Blackburn Rovers vs Watford. Sky Bet Championship.
Ewood ParkAttendance11,803.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Blackburn Rovers and Watford at Ewood Park as goals from Ryan Hedges and Dominic Hyam steered Jon Dahl Tomasson's side to victory.
Tuesday 13 September 2022 23:03, UK
Ryan Hedges and Dominic Hyam netted their first goals for Blackburn as they returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over lacklustre Watford.
The scoreline scarcely did justice to Jon Dahl Tomasson's men who hassled and harried their opponents who couldn't match their hunger, workrate and quality.
Blackburn's dominance was rewarded in the 38th minute when Welshman Hedges timed his run to perfection to convert Tyrhys Dolan's cross and defender Hyam sealed the victory eight minutes from time by volleying in at the far post in only his third appearance for the club.
The win lifts Blackburn to third in the Championship.
The result is the Hornets' second defeat of the season but they've now won just once in the last six games and although they have salvaged draws after conceding first four times this season, they looked bereft of fight and ideas here.
Their only real chance of the game - a strike from Hamza Choudhury - came from a Blackburn mistake.
Blackburn defenders Daniel Ayala and Scott Wharton returned from injury as part of three changes. Watford handed Jeremy Ngakia his first appearance of the season in one of three changes.
Rovers flew out of the traps and a well-worked corner eventually saw Tyler Morton cross for Ben Brereton Diaz, whose volley was smothered by Daniel Bachmann.
Hedges saw his 20-yard low drive smartly saved and Bachmann tipped over from Dolan, all before the 10-minute mark.
Bachmann could do nothing as Blackburn made their supremacy count when Dolan raced down the right and although his cross was slightly under-hit, it was perfect for the onrushing Hedges whose shot flew in via the Watford goalkeeper.
They went close again just before the break as Brereton Diaz whipped one that drifted agonisingly past the far post with the goalkeeper beaten.
For all their good work, Rovers almost shot themselves in the foot when Wharton's misjudged header was met by Choudhury but Thomas Kaminski parried his poke towards goal.
Rob Edwards sent his side out early for the second half and they were only denied an equaliser by a superb block from Wharton that prevented Vakoun Bayo turning in a Keinan Davis cross.
There was space on the break for Blackburn though, which Brereton Diaz almost exploited, but Bachmann saved well at the near post.
Watford saw more of the ball but the danger came at the other end and Rovers put the result beyond doubt in the 82nd minute when Christian Kabasele inadvertently headed a corner into the path of Hyam and he emphatically volleyed home from close range.
Blackburn's Jon Dahl Tomasson: "It was a fantastic result. I think if you look at the first 10 minutes, we had three shots on goal, we were creating chances, we were dominant in the first half, and scored a great goal with one or two touches, against a side who should be one of the favourites to go up. They have plenty of good players who have played Premier League.
"In the second half, it was good to see we were dangerous from set-pieces, scoring a goal. When you play against good players, and Watford have very good players, you have to be very focused and concentrate for 90 minutes. All the boys were that. We created chances in the second half and were dangerous with those transition moments. They didn't have a lot of shots on goal. We said that it should be difficult to come to Ewood Park. Today it was difficult and you saw that spirit and togetherness."
Watford's Rob Edwards: "Didn't start well, lost too many duels. That was really evident. Blackburn were sharper onto a lot of first and second balls than we were. When we did have the ball, we weren't good enough with it. We weren't able to break their pressure and counter-pressing and that made for a really difficult evening, especially in the first half.
"There was a lack of spirit and fight in that first half especially and it's something that we have to rectify really quickly. No-one at any level is good enough to just turn up and win a football match and we certainly are not, so we have to earn the right. They are disappointed and there's one or two people voicing their opinions as well, which is good because you need that. I don't want silence in there. We need to see a reaction. Blackburn were well worthy of the win."
