Blackburn Rovers

The Royals travel to Ewood Park as they look to respond to three games without a win.

Iliman Ndiaye found the winner in the 60th minute to claim all three points for Paul Heckingbottom’s side. The Royals travel to Ewood Park having not won a game on the road since November, where they beat Hull City 2-1 at the MKM Stadium. The Royals travel to Ewood Park as they look to respond to three games without a win.

Jon Dahl Tomasson says he knows Ben Brereton will give his all for as long as he is a Rovers player.

That is the focus of Tomasson, rather than his longer-term future, even though he concedes the expectation is that the Chile international will be moving on. Brereton is into the final months of his deal, with the expectation that he will be moving on this summer. Jon Dahl Tomasson says he knows Ben Brereton will give his all for as long as he is a

Dom Hyam has been overlooked in his quest to receive a first call-up to the Scotland squad.

The Red Devils’ first two qualification games see them first travel to Sweden on Friday, March 24 (7.45pm) and then Germany on Tuesday, March 28 (7.45pm). Wales travel to Croatia for their opening qualifying match on Saturday, March 25, before hosting Latvia on Tuesday, March 28. Scotland welcome Cyprus to Hampden Park on Saturday, March 25 (2pm) before hosting Spain on Tuesday, March 28 (7.45pm).

The Sportsman's Road to Wembley continues in the FA Cup as we return to Blackburn Rovers, who knocked out Premier League Leicester City in round five.

Yeah, to then go and reach the heights that I know we could reach would just be amazing. So that just shows that not just on the ball, there's so much hard work that goes in off it which complements everyone together because we want to work hard for the team and we have to grind out results and that's what we've been doing.” And then hopefully, if we get ourselves into the Premier League, I can get myself in that first team!” And I got my shot at the U20s. “And to get to the Premier League with Blackburn, that'd be amazing. “I think about the 3-0, I think we're a completely different team now than what we were, I feel like we're a lot stronger. “I think we all work well together,” Dolan says about his role in the quartet. I have a lot of conversations with him and he is good at that. They're the games that we want to be playing in the big stadiums, big games, so yes, it's alright to dream.” He only joined in the summer, but has embarked on a campaign that could see Rovers visit Wembley on more than one occasion. And yeah, I'm just happy with the way things are going.” “It was a big game for us, and my first FA Cup goal.

Attacking midfielder Bradley Dack, striker Jack Vale and Daniel Ayala all remain on the sidelines though. 1 of 25. Who is this?

After colliding with Will Smallbone in the Stoke City defeat, Buckley was forced off through and knee injury and will have to wait until the 2023/24 campaign for his return to competitive action as a result. [will not play again this season](https://twitter.com/Rovers/status/1635631628960530438). Blackburn Rovers face Reading in the Championship tonight.

Our recommended bet for Wednesday's clash at Ewood Park comes in the form of a Blackburn Rovers victory over Reading, featuring a goal from Ben Brereton Diaz. A ...

Such woes have culminated in the Royals freefalling to the depths of 16th in the Championship table. It therefore came as a heavy blow to all associated with the club when it was hosts Stoke who ran out to a three-goal advantage in the clash, ultimately holding on to emerge on the right side of a 3-2 scoreline. Beginning with the former, Blackburn are fresh off being brought back down to earth with something of a thud this past weekend.

Blackburn Rovers are looking for a return to winning ways as they face Reading in the Championship at Ewood Park.

Rovers break from a Reading corner. Thomas fizzes a low ball in from the left and it has to be shovelled away by Lumley. The perfect start. Better from Rovers again. That is the risk you run when you don't take your chances. With a sold-out FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday, victory over the Royals would be marvellous to boost excitement, confidence and morale. They have lost their last five in a row on the road and have picked up the second-fewest number of away points in the league this season. Casadei strikes from range and the pace beats Pears. Szmodics - 7 Thomas - 7 Blackburn remain firmly in the play-off spots with a three-point buffer over seventh place. Reading are the ideal opponents, on paper, to come to Ewood Park.

Ryan Hedges was Blackburn Rovers' saviour as his late goal secured a 2-1 win against ten-man Reading. It looked certain to be a frustrating night for Jon ...

Has been accused of lacking a cutting edge in the box but he was Rovers' saviour tonight. However, he came to the rescue with a lovely backheel into Hedges for the decisive goal. A busy performance from the summer signing. A good comeback into the starting XI. Lively on the ball and quick in the tackle. Hasn't drifted into midfield much in the last few matches as much and instead held his position at right-back. He was beaten by the pace of the strike which saw the ball fly into the corner. Then, a moment that could be decisive in the final reckoning. Having had a sighter earlier, Casadei took range from 20 yards and fizzed the ball past Pears. Then came the sucker-punch. The best chance fell to Rovers' top marksman again. Hayden Carter volleyed over from close range in the best of the chances.

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Reading at Ewood Park as substitute Ryan Hedges scored in the closing stages to seal victory for the home side. Wednesday 15 March 2023 22:09, UK.

I've been in situations when I've let people down and you know it but it affects the team. When we conceded the goal, the boys kept on believing, the crowd was behind the team and a great effort from the lads in that way. He's a natural six so to have him back and playing the way that he was at the start of the season, I'm thinking great. There's no getting away from it, it was a red card and in the 85th minute, you can't be doing that. It kills you because we're at the business part of the season and now we're going to lose him for three matches, which is, for me, selfish. I was not happy with the speed of the game.

