Blackburn Rovers

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Shutterstock

Back in May, Blackburn Rovers were a fraction away from finishing in the Championship play-off places.

Fast forward to the end of 2025 and they are running on empty, fractured by a long injury list and the residual effects of a baffling and chaotic summer transfer window. The year ended for them with a limp display away to Sheffield Wednesday.

Rovers are short of quality and the head coach appears to know it.

They lack enough attacking potency or enough players who have proved they are good enough at Championship level.

Rovers have some players who are consistently capable but not enough to make significant progress - so much of that appears to rest with botched recruitment and player sales.

The only positives from a grim night on the road at the division's bottom club were a third successive clean sheet and academy graduates Matthew Litherland and George Pratt once again giving accomplished displays.

But they stand out in a team without its top goalscorer Andri Gudjohnsen for several weeks, and one that does not feature striker Makhtar Gueye at all - fully fit but left out completely in favour of players making the bench who were unheard of until winter began.

Gueye does not run enough in training to warrant a place in the squad according to Rovers boss Valerien Ismael, who really did not hold back when asked about the Senegalese player.

It is rather damning for a player who, despite being limited in top level ability, has managed six league goals in his time at the club and is certainly more experienced than a teenage forward on Ismael's bench.

Then there is Axel Henriksson. He was signed on a four-year deal in the summer, but is struggling.

The midfielder was deployed as a striker again at Hillsborough and looked way off the pace, letting his team down in attacking situations on numerous occasions.

It provided another reason as to why Gueye's omission was in sharp focus in the post-match debrief with the head coach on BBC Radio Lancashire.

All that inevitably led to questions about what the club plans to do to rectify the matter of goalscoring and the abject performance against a makeshift and vulnerable Sheffield Wednesday.

Only two sides have scored fewer times than Rovers in the Championship at this halfway stage.

Regardless of how long Gudjohnsen is out for, they must find at least another forward to ease the burden.

That means either spending serious money or making smart moves in the loan market.

There have been occasions where Rovers have produced good performances this season - in their five away wins, in particular.

But you need a deeper squad in terms of quality to sustain it on a regular basis and, at least, avoid a messy relegation battle.

January is an important month for Blackburn Rovers, 15 years since the takeover by owners Venky's, who continue to bear the brunt of fan frustration.

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Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael was left frustrated by his side's inability to convert any of their chances in a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite dominating possession, Rovers were held to a second successive stalemate after holding Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

Ismael was not happy with the way his side performed after a strong start.

"We started the game well, we created chances but the quality in the last pass [wasn't there]," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"After that we lost control because we were too sloppy, we let Wednesday back in the game.

"The only thing I can complain about is we are not hitting the target. We put ourselves in positions to create chances but it is something we must work on.

"We missed the goal to help us but on the other hand we take the positives; we are solid."

Ismael is taking the positives from a strong defensive performance but says the next game against Wrexham is crucial.

"It is three clean sheets in a row now. It is pressure on the next game against Wrexham; win it and it is a great run, lose and it is tough.

"We are focussed; we can be pleased with two clean sheets in away games but we should have scored."

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Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael was delighted with Rovers' goalless draw against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough as they extended their unbeaten run at the Riverside Stadium to 12 games.

Ismael was pleased with how his side snuffed out Boro's goal threat and felt they should have scored.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I think it was a great away game. It was as expected, a tough away game at Middlesbrough and I think they're maybe the best team we have faced this season.

"I think we managed the first half well. They had some good situations, we had some luck, but we defended well. We knew we had to stick to the process to grow throughout the game. We had some great chances to score in the first half and I think we should have taken at least one.

"The second half was brilliant, how we got control of the game. Our pressing was much better and we just needed some quality in the final third. We should have scored one goal at least to get our reward, but apart from that it was a very solid away performance and a second clean sheet in a row for us."

Rob Heckingbottom
Blackburn Rovers fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

When things are not going well frustrations bubble to the surface at Ewood Park.

The past few weeks have been tough - another abandonment, another defeat on the road at Portsmouth and it is clear from the Blackburn Rovers Coalition and the wider fanbase that concerns about the club are growing.

Walking into the ground for the Millwall game on Saturday carried a sense of unease. It felt like things could sour just in time for Christmas.

Naming 20-year-old Matt Litherland for his first senior start sent a strong message, but thankfully not a costly one. Matt didn't look out of place, and from the first whistle Rovers were on the front foot. Within three minutes a neat link-up involving Ryoya Morishita saw Matt's shot parried into the path of Andri Gudjohnsen, who calmly slotted home to put us 1-0 up. The perfect start.

