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Watford logo
Championship | Gameweek 12
Oct 26, 2024 at 12.30pm UK
Vicarage Road
Blackburn logo

Watford
1 - 0
Blackburn

Kayembe (71' pen.)
Sierralta (36'), Chakvetadze (49'), Kayembe (51'), Baah (55'), Ebosele (88')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Cantwell (68'), Hedges (69'), Brittain (90'), Hyam (90+5')

Preview: Watford vs. Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Watford and Blackburn Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Watford play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon with just three points separating the teams in the Championship standings.

At a time when the Hornets occupy ninth place in the table, Rovers have recently gotten back on track to move into sixth position.


Match preview

Watford manager Tom Cleverley pictured on September 1, 2024© Imago

As long as Watford sit in the top 10 of the standings, Watford fans will be relatively content with their efforts under Tom Cleverley.

Nevertheless, the Hornets have now prevailed in just two of their most recent eight fixtures, with each of their five defeats coming away from Vicarage Road.

That is arguably the saving grace for Cleverley, who has accumulated 13 points from a possible 15 on home territory to ease any lingering pressure.

In the long term, though, Watford need to find a way to end their losing streak on their travels, losses coming at rivals Luton Town and Leeds United since the October international break.

Positives can be taken from how they responded to conceding twice in the first seven minutes at Elland Road, eventually losing by a 2-1 scoreline, yet there is a desperation about getting back on track at the weekend.

Coincidentally, Blackburn have been equally reliant on their own home record, all but three of their 19 points this season being collected at Ewood Park.

A 1-0 triumph over Swansea City last weekend was followed by a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion earlier this week, allowing John Eustace's to move back into the top six.

However, Rovers have lost to Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle in their last two away games, previously posting three draws in a row on their travels.

They are now tasked with ending Watford's nine-game unbeaten home record in the league, a streak that stretches back to last season.

Watford Championship form:


Watford form (all competitions):


Blackburn Rovers Championship form:


Team News

John Eustace manager of Blackburn Rovers on August 2, 2024© Imago

With Angelo Ogbonna out injured, Cleverly must decide whether Francisco Sierralta or Ryan Porteous deputise in the Watford back three.

Unless bringing Vakoun Bayo back into the attack, Cleverley may stick with the remainder of the starting lineup from the Leeds game.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann will likely keep his place despite his two errors at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Danny Batth will be recalled to the Blackburn defence as a replacement for the injured Hayden Carter, who injured his knee versus West Brom.

Arnor Sigurdsson, Andreas Weimann and Makhtar Gueye are all in contention to return in the final third.


Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Pollock, Porteous, Morris; Ebosele, Ince, Sissoko, Kayembe, Larouci; Chakvetadze, Baah

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Rankin-Costello, Batth, Hyam, Beck; Travis, Tronstad; Hedges, Dolan, Cantwell; Gueye


SM words green background

We say: Watford 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Although these teams have been going in different directions in the table since last weekend, we cannot ignore Watford's outstanding home form. With that in mind, we are backing Cleverley's side to get back on track with a hard-fought win.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Game History

How you voted: Watford vs Blackburn

Watford
56.8%
Draw
18.2%
Blackburn Rovers
25.0%
44
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West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan in August 2024.
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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