Blackburn Rovers

Scott Wharton is confident Blackburn's influx of overseas summer signings now know what it takes to play in the Championship.

Of Rovers' 10 summer arrivals, only Sean McLoughlin and Taylor Gardner-Hickman arrived from Championship clubs, with Dion de Neve and Ryan Alebiosu coming from the Netherlands, Andri Gudjohnsen from Belgium, Sidnei Tavares having played in Portugal, Ryoya Morishita in Poland, Lewis Miller in Scotland and Axel Henriksson in Sweden.

Wharton, who captained Rovers in the absence of Todd Cantwell as they came from behind to beat Southampton for their first home win of the season on Saturday, told BBC Radio Lancashire the division is "ruthless and brutal" but believes the new arrivals are now aware of what is required to compete.

"It's tough," he said. "English football and the Championship is probably a lot different to where some of the boys have been playing. It will take a bit of time for them to adapt.

"They have probably had a taste of it now, understand what's required, the intensity, what's demanded and what's required to perform week-in, week-out, every three days - it's ruthless, it's brutal.

"If you lose the ball, you don't see it again for two or three minutes. The new lads know what it's all about now and what's expected of them."

Defender Wharton welcomed Valerien Ismael's shift to three at the back, having played there with success under Tony Mowbray, adding: "I have probably played some of my best football in a back-three.

"I have no problem in a four or three but I like a three, there's a good balance at the back with three of us there."

Lindsey Lewis
Fan Writer

Image source, Getty Images

Football. The strangest game in the world. Had I written this column after 65 minutes on Saturday, I would have told you it was a lacklustre - at best - performance by a Blackburn Rovers side who looked like they had first met at 3pm.

After recent results, I had hoped to see an instant reaction but Southampton were very comfortable and the game only seemed to be going one way.

Valerien Ismael declared post-match he remained confident throughout the game that Rovers would come good despite the chances missed. I think he was the only person in Ewood Park feeling that way!

As the substitute board was raised in the 67th minute, the crowd turned with chants of 'We want Venky's out' and 'You're getting sacked in the morning'.

The plot twist I and many others didn't see coming was the subs changing the game and the remaining 30 minutes were an absolute joy to watch - end to end and a real sense of fight from a team I feel is still trying to find its identity.

I was absolutely delighted for Ryan Alebiosu scoring his first ever senior goal. His celebrations showed what it meant to him, and he has been my favourite summer signing so far.

Andri Gudjohnsen had a very quiet game but did what he was bought to do and found the net, securing our first home win of the season.

We don't come from behind to win often, and my celebrations were somewhere between pure joy and a huge sense of relief.

The result leaves us 21st on 10 points and I am sure the one thing the gaffer, the squad and the fans can agree on is that is not good enough. The performance of the last 30 minutes needs to be maintained for 90.

So while the win deserves to be celebrated - because who knows how many we will get - the challenge now for Ismael and his men is to build upon it.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport Editor

Blackburn Rovers have good news and bad in preparation for Saturday's visit to Leicester City in the Championship in terms of injuries.

Captain Todd Cantwell is back in full training after missing three matches with a knee injury and will return to the squad, providing there are no fresh setbacks this week.

Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire after Saturday's victory over Southampton: "The signs are positive. He's been on the pitch.

"It's earlier than expected. We hope he has a full week and if that's the case, he will be ready."

But Rovers will be without defender Hayden Carter and midfielder Moussa Baradji until after the next international break in early November and winger Augustus Kargbo will not return until early 2026.

"He came back from the national team with a dead leg. He played at Coventry with this discomfort and against Sheffield United," Ismael added.

"He was complaining and so we did a scan on Wednesday. He had an injury and that will rule him out for at least 12 weeks. It was very tough for us to deal with that situation again.

"It's a tear when he got kicked which caused the dead leg. In an area where you can't run or sprint. It's very bad news for him and for us.

"Hayden is not ready. We don't need to rush him. The international break is coming as well. He is close but we take more caution with him."

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire Sport Editor

Image source, Rex Features

At half-time against Southampton things were looking increasingly bleak for Blackburn Rovers.

By the end of the match they were out of the relegation places after coming from behind to win at home for the first time this season and in the process ending the Ewood Park hoodoo.