Despite a mistake for the second, I have to talk about Yuki Ohashi. His relentless pressing, aerial duels, and sheer work rate were outstanding. Just before half-time his persistence paid off when capitalising on a defensive mix-up to smash home our second to make it 2-0.

It was also great to see Sondre Tronstad back in the side, steadying the ship and giving us control in midfield. While we could name a few others, Moussa Baradji deserves a mention. His cameo brought unpredictability and energy that unsettled Millwall and it will be great to see him when he is back to full fitness. Add in the other academy talents like Tom Atchenson and Nathan Dlamini, and it is clear how vital that pathway is for the club.

This result does not just feel good, it feels necessary. The manager has been crystal clear with both board and fans about what is needed to take us forward in January. We have seen this before with two of the past three managers leaving shortly after January and casualties of wrong calls and poor timing.

As a fan who only wants the best for Blackburn and sees the hard work happening behind the scenes, I hope the board delivers what is needed this Christmas.

Around me, the chant rang out: "It must be Christmas, we're winning at home!" Hopefully the players who arrive in the next few weeks help turn that festive cheer into a strong start to the new year.

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Middlesbrough will seek to finish 2025 strongly at the Riverside as they welcome Blackburn on Friday (15:00 GMT).

Boro lie second, six points behind leaders Coventry and five ahead of third-placed Ipswich after seeing a four-match winning streak under Kim Hellberg ended by a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City last time out.

Valerien Ismael's Blackburn moved six points clear of the drop-zone after picking up their first win in six games with a 2-0 home win over Millwall last Saturday, and have an impressive recent record on the road in Teesside.

• Middlesbrough won their last league game against Blackburn 2-0 in April but haven't won consecutively against Rovers since doing the double over them in 2012/13.

• Blackburn are unbeaten in their past 10 away league games against Middlesbrough (W3 D7), though their last defeat was a Boxing Day meeting in 2012.

• Middlesbrough have won nine of their past 11 home league games on Boxing Day, with both exceptions coming against Sheffield Wednesday (0-1 in 2018, 3-3 in 2024).

• Blackburn's last away win on Boxing Day came against Middlesbrough in the Premier League in 2005. Since then they've failed to win any of their nine Boxing Day away games (D3 L6), losing the past six in a row.

• Middlesbrough have won 11 of their past 16 home league games (D3 L2), with their only two defeats in this time coming against last season's champions Leeds in April and current league leaders Coventry in November.

Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael hopes to negotiate the "carnage" of the festive programme before adding to his squad in the January transfer window.

Rovers have four games in 10 days with an already threadbare squad, starting at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's really tough this time of year. The only one I like is the Boxing Day game, it's a really nice tradition, always special.

"All the others are too much for every coach, especially this year when you play every two or three days - you just need to manage the period, after that you can ask me what carnage happened.

"We need to bridge the time to January. I hope in January we can add some bodies to the squad. Hopefully we can get through without any big issues."

Outgoings from Ewood Park are possible to aid incomings and Ismael said: "If players aren't happy because they are not playing enough we won't stop them moving if there is an opportunity.

"We want to adjust and want to add some bodies, we have to do that, but on the other hand it means you have to take decisions.

"We are very pleased with the development of a lot of players, with a couple we are still waiting. At some point you have to deliver."

Rovers head to second-placed Boro on Friday (15:00 GMT) but Ismael said they were "ready for the challenge", adding: "They are one of the top teams (but) we know we are able to perform against the top teams."

Ismael admitted it "doesn't look good" for Andri Gudjohnsen's chances of featuring, with the forward suffering a tight hamstring following Saturday's game against Millwall.

But he said keeper Balasz Toth is back in training after a knee injury and could return to the squad over the festive period as competition for Aynsley Pears.

"I'd prefer to have that problem, it's good to have the choice," said Ismael. "I'm really pleased we have two great keepers in that position."

Lindsey Lewis
Blackburn Rovers fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

Ask any Rovers fan what they wanted the big man to deliver this Christmas (Santa not Andri Gudjohnsen), and the answer would have been three points at home for only the second time this season.

It has been a slog at Ewood these past few months and in a week that saw the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition call for fans to 'Turn Off The Taps' and a boycott of the upcoming home game against Watford, this result was a welcome respite in the ongoing and seemingly never ending saga of the Venky's ownership.

On paper Valerien Ismael's team selection did not fill me with confidence but what a joy to be so utterly wrong.

