Callum Lang scored an early brace as Preston North End secured their first points of the season with a 2-1 victory over local rivals Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale. The 27-year-old opened the scoring with a poacher's finish in the ninth minute before heading in a second from Jordan Thompson's free-kick in the 28th minute.

Blackburn started brightly, forcing Daniel Iversen into two vital saves inside the opening five minutes, denying Yuri Ribeiro and Todd Cantwell. However, Lang's clinical finishing put the hosts in control. Stanley Mills accidentally halved the deficit early in the second half, turning Ryan Alebiosu's cross into his own net under pressure from Dapo Afolayan on just his second Preston start.

The visitors pushed for an equaliser, with substitute Jayden Fevrier rattling the crossbar and Cantwell testing Iversen again. Kristi Montgomery made a crucial block to deny Alfie Devine, while Iversen turned away efforts from Cantwell and Fevrier late on. Preston held firm to claim the spoils in the Lancashire derby. Managers Paul Heckingbottom and Tony Mowbray were due to provide post-match reaction.