A Southampton perspective might point at two missed chances for Adam Armstrong. Granted, you'd have expected him to bury them both having seen him do it so often at Ewood down the years, but he didn't.

You'd have also backed Rovers' duo Yuki Ohashi and notably Ryoya Morishita to do better when in on goal.

In the cold light of day it doesn't matter.

On a day that Blackburn Rovers needed to stand up and be counted they did. Particularly in the second half. They went behind to another poor goal, again self-inflicted but threw caution to the wind, went for it and were rewarded against a side who just can't shake off Premier League relegation.

First goals in blue and white for the excellent Ryan Alebiosu (his first career goal) and Andri Gudjohnsen completed the comeback and after taking the lead, they never really looked back.

Southampton's cause not helped by a sending off for substitute Welington who left a stray arm while challenging in the air.

Valerien Ismael was criticised for his changes made during Tuesday's defeat by Sheffield United so it is only right to praise the Rovers boss for his triple substitution that breathed new life into his team in this one.

Kristi Montgomery added a drive to the midfield, Ryan Hedges and Axel Henriksson playing their part too.

It's not been an easy week for Ismael. He's fielded questions about the quality of the summer recruitment as well as his own position. He will not win over everybody overnight but this is a step in the right direction.

The return of captain Todd Cantwell next weekend at Leicester will be a welcome boost but for now it's about savouring that feeling of winning a home game and the weekend feeling that little bit better.

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael was full of praise for his side after they came from behind to beat Southampton and secure a first home win of the season.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's a great feeling to win at home, I want to give credit to the players for the second-half performance. It was exactly what we wanted - passion, desire, and belief. We came from behind and got the reward, thanks to a great mentality from the players.

"I was not pleased with the first half and I told them that at half-time, because it was not what we wanted or how we had played the last two games. We should have scored earlier in the game.

"Everyone stepped up in the second half and we were back on the level of performance we wanted. It's great for Ryan and Andri to get their first goals, too.

"Today still showed us what we need to improve, we created a lot of chances but we weren't clinical. We want to believe in ourselves, stay calm and focus. But this result will help us to build some confidence."

It is "stupid" to suggest Blackburn Rovers' squad is weaker than last season, according to boss Valerien Ismael.

Rovers head into Saturday's Championship match at home to Southampton (15:00 BST) with just one point from their past five outings and sitting second from bottom of the table, after finishing seventh last season.

"This is stupid analysis. We didn't lose any quality (in the squad) we reduced the age, we took younger players so we have players who need to adapt to the Championship and the new environment," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It is something the club wanted to do to create assets for the club and when you go through that it will be a bumpy road."

The Frenchman says he has been encouraged by recent performances and it is too early to judge his side.

"The season is not over in October, it is over in May so we have a lot of time to adjust everything," he said.

"At the minute the performance is consistent and at some point we will get the rewards.

"There are two things to assess a team, how many points you get and how the team performs - at the minute we don't have enough points as we expected - we should have more which is a good feeling."

Ismael has confirmed captain Todd Cantwell has returned to training, but will not be ready to face Southampton.

Blackburn are one of three sides in the Championship yet to win at home this season, with their last victory at Ewood Park coming in April.

Southampton's only away win so far came at Sheffield United at the end of September.

• Blackburn Rovers have only won one of their past six league games against Southampton (D2 L3), failing to score in either league meeting in 2023-24.

• Southampton have only won in one of their past 16 league visits to Blackburn Rovers (D4 L11), 2-0 in November 1998 with goals from Matt Oakley and Steve Basham.

• Blackburn are winless in their five home league games this season (D1 L4), last failing to win any of their opening six in 1979-80 in the third tier.

• Since their opening day win against Wrexham, Southampton have won just one of their 10 league games since (D6 L3) and could lose successive Championship games for the first time since April 2024 (run of three).

• Southampton's Adam Armstrong has four goals across his past six league games, though he's yet to score in five previous Championship appearances against former side Blackburn.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, BBC Sport

Are 10 matches the first benchmark to judge a football team, and what might unfold for the remaining 36?

In modern times, 10 games is perhaps a little late to be making that first forecast.

Blackburn Rovers' seventh defeat in those 10 matches represents great cause for concern. No matter how you dress it up, the results speak for themselves. A situation head coach Valerien Ismael says he's never experienced during his 32 years in football.