Matty Litherland had a wonderful debut performance, George Pratt is looking better and better every game and cameos from Nathan Dlamini and Tom Atcheson made me so incredibly happy to see our youngsters grabbing their opportunity with both hands and playing without any fear.

Todd Cantwell was majestic and the return of Sondre Tronstad could be season-defining. We are quite simply just so much better when he is on the pitch.

It was a joy to go ahead early via that man Gudjohnsen and, rather uncharacteristically, I didn't feel particularly nervous throughout the rest of the game.

When the mistake from McNamara and Crocombe led to Yuki Ohashi tapping in for the second just before half-time, I couldn't help but smile and think today, for once, it might just be our day.

Ismael's men must build on this result. Home form like ours is relegation material. Their New Year's resolution for 2026 needs to be to make Ewood Park a fortress again.

Andy Bayes
Sports editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Shutterstock

The calendar year of 2025 at Ewood Park won't be remembered particularly fondly, but Blackburn Rovers signed off for the year with a much-needed victory that gives them a little more room for manoeuvre.

In the week leading up to the match head coach Valerien Ismael had been clear. It was time to be ruthless and he wants up to four new faces next month.

His changes were bold. Out went Makhtar Gueye from the 20-man squad. Dion De Neve's recent form meant he was removed from the starting XI and never looked likely to enter the fray from the bench. Sidnei Tavares saw his place taken in midfield and Ryan Alebiosu has signed off for Afcon duty.

In their places, two unexpected and two predicted.

If Sondre Tronstad is fit, he plays the full game unless he's on a booking. It's as simple as that. It looks like this is his final season as a Rovers player and they've got their work cut out to replace him. George Pratt's return added size and balance to the left of the back three.

The wing-back roles were the surprise selections. Harry Pickering starting a home league match for the first time in more than a year on the left. Matty Litherland, a centre-back, a local lad who has been with Rovers since the age of six, got the nod on the right for a full debut.

Litherland had brought two saves from Millwall keeper Max Crocombe within the first nine minutes, the first of which saw Andri Gudjohnsen tap home the rebound.

The second goal was the slice of fortune that Rovers haven't had all year. A lack of communication between Lions full-back Danny McNamara and Crocombe gave Yuki Ohashi his easiest career goal. That felt like the watershed moment - finally something was going right at home.

The second half was largely a non-event. It didn't need to be spectacular. Millwall were marginally better after three half-time changes, but Alex Neil was never going to pull any punches in his summing up. He felt his team deserved exactly what they got.

The player of the match plaudits went to Litherland, who got through 73 minutes before his place was taken by another academy graduate making his league debut in Tom Atcheson. And, to make it the hat-trick of debutants, young Nathan Dlamini was sent on for the last few moments in the forward line.

My standouts were three more senior citizens. Lewis Miller gave another wholehearted display at the back. His appetite to win the ball back in any given circumstance is his biggest asset. He's also kept himself fit this season, which has been enormously important, with other defenders not being able to say the same.

Todd Cantwell and Tronstad were my other big performers. Both play like they trust each other to look after the ball. Both technically excellent, calm and assured.

This match was the first time in 11 weeks that both started the same match. Football can be a simple game sometimes.

If your best players are available, you stand a far greater chance of winning matches. Ismael will be hoping they can both stay fit and avoid another 12-game run where one or both haven't been on the team sheet.

The next few weeks will be intriguing to see how Rovers' 25-man squad will shape up by the end of January.

Who will be added and who will have to drop out or be moved on? Gueye might well have played his final minutes in blue and white.

Pickering, despite his recall, is another who Ismael says he'll be fair to when the window opens. There will have to be other casualties if the head coach gets his way.

But, to end the calendar year with a first clean sheet at home since February and doubling the first-half goals column for the season in one game… this was exactly what everyone associated with the club needed. The players and the head coach deserve all the credit.

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Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael claimed Rovers's 2-0 home win over Millwall was a 'great day' for the club as he gave three academy products their Championship debuts.

Matty Litherland, Nathan Dlamini and Tom Atcheson all made their bows for injury-hit Blackburn as they won only their second league game of the season at Ewood Park.

Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi scored the goals and Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's always important to get the three points and we spoke about that during the week. We know that 2025 has been a tough year at home.

"We've always kept going and we came into this game with a big desire, to play more forward and to be on the front foot.

"We had a little bit of luck with the second goal, but when you put pressure on the back four, you force the mistake.

