Blackburn’s derby win was ‘the Championship defined’ – Valerien Ismael

Valerien Ismael hailed a complete performance from his Blackburn side after Andri Gudjohnsen’s 62nd-minute header sealed a 2-1 Championship win over Lancashire rivals Preston.

Lewis Miller headed Rovers in front from a corner in the 45th minute, only for Preston to level in first-half stoppage time through Alfie Devine.

But Blackburn were the better side after the break, with Gudjohnsen’s fourth goal in his last five league games – also coming from a set-piece as he headed in from Ryoya Morishita’s free-kick – securing their fifth win in eight games on the road, where they have won 15 of their 19 points.

“We showed all the faces you need in the Championship,” Ismael said. “You have to stay strong, you have to suffer, you have to play football and you need set-pieces. The game was the Championship clearly defined.

“We were able in all phases of the game to show the quality and what we’ve learned from all the games. Now the next step is the home games. We struggle to win at home. The performance is right but we are not winning.

“This is what is missing this season. If we can combine it now this will be good for our confidence and momentum.”

Devine had needed only 80 seconds to bring Preston level in first-half stoppage time, but Ismael was not too upset.

“I said to the boys at half-time actually I think it’s the best thing to happen for us,” he said. “I knew then we had to start again, to stay focused on ourselves. It’s a great first half but we go again with more conviction and we made it.”

Preston’s second home league defeat of the season cost Paul Heckingbottom’s side the opportunity to go second.

They had an outstanding chance to go ahead half an hour in when Aynsley Pears made a double save to deny Michael Smith and Andrew Hughes before Jordan Storey’s follow-up was blocked by Blackburn debutant George Pratt.

“It’s a tough one,” Heckingbottom said. “Sometimes you come off having given your best and really pleased with how you played and hold your hands up, but I think that one is on us.

“You’re on top and you miss your chances then you give two set-play goals away. You’re going to have to do something special to win the game so we’re disappointed with those two elements.

“We were wasteful in the first 30 minutes when we were on top. They had a good five minutes before they scored but no chances so for us to concede a set-play is disappointing.

“We wanted to start the second half the way we started the first but I didn’t really think we did. We made the changes but then conceded the set-play straight away so it puts you on the back foot. It was a difficult night.”