A tense goalless encounter between Blackburn Rovers vs Preston North End at Deepdale took a dramatic turn in the 89th minute when Blackburn’s Owen Beck, on loan from Liverpool, was sent off after a clash with Preston’s Duane Holmes. However, the red card wasn’t the only flashpoint—Beck furiously claimed he had been bitten during the melee, leading to a heated aftermath and claims of serious misconduct.
The Incident
With the match heading into its final minutes and the scoreline locked at 0-0, frustration seemed to get the better of Owen Beck, who lashed out at Holmes, kicking the Preston player after a confrontation. Referee Matthew Donohue wasted no time in brandishing the red card, sending Beck off the field. But the situation escalated as Beck and his Blackburn teammates argued that there was more to the altercation than just the kick.
As Owen Beck made his way off the pitch, he was seen furiously protesting to Donohue, gesturing toward the back of his neck. The Blackburn defender alleged that he had been bitten by Preston’s striker Milutin Osmajic during the scuffle, which immediately stirred a frenzy among the players, coaching staff, and fans in the stadium.
John Eustace’s Reaction
John Eustace expressed disbelief at how the incident was handled by the match officials. “Owen’s got a big bite mark on the back of his neck, and it’s a shame the referee didn’t see that,” Eustace said. The Blackburn manager was visibly frustrated by what he believed to be a grave oversight.
“He’s been kicked out of the game for something that, in my opinion, wasn’t entirely his fault. Yes, he reacted poorly, but it’s clear to anyone who saw him after the game that he was provoked in a way no professional footballer should ever be,” Eustace added.
Preston’s Manager Stand
Preston manager Ryan Lowe, however, had a different view of the situation, downplaying the severity of the alleged bite. “It was a tough game, lots of passion from both sides, but I don’t think anything untoward happened beyond what was already penalized,” he said in his post-match press conference.
When pressed on the biting allegation, Lowe maintained that he had not seen any evidence of such an incident, nor had his players mentioned it. “We’ll have to assess the footage, but as far as I’m concerned, the players were just battling hard out there. It was a typical derby game.”
A Heated Rivalry
This latest controversy only adds fuel to an already fierce rivalry between Blackburn and Preston, with both clubs looking to make significant strides in the Championship this season. The 0-0 draw leaves both teams frustrated as they continue to chase playoff positions.
For Blackburn, the result was especially hard to take given how close they were to securing a crucial away point without the controversy. The game had been finely balanced throughout, with neither side able to break the deadlock despite several clear-cut chances. Preston’s Duane Holmes had come close with a powerful effort that forced a great save from Blackburn’s goalkeeper, while Rovers had a few good opportunities of their own but failed to capitalize.
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