Blackburn Rovers will once again feel they did not get what they deserved at Ewood Park after losing to Preston North End.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side were dealt a cruel blow in stoppage time as Liam Lindsay headed in a 90th-minute winner in front of the travelling, sold-out Darwen End.

In the end, Preston had that little more nous to steal a game that had been a very even contest. Both teams had chances and spells in a pulsating Friday night derby fixture that ebbed and flowed.

The initial momentum was with Rovers and they carved a great opening, only for Arnor Sigurdsson to hit the bar from six yards. That miss has summed up his last month, having looked electric before the international break. Since, he's found the pace of the Championship more difficult to handle.

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North End had only really threatened once through Duane Holmes, who had a shot cleared in front of the line, but made no mistake when their big opening came. It was a sloppy goal from Rovers' perspective, with Alan Browne's straight run piercing the defence on the right side. Once he was in, it was a fantastic finish.

In the first half, Rovers missed a centre-forward. Someone to stand up against Preston's three centre-backs and occupy them. In the second half, Sam Szmodics moved far closer to Tyrhys Dolan and Rovers started testing Preston in-behind.

Little surprise then that it immediately created the equaliser. Szmodics' run was exactly what they didn't do enough of in the first half, with too many similar-styled players wanting the ball to their feet.

Once the Championship's top-scorer was in, he wasn't going to miss. He could've put Rovers ahead shortly after with a similar run and move but this time he failed to beat Freddie Woodman.

Having hit the woodwork twice in the first half, Preston also had their own misfortune with the same frame of the goal. Holmes desperately unfortunate to hit the inside of the post and see the ball drag across the line and to safety.

Rovers came out the traps flying for the second half and had the game by the scruff of its neck. But it was the tale of two benches which turned the momentum of the game. Ched Evans was introduced by Ryan Lowe and suddenly, the ball began to stick.

They were less rushed and more methodical. Rovers have struggled against that style of striker in the past and Evans' composure and experience dragged Preston back into it.

Tomasson did not have that same type of player available. Harry Leonard came on, once again ahead of Niall Ennis and Semir Telalovic, but Rovers did lack some wily experience in the final 20 minutes of the encounter.

I'm not saying Ennis or Telalovic would've definitely provided that but once again, Blackburn have lost at home and neither have got on the pitch. Ennis feels like he's at the stage where he isn't going to get any fitter without game time. 

In the end, they were unfortunate to lose the game, let's not rewrite history. But Tomasson's decision not to use either summer signing again doesn't create great optics.

The home form has not been sparkling this season either. Ewood Park was the backbone of their play-off tilt last season but they have only won three out of eight Championship games this season. Only Queens Park Rangers, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday have taken fewer points.

The record in the final 15 minutes of matches causes some concern too. They have conceded 11 goals in that period of the game, which again nods towards the inexperience in the side. These are ultimately not surprising issues when you consider the age make-up of the squad.

Rovers were not a worse team than Preston on Friday night. I would argue they have a much higher ceiling too. But ultimately for the here and now, the lack of experience within the squad was a big defining factor as they took the derby spoils again.