Match report

Blackburn Hold Watford to a Draw, 1-1 in Championship Clash

Blackburn
Blackburn
1–1
FT
Watford
Watford
Jan 24, 2026

Blackburn held their own against visiting Watford, securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Ewood Park in the Championship. Early goals by Emmanuel Kayembe of Watford and Luke Miller of Blackburn set the stage for an intense encounter that featured several late substitutions on both sides.

Key Facts

  • • Watford took a 1-0 lead with a goal from E. Kayembe in the 26th minute.
  • • Blackburn equalized almost immediately through Luke Miller, scoring at the 28th minute.
  • • Hector Kyprianou of Watford received a yellow card for a foul in the first half.
  • • Late substitutions were made by both Blackburn and Watford as the game progressed.

Lineups

Blackburn

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 22 B. Toth (G)
  • 12 L. Miller (D)
  • 26 C. O'Riordan (D)
  • 15 S. McLoughlin (D)
  • 20 E. Cashin (D)
  • 28 A. Forshaw (M)
  • 6 S. Tronstad (M)
  • 29 M. Jorgensen (M)
  • 10 T. Cantwell (M)
  • 25 R. Morishita (M)
  • 23 Y. Ohashi (F)

Substitutes

  • 35 N. Michalski
  • 2 R. Alebiosu
  • 4 H. Carter
  • 38 T. Atcheson
  • 3 H. Pickering
  • 14 D. De Neve
  • 5 T. Gardner-Hickman
  • 24 M. Baradji
  • 47 A. Doherty

Watford

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 E. Selvik (G)
  • 2 J. Ngakia (D)
  • 4 K. Keben (D)
  • 25 J. Abankwah (D)
  • 16 M. Bola (D)
  • 5 H. Kyprianou (M)
  • 39 E. Kayembe (M)
  • 42 O. Maamma (M)
  • 20 M. Doumbia (M)
  • 11 R. Vata (M)
  • 9 L. Kjerrumgaard (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 N. Baxter
  • 7 T. Ince
  • 8 G. Chakvetadze
  • 18 V. Semedo
  • 22 J. Morris
  • 23 N. Mendy
  • 34 K. Baah
  • 43 J. Grieves
  • 66 N. Irankunda

Timeline

  1. Watford
    26' Watford Goal · Normal Goal
    E. Kayembe
  2. Blackburn
    28' Blackburn Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Miller · Assist: T. Cantwell
  3. Watford
    42' Watford subst · Substitution 1
    Off: R. Vata · On: G. Chakvetadze
  4. Watford
    45'+2 Watford Card · Yellow Card
    Hector Kyprianou

    Foul

  5. Blackburn
    61' Blackburn subst · Substitution 1
    Off: L. Miller · On: R. Alebiosu
  6. Blackburn
    61' Blackburn subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. Morishita · On: D. De Neve
  7. Blackburn
    61' Blackburn subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Forshaw · On: M. Baradji
  8. Watford
    64' Watford subst · Substitution 2
    Off: O. Maamma · On: N. Irankunda
  9. Blackburn
    79' Blackburn subst · Substitution 4
    Off: M. Jorgensen · On: A. Doherty
  10. Watford
    85' Watford subst · Substitution 3
    Off: L. Kjerrumgaard · On: Kwadwo Baah
  11. Watford
    90'+3 Watford Card · Yellow Card
    E. Kayembe

    Foul

Match Stats

Stat Blackburn Watford
Fouls 8 7
Pass Accuracy 73% 69%
Offsides 2 0
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 7 14
Corners 7 8
Total Passes 431 343
Yellow Cards 0 2
Blocked Shots 1 4
Shots on Target 3 4
xG 0.89 1.43
Shots off Target 3 6
Possession 56% 44%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 314 237
Shots Inside Box 5 13
Saves 3 2
Shots Outside Box 2 1

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Watford's goal from E. Kayembe in the 26th minute gave them a brief lead but was quickly neutralized.
  • ▸ Blackburn equalized with Luke Miller’s goal, keeping the match at an even pace and sparking off a series of substitutions that aimed to alter momentum.