One point from a possible 15 at Ewood Park on the face of it couldn't be much more disappointing. The manner of those defeats has made matters worse.

On three occasions they have taken the lead and been left with nothing. A first-half sending-off was a huge factor in the fourth. A well-earned point against Stoke has been the only respite from the homesickness.

"If you're not able to win games at home, it becomes complicated," was the verdict of Rovers boss Ismael after his side slipped to 23rd position in the Championship.

The home form in 2025 over two seasons hasn't been close to a success: 18 points from a possible 48 since January cost them a play-off spot at the end of last term, and it's held them back ever since.

The most prominent supporters on social media will tell you that they saw this coming, with a mass exodus of players boasting hundreds of Championship appearances between them to be replaced largely by players (who through no fault of their own) hadn't tasted English football's second tier before.

A comparison of the team sheets on matchday 10 in 2024 and 2025 shows that only Sondre Tronstad started both games. 11 of the 20-man squad from a year ago are no longer at the club.

This is an unforgiving league that takes no prisoners. Any weaknesses will be exploited, and Rovers have fallen victim to that. Needing time is something that's barely afforded to head coaches or managers.

Goals have been a problem. Three of the eight goals this season all came in one visit to Hull in August.

They are finding themselves in promising situations on a semi-regular basis but just haven't found the killer instinct or the final ball anywhere near enough. You don't come away from matches thinking the opponents' goalkeeper has kept them at bay.

Ismael told me: "The only thing that would concern me is, again, we gave away too many chances. I don't know how many chances we need to score more goals."

He knows the buck stops with him in terms of results. That's the price of the ticket for any boss.

"You cannot always push the responsibility somewhere else," he said. "It's on us; it's on me. You have to win games; it's as simple as that."

So how do Rovers put this right? They host Southampton this weekend, another team going through a turbulent time. It's highly likely that Ewood Park will have a toxic atmosphere from one set of supporters come 5 o'clock on Saturday.

Undoubtedly getting skipper Todd Cantwell and defender Hayden Carter back fit will be a huge boost. That can't come soon enough.

Summer signing Moussa Baradji is another who the club believes will be a big hit when he is fit to start his Rovers career next month. But heaping pressure on him to succeed from day one is asking an awful lot.

A look at the bottom three after 10 matches over recent seasons shows that turning around a poor start is still achievable.

Last season QPR were on seven points (the same as Rovers) and comfortably stayed up. In 2023-24, Sheffield Wednesday had two points after 10 and survived.

Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire he was concerned about the lack of chances they put away in their Championship defeat by Sheffield United, but is more concerned with the result.

Ismael's side dropped to second from bottom of the table as they were defeated by the Blades despite taking the lead in the first half.

"I'm concerned about the result, not about the performance. It was another great performance. The only thing that would concern me is, again, we gave away too many chances. I don't know how many chances we need to score more goals," Ismael said.

"We scored the first goal and in the second half we began on the front foot and all of a sudden, from a set piece, Sheffield United were back in the game.

"For us, at the minute the confidence is very difficult.

"We did a lot and put a lot of energy into the game, we were on the front foot and comfortable with the ball but we lost the game again."

Blackburn Rovers defender Scott Wharton says the upcoming games against Sheffield United and Southampton could provide "a turning point" for the club.

Rovers suffered a 2-0 loss to Coventry City on Saturday despite possessing a higher xG than the league leaders (1.02 to the Sky Blues' 0.87), placing them into the bottom three on the Championship table.

"We had a game plan, we produced it, we just didn't put the ball in the net and that's a thing in football you need to do to win games," Wharton told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We do need a win for the group I think, just to give everyone a boost and the confidence. Hopefully that can change our momentum.

"These two next home games, if we pick up some good results, hopefully two wins, can be a real turning point for us."

The 28-year-old, who is making his comeback from a long-term knee injury sustained in April 2024, recently signed a new three-year contract with the club.

"After a long-term injury, to commit my future to the club was something I was really on board with," he said.

"I was delighted and I still think I can produce for this club and bring something to the table, on and off the pitch."

Listen to the full interview with Wharton and more Blackburn Rovers content on BBC Sounds.