"The second half was all about staying stable and I though the boys did that perfectly. I never had the feeling that Millwall would come back into the game.

"We gave some debuts to the academy boys, so I think it was a great day for Blackburn Rovers."

Valerien Ismael says managing Blackburn Rovers is the "most challenging experience" of his coaching career so far.

The Frenchman replaced John Eustace at Ewood Park in February, eventually taking them to within one place of the Championship play-offs last season.

This season has seen Rovers struggle with only one home win and they are three points clear of the relegation zone.

They have also had two home games abandoned while leading 1-0 because of a waterlogged pitch.

This week The Blackburn Rovers Supporters Coalition called for the club to be put up for sale by owners Venky's and for fans to boycott games after New Year's Day.

"I have to say this (managing Blackburn) is completely different to what I have experienced - very challenging but it's deeper than just the time I have been here," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's still Blackburn Rovers, we want to see them successful so it's the same job for me and trying to get the most wins we can.

"I have to say it's the most challenging experience (of my career) so far."

Ismael says he understands the supporters' frustration but not to let that interfere with the performance of his side.

"We have to respect the fans - it was a problem before my time and is more deeper than to just be disappointed," he said.

"The players need support so if you come just make sure you support the players, it's about Blackburn Rovers."

The former West Brom and Watford boss also says he has had direct contact with the club's owners who are based in India.

"We spoke on the phone directly so there is normal communication and I felt the full support which is important.

"We have someone here we can discuss things with but every time we plan something you have to wait a little while for the feedback.

"I can't complain that any of the problems I speak about internally aren't taken seriously - sometimes we want things to happen quickly but you have to accept sometimes the rhythm of things going in some kind of direction."

Blackburn host Millwall in the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

You can hear more Blackburn Rovers coverage on BBC Sounds.

Blackburn Rovers will look to end a five-match winless streak when they welcome fourth placed Millwall on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Rovers are just three points above the relegation zone, in danger of dropping into the bottom three should the fail to produce a point and Oxford and Portsmouth prevail.

But the Lions are a hard act to beat, competing to stay within the top six and looking to avoid being handed their first back-to-back defeat of the season.

• Blackburn are unbeaten in their last nine home league games against Millwall (W6 D3), since a 2-0 loss in November 2012 under Henning Berg.

• Millwall have won just one of their last 10 league games against Blackburn (D3 L6), a 1-0 home win in December last year.

• Blackburn have won just one of their 10 home league games this season (D3 L6), with only Sheffield Wednesday (2) picking up fewer home points than Rovers in the Championship (6).

• Millwall lost 3-1 against Hull in their last league game, last losing consecutive Championship matches in December last year (3 in a row).

• Blackburn have only scored 20 goals in the Championship this season, despite having an xG total of 27.8. This is the biggest underperformance (-7.8) by any team in the competition in 2025-26.

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers' Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday, which was abandoned earlier this month after a downpour at Ewood Park, will be replayed on Tuesday, 3 February.

The original game on 6 December was called off by referee Ruebyn Ricardo after 59 minutes with Rovers leading 1-0 at the time when the pitch was deemed unplayable.

It was the second fixture to be abandoned this season at Ewood Park because of a waterlogged pitch after September's game against Ipswich was called off after 79 minutes.

That match was replayed on 2 December and ended in a 1-1 draw.

Blackburn right-back Ryan Alebiosu says he is "frustrated" after the disappointing defeat at Portsmouth - but excited about heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.

The 23-year-old could make his international debut at the tournament in Morocco after being selected for Nigeria's final squad.

Alebiosu signed off from Blackburn duty by playing 90 minutes in Saturday's 2-1 loss at Fratton Park.

"Obviously, it's frustrating. 1-0 up and then to lose the game is just frustrating. It's annoying as well," Alebiosu told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We all wanted the three points, we all tried together, it's just the little details we need to keep working on and I'm sure the next half of the season, we'll get to where we need to get to."

Alebiosu said he is "obviously excited" to play for his country for the first time.

"It's a pleasure. Very much delighted, can't wait to get started and help my nation reach big things," he added.

"My family are delighted. As soon as I got the news, I've never seen them so happy. Great feeling.

"Nigeria came calling and it's something I didn't want to miss. It's a big opportunity, especially at 23 years of age."

If Nigeria make it all the way, Alebiosu could be out of action up to 18 January, with Rovers also having a game against Swansea on 20 January - a potential absence of eight matches.

Andy Bayes
Sports editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

Of Blackburn's 10 championship defeats from 20 games this season, this one is right up there with the most disappointing.

