please log in to view this image WATFORD v BLACKBURN ROVERS Vicarage Road Stadium Sunday 27th August 2023 Kick Off :1200 BST We welcome Blackburn for our fourth game in the Championship season, who arrive with one win, one draw and one loss, the same as Watford. please log in to view this image Given the impulsive decision-making of Watford's owners, new head coach Valerien Ismael is aware that he must make a fast start to the campaign to convince Gino of his credentials. As it stands, there can be few complaints, the Hornets sitting in ninth position and possessing the joint-best defensive record in the division. The solitary goal that they have conceded in the second tier came in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Stoke City, and Watford have now failed to score in two successive league games, having previously posted a goalless draw with Plymouth Argyle. Nevertheless, the opening-day 4-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers has brought Ismael some time, and he must really hope that a goal scoring number 9 has been found. please log in to view this image There has been speculation regarding the future of head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, yet the Dane and the club's owners cannot be disappointed with their efforts in the first three games. Having collected four points from matches with West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United, Rovers appeared on course to defy a 16th-minute red card to see off Hull City last weekend. That was until the Tigers scored twice in the final nine minutes to claim maximum points, leaving Tomasson to focus on the positives regarding the character of his team. Getting points on the board is imperative, though, with Rovers needing to generate some momentum after a poor end to the last campaign cost them a place in the play-offs. Team News. James Morris and Jeremy Ngakia are both fit to play. “We are still assessing Francisco Sierralta at the minute to see if he can be available for Sunday. We have two more training sessions – this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon – and then we will see." Our Officials please log in to view this image Gavin Ward is our referee Greg Read and Alex James are due to be the assistant referees, with Sam Allison the fourth official.
Jamal Lewis still not fit. Training by himself, we probably won't see him until after the international break. Good news for James Morris I suppose.
So our emergency left back continues in that role. A couple of injuries and he now has to start a game there. Not ideal, but many teams seem to be playing people out of position.
"We have our rules for the players and everyone must respect them all the time. Imran knows why he is on the bench today, rather than starting the game." - Ismael
Hello all, are we well, just recovering from a dose of Covid, no idea how I got it, it wasn't too bad. Here is a sky stream I have running https://jokeristhebest.live/a1ba485f/0187e995/8851f9c7 Other links welcome I guess Enjoy the game, we need 3 points.
Crying out for a couple of second half changes though - the Dane and the Georgian might improve things.
