In a thrilling match at Vicarage Road, Blackburn Rovers emerged victorious with a spectacular goal from Ryan Hedges, adding more pressure to Watford manager Valerien Ismael. Despite the early Sunday kick-off time, Rovers fans made their voices heard with chants directed at the broadcasters for their scheduling choices. However, the long journey was well worth it when Hedges showcased his skills by flicking the ball over Watford defender Wesley Hoedt, juggling it twice, and then firing it into the net with his weaker foot from a tight angle. Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson described the finish as “beautiful.”
Watford, on the other hand, continued to struggle with their goal drought. Their last goal in the Championship came nearly four hours ago in their first match against QPR. Although they had 24 goal attempts in this game, hitting the crossbar and the post, they failed to find the back of the net. Ismael had taken action before the match by dropping Imran Louza, who was believed to be late for training, but even with his absence, Watford couldn’t break their scoring dry spell. Ismael emphasized the importance of respecting the rules and stated that no individual is bigger than the club or the team.
The match itself was largely uneventful, with few chances for both teams. Martins had the best opportunities for Watford, hitting the crossbar in the first half and having a low strike saved by Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears late in the game. Ultimately, it was a disappointing performance for Watford, while Blackburn will be delighted with their hard-fought victory after last week’s loss to Hull City.
Match Facts and Ratings:
Watford (4-3-3): Bachmann 7; Sema 6, Hoedt 5, Porteous 6, Andrews (Ngakia 80) 6; Kone (Louza 45) 5, Kayembe 6, Dele-Bashiru (Chakvetadze 55) 6; Martins 7, Bayo (Rajovic 55) 6, Asprilla (Ince 73) 6.
Subs not used: Hamer, Pollock, Morris, Livermore.
Booked: Louza, Hoedt
Manager: Valerien Ismael.
Blackburn Rovers (4-2-3-1): Pears 7; Rankin-Costello 6, Carter 6, Hyam 7, Brittain 6; Travis 6, A Wharton 6 ; Hedges 8, Szmodics 7, Dolan (Moran 57) 6; Leonard (Gallagher 57) 6.
Subs not used: Wahlstedt, S Wharton, Garrett, Gamble, Bloxham, Tronstad, Markanday.
Goal: Hedges (72)
Booked: Rankin-Costello, Hyam
Manager: Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Referee: Gavin Ward.
Attendance: 13,766
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