Watford 0-1 Blackburn Rovers: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Watford 0-1 Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday, 13 September 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Well, that was a tough one for Watford at home, wasn't it? Blackburn Rovers nicked it right at the start of the second half with a goal from Ryoya Morishita, and that was enough to seal the deal. Watford had been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately, drawing their last two and winning one before that, but they couldn't find the back of the net today. Blackburn, on the other hand, bounced back nicely from their loss to Norwich, showing they've still got some fight in them.

It's a bit of a surprise, really, considering Watford had more possession and a decent run of form. But football's a funny old game, innit? Blackburn ended Watford's unbeaten streak at home, and you've got to give credit where it's due. Morishita was the hero for Rovers, and Watford will be kicking themselves for not capitalising on their chances.

Looking at the stats, you'd think Watford might have had a bit more to show for their efforts. They had 51% possession and five corners, but it just didn't translate into goals. Blackburn, with 49% possession and seven corners, made the most of their opportunities, which is what counts at the end of the day.

The successful dribbles percentage was a bit of a shocker, with Blackburn at 33% and Watford lagging behind at 23%. It shows that Rovers were more effective in breaking down the Watford defense. The yellow cards were pretty even, but Blackburn's five substitutions compared to Watford's two might have given them the edge in the second half.

The game's turning point came right after halftime when Ryoya Morishita put Blackburn ahead. It was a well-taken goal that set the tone for the rest of the match. Watford tried to respond, but the early second-half strike seemed to knock the wind out of their sails.

Watford made a couple of subs around the 55th minute, bringing on Nestory Irankunda and Edo Kayembe, hoping to change the game's momentum. But it was Blackburn who kept control, making five subs of their own and managing the game well. The yellow cards for Matthew Pollock and Todd Cantwell added a bit of spice, but it was Morishita's goal that made all the difference.

Watford lined up in a 3-5-2, with Egil Selvik in goal and a back three of Kévin Keben, Mattie Pollock, and J. Pétris. The midfield was packed with Moussa Sissoko, Hector Kyprianou, and Rocco Vata, while Kwadwo Baah and Luca Kjerrumgaard supported Mamadou Doumbia up top. No real surprises in the starting XI, but the subs made around the 55th minute didn't quite have the impact they needed.

Mattie Pollock picked up a yellow card, which might have affected his performance a bit. The team tried to push forward, but the lack of goals was the real story here. Watford will need to regroup and find their scoring touch if they want to climb the table.

Blackburn Rovers went with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Balázs Tóth between the sticks and a back four of Ryan Alebiosu, Hayden Carter, Scott Wharton, and Yuri Ribeiro. The midfield duo of Sondre Tronstad and Sidnei Tavares provided the base, while Ryoya Morishita, Todd Cantwell, and Ryan Hedges supported Yuki Ohashi up front. The lineup was solid, and the five subs made a big difference.

Morishita was the standout, scoring the only goal of the game. The subs brought on around the 70th minute helped Blackburn manage the game and see out the win. It was a well-executed plan from Rovers, and they'll be pleased with the result.

Ryoya Morishita is Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match, and it's no surprise why. He scored the crucial goal that decided the game, showing his composure and finishing ability. Even though he didn't have any assists or key passes, his goal was enough to make him the hero for Blackburn Rovers today.

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Blackburn Rovers (H)

• Draw: 2-2 vs Southampton (H)

• Draw: 1-1 vs Swansea City (A)

• Win: 2-1 vs Queens Park Rangers (H)

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Watford (A)

• Loss: 0-2 vs Norwich City (H)

• Win: 3-0 vs Hull City (A)

• Loss: 1-2 vs Birmingham City (H)

Watford find themselves in 17th place with 5 points after this loss. They'll need to bounce back quickly as they face Millwall, who are in 13th with 7 points, on September 22, 2025. This result might push them to be more aggressive in their next match, looking to get back to winning ways.

Blackburn Rovers have moved up to 15th place with 6 points after this win. Their next challenge is against Ipswich Town, who are in 14th with 6 points, on September 20, 2025. This victory could give them the confidence to approach the game with a positive mindset, aiming to build on their recent form.

Championship Game Week 6, 25/26

• Middlesbrough Vs West Brom

• QPR Vs Stoke City

• Birmingham Vs Swansea

• Leicester City Vs Coventry

• Blackburn Rovers Vs Ipswich Town

• Derby County Vs Preston

• Hull City Vs Southampton

• Portsmouth Vs Sheffield Wednesday

• Sheffield United Vs Charlton

• Norwich City Vs Wrexham

• Bristol City Vs Oxford Utd

• Millwall Vs Watford

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.