Blackburn enter this game as one of five sides yet to record a win at home in the Championship. Their last victory at Ewood Park came on 26 April when they beat Watford 2-1, which was part of a four-game winning sequence.

Sheffield United know a win on Tuesday would take them above their opponents and potentially out of the relegation zone.

• Blackburn Rovers have only won three of their past 12 league games against Sheffield United (D3 L6), although each of those three victories did come at Ewood Park.

• Sheffield United won this exact fixture last season 2-0, but haven't won consecutive league visits to Blackburn since November 1970.

• Blackburn are yet to win a home league game this season in four attempts (D1 L3); only in 1932-33 (5), 1979-80 (6), and 1996-97 (5) have they started a league campaign without a win in their first five or more at home.

• Sheffield United have lost seven of their past nine away league games (W2), with no side losing more times on the road in the Championship since the start of April.

• Sheffield United have never lost to Blackburn in the Championship under Chris Wilder (P4 W3 D1), with Wilder's only league defeat to Rovers coming as Middlesbrough boss in January 2022.

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael says the manner of their defeat to Coventry City mirrored how their season is going.

Rovers were well in the game as they held the Championship leaders for 57 minutes and had chances of their own, before quickfire goals from Victor Torp and Brandon Thomas-Asante sealed the points.

But they are short of goals with only Sheffield United managing fewer than their tally of seven in nine games and this loss leaves Blackburn in the bottom three with only one point from their last four league games.

"We were exactly where we wanted - on the front foot, aggressive, high press," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We did well, we created a lot of chances to score.

"Then we conceded the first goal. It was avoidable. It's a free-kick, they played quick and we were not aware to slow it down and we got punished.

"Then the second goal came too quick to try to come back into the game.

"It's frustrating because the performance was right, the players made a good effort, great mentality, adaptable, flexible.

"Actually it's the story of the season so far, that game. The performance is right, we should have more from the game and we end up losing, so it's frustrating."

Blackburn Rovers have the unenviable task of visiting top dogs Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 BST) as they look for space away from the bottom three.

Rovers are currently just one point above the relegation spots and in a spot of poor form, finding themselves winless in three league matches (D1 L2).

Coventry, on the other hand, are flying. The side are so in form, in fact, that their goal difference of 20 is higher than any other Championship team's 'goals for' tally so far this season.

But the Sky Blues are still just one point above second placed Middlesbrough (as of time of writing, at least!) and will want to make sure they retain their leading position.

• Coventry City haven't lost any of their last nine league games against Blackburn Rovers (W4 D5), keeping a clean sheet in each of their last four matches against them.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost each of their last three league trips to Coventry City, with their last away win in the league against the Sky Blues coming in October 2020 (4-0).

• Coventry have won each of their last three league games by an average score of 12-0, while they've kept a clean sheet in their last four league games; they last did so in five successive games in October 2001 in the second tier under Ronald Nilsson.

• Since Valerien Ismael's first Championship game in charge of Blackburn Rovers at the start of March, only two sides have lost more Championship league matches than Rovers (10).

• Coventry have already scored 27 goals in their opening nine league games this season; the last second tier side to score as many as 30 in their first 10 league games of a season was Bolton Wanderers in 1964-65 (31). Indeed, the most the Sky Blues have scored in their first 10 Football League games of a season is 28 in the Division Three South in 1935-36.

Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael expects Moussa Baradji to make his debut after the next international break in November.

Baradji moved on loan from Swiss club Yverdon-Sport to Blackburn in the summer, where he immediately underwent surgery for a pre-existing injury.

The 24-year-old is yet to make an appearance for Rovers, but it is just "a question of time" before he is back out on the pitch, Ismael said.

"In the long run everyone will enjoy him, the fans will enjoy him, the club will enjoy him - he just needs time now to come back and be ready to compete in the Championship," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Especially when you see the schedule after the next international break. We will need everyone, but it will be our job to prepare him and to give him the time to come back and to get him on the pitch."

Meanwhile, Ismael said they may have to "manage" Hayden Carter when he returns from injury.

"The main thing for a player is to get the consistency," Ismael added.

"If you train with consistency, you play with consistency, you create that momentum in your performance and then you can compete.

"Hayden has got everything to play as a high-level centre-back. But it is very important for him to find a way to assess everything in his life both on the pitch and off the the pitch and to make sure he is taking the right decisions.

