Blackburn Rovers vs Watford. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Watford at Ewood Park on Saturday | Mileta Rajovic and Rhys Healey steer Hornets to late turnaround win.
Saturday 23 December 2023 18:16, UK
Watford produced a dramatic late comeback to overcome Blackburn 2-1 and move to within two points of the Sky Bet Championship play-off places.
Valerien Ismael's men were second best for much of this encounter against an energetic Rovers side, who led thanks to Adam Wharton's first goal of the campaign in the third minute.
The Hornets looked dangerous going forward without creating much aside from Vakoun Bayo's well-saved shot in the 50th minute and would have been further behind but for Ben Hamer's second-half heroics that saw him make four important stops.
Watford's bench ultimately made the difference as Yaser Asprilla's shot was parried into the path of Mileta Rajovic to equalise in the 83rd minute and, four minutes later, Rhys Healey's second of the season secured the points for Watford, who have won four of their last six.
Rovers were quick into their stride and scored in the third minute when Hayden Carter's reverse pass found Wharton on the right before the teenager drilled a shot past Hamer from a tight angle.
The Hornets continued to look vulnerable and Lewis Travis' backheel found Arnor Sigurdsson, whose low drive was smothered by Hamer.
Rovers almost made an even faster start to the second half when Andrew Moran's inch-perfect ball over the top found Jake Garrett but he sliced wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.
They were grateful to a Leopold Wahlstedt moments later when Ryan Andrews played in Bayo but his powerful low shot was brilliantly repelled by the strong hand of the Sweden keeper.
Hamer kept Watford in the game on the hour, producing a superb diving stop to parry Garrett's 20-yard free-kick behind.
The hosts went close again just after through Wharton, whose shot was saved by Hamer before Carter lashed wide with the goal at his mercy and Watford's goalkeeper then parried a stinging Moran shot away as the Hornets hung on.
Hamer's best stop came in the 66th minute when a Moran corner ricocheted off a Watford player and was on the way in but for an outstanding reflex save.
Those saves proved vital as Watford drew level with seven minutes remaining when Asprilla charged forward and unleashed a low left-foot effort that Wahlstedt could only parry and Rajovic reacted quickest to slam home the rebound from close range for his eighth goal this season.
Watford completed an improbable turnaround four minutes later when Wahlstedt punched a corner as far as Edo Kayembe whose first-time effort was too hot for Rovers' goalkeeper to handle and Healey was perfectly placed to tap home.
Blackburn's Jon Dahl Tomasson:
It's a hard result to take of course. It's unbelievable that we are standing here with nothing actually.
"I think we dominated the game for the first 70 minutes, played some excellent football.
"The only criticism which we can have is of course we didn't kill of the game with the chances we had in both halves.
"And of course, probably the biggest moment of the game is where the goalie for the opponent dropped the ball and (the referee) disallowed the goal.
"That's a big moment isn't it? 2-0 up after 70 minutes, I think, then normally you win it. He dropped the ball. The keeper never had control over the ball.
"But disappointed to stand here without the win for sure. I think it was an excellent performance from our players.
"But football can be cruel. It can be extremely cruel."
Watford's Valerien Ismael:
"I think that the first half, we were too complacent, I think that this is what we have to learn.
"I said at half-time, I was loud with the players. If we think that 80 per cent will be enough to win a game in the Championship, we make a big mistake and we will have a lot of regrets.
"I said two things are positive from the first half. The first thing is we are not playing our level and the second thing is it's only 1-0 so now we have enough time and the bench to have an impact, so the second half we show another mentality and desire to make sure we do the right thing.
"It was a positive sign that it wasn't our best game but we win those games now. Ruthless."
