Blackburn keep play-off hopes alive with win over Watford

Blackburn kept their play-off hopes alive for the final day of the season after coming from behind to defeat Watford 2-1.

Valerien Ismael knew only a win would do against his former side if Rovers were to maintain ambitions of gatecrashing the top six and, after a lacklustre first half, the Hornets dealt them a blow through Mattie Pollock’s headed opener.

But Rovers came roaring back in impressive fashion and two ruthless finishes – a sumptuous low volley from Todd Cantwell and Tyrhys Dolan’s second in the space of a week in the 74th minute – put Blackburn tantalisingly close to sixth-placed Coventry, who sit just a point ahead of them.

It has been a remarkable turnaround for Rovers and, after picking up 13 points from the last 15 available, they are one more win away from potentially extending their campaign – something that was scarcely believable just three weeks ago.

Watford’s season has ended with a whimper, and this is their fifth successive defeat on the road.
The number of cards issued in the first period more than doubled the shots on target which tells its own story about the action.

Callum Brittain swung in a teasing cross in added time that just evaded the head of Sondre Tronstad but neither goalkeeper was really worked before the break.

It was a different story after the restart as Watford went ahead in the 47th minute when Imran Louza’s deep corner was met by Pollock, who headed powerfully beyond Balazs Toth and over the line despite a desperate attempt at a clearance.

The goal had a galvanising effect on the hosts and Danny Batth went close to an equaliser almost immediately but his header crashed off the crossbar before going over.

The equaliser came in the 59th minute as a blistering counter attack from Rovers ended with Yuki Ohashi’s cross finding the onrushing Cantwell towards the back post and he caressed a volley beautifully into the bottom corner.

Watford were struggling to live with the intensity of Ismael’s side and Tronstad, who scored two spectacular goals in the last home game, hammered one just wide of Egil Selvik’s post.

The turnaround was complete with 16 minutes to go with another incisive move as Cantwell turned provider, crossing for Dolan who clinically tucked his first-time shot beyond Selvik at the near post for his seventh goal of the season.