"If you have to change something, change it.

"So, hopefully now when he comes back he will be able to get some more consistency, but it is clear that we will manage him much more than we did in the past, because we thought he was stable enough to sustain effort."

Image source, Getty Images

Hosts Blackburn Rovers will face Ipswich Town once again on Tuesday, 2 December (19:45 GMT), following the controversial decision to replay the match after it was suspended in the 79th minute due to heavy rainfall.

Before the game was called off, Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves was dismissed early into the second half for a tackle on forward Yuki Ohashi as the Japanese drove towards goal, and Todd Cantwell later converted a penalty for Rovers to take a 1-0 lead.

The English Football League confirmed the match would be replayed in full the following Thursday, prompting a strong reaction from Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael.

Greaves was required to serve his suspension; however, Cantwell's goal will not stand for the upcoming replay.

Blackburn's draw with Stoke should give Rovers confidence, according to former assistant manager Neil McDonald.

The point edged them out of the Championship's relegation zone and up to 21st place.

"I think they'll gain confidence from the draw against Stoke," McDonald, Sam Allardyce's number two at Ewood Park between 2008-10, told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Stoke are fifth in the league so that should give them [Rovers] confidence and they've got to try to kick on from there as much as they possibly can.

"Whether it's away or at home, whether it's one point, whether it's three points to keep that momentum going - that's what [Valerien Ismael] has to do after the international break."

Asked if he is worried about Blackburn facing a relegation fight, McDonald said: "I think you always are because after a certain amount of games - they've played [eight] - you normally have 10 or 11, 12 games and that's where you're going to be [in the league] unless you put a real good run together or you have an absolute nightmare and you drop off.

"So, that almost tells you. Are Blackburn going to be on the edge all the time? That remains to be seen."

You can hear more from McDonald on Blackburn Rovers on BBC Sounds.

Gary Hunt
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

Blackburn Rovers needed a late goal from Augustus Kargbo to earn a point against Stoke City, who had threatened to take all three in a tight but entertaining Championship encounter at Ewood Park.

In the first half the visitors dominated possession and produced some neat football but it was Rovers who had the better chances, particularly through Andri Gudjonnsen, who squandered the best of them shortly before half-time.

It was goalless at the break but early in the second period Stoke moved the ball with more conviction and found their breakthrough on 49 minutes when Million Manhoef darted into space and slotted low past Balazs Toth.

It was a moment of quality in a game that up to that point had failed to deliver the cutting edge required.

Blackburn's response was initially subdued, their build-up play hampered by sloppy passing and the visitors well-organised back line, but the introduction of Kargbo and Yuki Ohashi injected much-needed urgency. Rovers began to play higher up the pitch, forcing mistakes and penning Stoke deeper into their own half.

Their efforts finally paid dividends eight minutes from time.

Cantwell's persistence enabled him to find Kargbo unmarked inside the six-yard box and the substitute guided an effort into the bottom corner to level things up.

The goal awakened the home crowd and set up a frantic finish in which Rovers looked the likelier to snatch victory, with Kargbo hitting a post and then heading wide from close range with just the keeper to beat.

Stoke were on the ropes in the closing minutes, surviving a flurry of corners and a late blocked effort from Sean McLoughlin.

In truth, the draw felt about right. Stoke's slick passing earned them their lead but Blackburn's energy and substitutions deserved reward.

Both managers will see positives - Blackburn's resilience and work rate and Stoke's fluent passing were highlights of a game neither side deserved to lose.

Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael says results have not reflected how his team have performed this season but that a win can change everything.

Rovers held high flying Stoke to a 1-1 draw after Augustus Kargbo's goal cancelled out Million Manhoef's opener.

But the result still leaves the club 21st in the Championship, which Ismael says is a false position.

"I think the table doesn't reflect our performance," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We have one game less, we are in a transition with new players and we need a win like this to change momentum. The belief can come quickly."

Ismael also said he was pleased with the refereeing display with no controversial decisions.

"I wanted a normal game today, with no (controversial) referee decisions. It was good today, we can talk about football. It was an entertaining game and what we love.

"We have a break, I will see my family and recharge the battery. It will be good to have a breather - mentally it has been a challenging week."