It may be that the lengthy commute back to Lancashire from Fratton Park influences the thinking a little, but this defeat was down to the fundamental basics of football and incidents that shouldn't happen at this level.

It's a head-scratcher to figure out which error is the worst really.

Rovers gave away two foul throws from two different players. They gave another away on Tuesday against Oxford.

They are regularly shipping crucial goals in a worryingly similar fashion. The head coach identified the individual who has been culpable for those lapses of late.

There was the completely needless concession of a corner with senior players watching the ball roll over the byeline without doing anything to stop it. The resulting corner found a centre-back completely unmarked to head home a winner.

And, deep into stoppage time, there was being caught offside from a pretty straight free-kick when it was the last chance to throw something at Portsmouth.

Apart from one of the foul throws, this all happened in the second half, with Rovers going into the break leading through a fabulous Yuki Ohashi goal.

Fratton Park was quiet at half-time, discontent building. But, for whatever reason, one passage of play where Portsmouth came close to scoring on three occasions changed the whole landscape.

The crowd started to believe, the players did too, and the mentality of Valerien Ismael's team could be called into question.

Surrendering a lead in games is nothing new this season - 16 points have been lost from winning positions. Looking fragile at defending set-plays is nothing new either.

The defeat has left Ismael adamant his squad needs to be strengthened in the January transfer window - and early.

Ismael told me: "We've spoken already with the board. I say as quick as possible. The longer we are waiting, the more problems we will get.

"Every game counts in January. We need new faces, we need to refresh. We need to adjust the squad, to adapt with the shape that we play. The earlier the players come in, the better it will be for us.

"We've got already the list identified. Now it's not in my control. We've made our job now. It's clear that we need players. We will get some and the best is to have them ideally on 1 January, but that is always difficult.

"The week after is the game against Hull City in the FA Cup and I think we can use that game to integrate all of the new players."

Ismael is a straight-talker. He's clear in his mind of what he wants. Now it remains to be seen if those targets can be brought in as early as he wants them.

Rovers have been more of a deadline-day deal team in recent seasons. Seven players have been added permanently or on loan in the past two January windows on or after 31 January.

It's also pretty clear that in order to bring in the new faces he wants, there will be casualties too.

They currently have 24 names in their squad already so there is one spot left but you get the feeling the head coach has made his decision that some existing players won't be part of the plan in 2026.

It's not an impossibility that some arrivals last summer might not see out the season.

Ismael added: "At some point it's all about the performance, the squad, the discipline we see on the pitch. In our assessment we have to be ruthless now.

"We know that we can perform, we know that we need all of our [injured] players and at some point we have to make decisions. If something is not right and we're not happy, then we have to make the change."

This time last year, John Eustace was very keen to add to his squad to maintain a play-off push. Twelve months on, Blackburn's championship status could rest on the success rate of their mid-season window.

Blackburn head coach Valerien Ismael said he was "very angry" with one of his players after the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth.

Ishmael told BBC Radio Lancashire: "You know when you come here you have to be strong and we managed well in the first half. We had some good situations and I'm really pleased for Yuki [Ohashi] for his reward.

"We actually started the second half well, for 10 minutes, but then conceded from the same mistake again.

"Two weeks ago when it happened we showed the players the video and made specific points, saying we had to make sure we are coming back at full sprint to defend.

"That goal affected us, you could see from the performance, because the players were thinking about that.

"Mistakes happen in football but this is second time, third time with the same player and we're very angry about that.

"It's discipline, concentration, the basics. We have to defend all together and attack all together."

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A big game at the bottom end of the Championship as Portsmouth host Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with both sides desperate for three points.

Pompey remain in the relegation zone, two points from safety, after they suffered a third defeat in a row at fellow strugglers Swansea on Tuesday.

They'll get another chance to close the gap on those around them when they take on a Blackburn side five points ahead of them in 20th.

Rovers' form has not been the best having not picked up a win in their past six league outings, drawing three on the bounce heading into this.

• Portsmouth are looking to register consecutive league wins against Blackburn for the first time since September 1985.

• Blackburn Rovers have won two of their last seven away league games against Portsmouth (D2 L3).

• Portsmouth have lost three of their last five home league games (W1 D1), only one fewer in their previous 22 combined (W13 D5 L4).

• Blackburn have won five of their last eight away league games (D1 L2), winning three of their last four since losing at Coventry in October.

• Portsmouth's Conor Chaplin has been involved in six goals in his last seven league games against Blackburn (4 goals, 2 assists).