn it around.”