BLACKBURN-born Paul Gallagher revealed he got stick from friends who blamed him for the part he played in Rovers relegation to League One three years ago.

The Preston North End midfielder will be hoping to feature against his home town club in tomorrow night's derby clash at Deepdale - and will be expecting plenty of banter from his Rovers-supporting pals.

The 36-year-old played 74 times for Rovers but never against PNE with all his derby appearances coming for the Lilywhites.

One such appearance came in March, 2017 when he laid on the pass for Preston to grab a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Ewood Park in a season when Rovers were relegated to League One.

“I haven’t played in this derby for Blackburn, it’s always been for Preston," Gallagher told the Lancashire Post.

“When we drew 2-2, I got a bit of stick from my friends because I made the pass to Tom Clarke who squared it for Aiden McGeady to score the late equaliser.

“Blackburn went down that season and my friends were trying to blame me for it!

“I had to point out to them that it was over 46 games and wasn’t my fault."

Preston have the upper hand in recent exchanges and have yet to lose a game since Rovers were promoted back to the Championship, winning three and drawing one.

In fact, Rovers have not won any of the last seven meetings between the local rivals, their last victory coming at Deepdale in November 2015 where they ran out 2-1 winners.

“We’ve done very well when playing Blackburn,” added Gallagher.

“I remember the first time I went back to play at Ewood Park for any club was under Simon Grayson and we won 2-1."

It will be a first derby behind closed doors between the sides and while Preston have speakers around the ground to try to generate an atmosphere, Gallagher said it won't be the same without supporters.

“It will be weird to have a derby match without fans, probably more so than most games," he said.

“When you think back to the games we’ve had with Blackburn at Deepdale or Ewood, there’s always been a special feeling.

“Driving on the coach, when you get near a ground and see the fans it gives you that extra five or 10 per cent.

“You know then that it is time to go to work, you have to be ready to go to war.

“At the moment we are playing without the fans which is strange but we have to be professional, that is our job.

“Whatever the circumstances are, it is up to us to go out there and try and get the three points.

“It’s far better with the fans in the grounds but that is the way things are the moment.”