Match Pack: Watford v Blackburn Rovers

• Watford v Blackburn Rovers
• Sky Bet Championship
• Vicarage Road
• Sunday August 27, 12noon KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Gavin Ward
• Assistant Referees: Greg Read and Alex James
• Fourth Official: Sam Allison

Blackburn Rovers arrive at Vicarage Road following a narrow 2-1 loss to Hull City last weekend. They are winless in two games, like the Hornets, after both teams won their opening game of the season.

The away side are without star players Ben Brereton Díaz and Bradley Dack, who departed the Lancashire outfit for Villarreal and Sunderland respectively over the summer.

The Rovers will travel to Hertfordshire without left-back Harry Pickering after the defender picked up a red card in their last match against the Tigers.

• Watford are unbeaten in six home league games against Blackburn Rovers (W4 D2) since a 1-0 defeat in February 2001.

• The Hornets’ boss Valérien Ismaël has won his last two games against the away side - with Barnsley in February 2021 and West Bromwich Albion in August 2021 (both 2-1 wins).

• None of the last 24 league encounters between Watford and Blackburn have finished goalless, with 77 goals being scored at an average of 3.2 goals per game.

For a full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: Blackburn Rovers In Numbers.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:

On new signing Mileta Rajović: “He’s strong, very good technically and very good with link-up. He knows exactly where the goal is. It was important for us that the player we got would be available straight away. He was in the middle of the season [in Sweden], so he’s ready to go.”

On Blackburn: “They are a dangerous team. They had a very good season last year and were in and around the play-offs for a very long time. We still need to keep the intensity, press and play.”

Click HERE to watch Ismaël’s full pre-match press conference.

Jon Dahl Tomasson, Blackburn Rovers Head Coach:

“We have great players, very good young players, the problem is not the players we have, it's the players we don't have. To compete over a long tough season we’ll need more bodies for sure.

“Watford are a very good team, they scored four goals at home to QPR, and could have scored more against Plymouth, although they didn’t take their chances. They are a team with a lot of good players who can win games on their own.”

Overall:

Won: 13
Drawn: 13
Lost: 14

Last Six:

February 2023: Watford 1-1 Blackburn Rovers (Championship)
September 2022: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Watford (Championship)
February 2021: Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Watford (Championship)
October 2020: Watford 3-1 Blackburn Rovers (Championship)
February 2015: Watford 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (Championship)
September 2014: Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Watford (Championship)

A brace from Troy Deeney, and two goals from Almen Abdi and Matthew Briggs secured a memorable 4-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in 2013.