Reading conceded another late sucker-punch, and went down to 10-men, in an entertaining 2-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

Casadei had tried his luck once or twice in the first half to no avail, but it did come in front of the travelling 284 fans as he linked up with Ince before thrashing into the back of his net for his first Royals goal. Sorba Thomas, a constant thorn in the Reading side, forced Lumley into a strong save and it could have been worse less than a minute later as Lumley’s clearance struck the Rovers forward and trickled toward goal, only to hit the post and fall gratefully into the arms of the stopper. The hosts will be thinking how it was not game over with more than half hour remaining, so threatening were the chances. Ticking toward half-time, it could have been worse in Lancashire as Joe Rankin-Costello could only find the tip of the crossbar before dipping behind for a goal kick for the last chance of the opening period. The former Bristol City midfielder whipped a delicious ball across the face of the goal, but there were no takers for the play-off outfit. Shane Long did put the ball in the net on the half hour mark, but the flag had long been up for offside against the Irishman.

Ben Brereton Diaz opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock, hurting the Royals from their own corner with a well executed counter attack. Reading ...

Any hopes of a comeback were made even more tricky when Mamadou Loum was shown a red card after going head to head with Gallagher after a scuffle which saw the Blackburn forward hit the deck. But it was a Rovers substitute that made the difference when a clever backheel from Gallagher played him through and he poked the ball the onrushing Lumley. A pressure period from the hosts ensued after the restart as Mbengue had to make a last ditch block to prevent Diaz from adding to his tally before Lumley stayed composed to clutch a drilled cross. After a quiet period in the game, Casadei had a sight of goal after he did well to put pressure on Sorba Thomas to force a turnover and forced a save from Aynsley Pears with his subsequent strike at goal. There was a huge let off for Reading just five minutes before the break when Sammie Szmodics charged down to block Lumley’s clearance and was unfortunate to see the ball bounce off the post and back into Lumley’s gloves. Reading won the first corner of the game inside the opening minute when Tom McIntyre connected with a shot on the half volley that was blocked behind.

It looked set to be a routine win once Ben Brereton Diaz's 13th goal of the campaign gave Rovers a second-minute lead and they created countless chances but ...

Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. - Away4 - Home6 - Shots - 17Carter - 13Pears

At this stage in the league, every win feels more important. It was great to bounce back after our game against Stoke. We scored an excellent goal after two ...

We have been very consistent in 2023 but we could lose the next game because it's a great opponent. We had chances to hit the target and to score goals, we hit the post. You can see how good the league is. The fans were behind the team and it was a great effort from the lads. It was great to hear the fans behind the teams and push us over the line. Credit to the boys in that way. We don't have the biggest squad with the most experienced players. It was a combination (of Reading and wasted chances). We know we are stretched in some positions where we have injured players. The lads did that excellent. We scored an excellent goal after two minutes, it was excellent football with a great transition moment. I was not happy with the speed in the first half, we played too slow.

Cesare Casadei levelled the score after Ben Brereton Diaz' early opener, but Ryan Hedges' late goal ensured Reading went home empty-handed.

They really tried hard and showed the right combativeness that is needed in a situation like this. And what makes it even worse or more difficult is that the manager is his father. Rightfully a red card for the Senegalese (85th minute). With one man down the remaining Reading players showed what fighting spirit they had in themselves and pushed for the equaliser. It was all Blackburn now and the Royals had difficulties to find some air to breathe. A fantastic finish from about 20 yards, straight into the bottom corner (68th minute). In the 65th minute the Royals showed some signs of life themselves. It was really a shame; the last thing Reading needed was going behind with the first shot on target. A lucky moment for the Royals. A long midweek trip up north for the Royals who find themselves in a deep results and performance crisis. Although Rovers had more and better chances, Reading were still in the game. Right before the break Blackburn had another great opportunity when a half-volley from Carter narrowly dipped over the crossbar.

Jon Dahl Tomasson said Rovers found a 'brilliant answer' to respond with a 2-1 win over Reading at Ewood Park.

"The fans were behind the team and it was a great effort from the lads. The game was therefore in the balance, and Tomasson said: “It's about keeping believing. We had chances to hit the target and to score goals, we hit the post. "We know at this stage each win gives confidence and belief. Our fans are allowed to dream, they should always dream. When you concede, you keep believing.

READING FC's grim record on the road continued after they lost out at Ewood Park to Blackburn Rovers. Ben Brereton Diaz opened the scoring with just two ...

Any hopes of a comeback were made even more tricky when Mamadou Loum was shown a red card after going head to head with Gallagher after a scuffle which saw the Blackburn forward hit the deck. But it was a Rovers substitute that made the difference when a clever backheel from Gallagher played him through and he poked the ball the onrushing Lumley. A pressure period from the hosts ensued after the restart as Mbengue had to make a last ditch block to prevent Diaz from adding to his tally before Lumley stayed composed to clutch a drilled cross. After a quiet period in the game, Casadei had a sight of goal after he did well to put pressure on Sorba Thomas to force a turnover and forced a save from Aynsley Pears with his subsequent strike at goal. There was a huge let off for Reading just five minutes before the break when Sammie Szmodics charged down to block Lumley’s clearance and was unfortunate to see the ball bounce off the post and back into Lumley’s gloves. Reading won the first corner of the game inside the opening minute when Tom McIntyre connected with a shot on the half volley that was blocked behind.

The Royals fell to a midweek defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers, who took the spoils with a 2-1 win at Ewood Park. Ben Brereton Diaz's goal within the ...

Ben Brereton Diaz fired in the opening goal after just two minutes with a low strike but Royals levelled through Cesare Casadei from the edge of the area on 68 ...

Carried the ball well and produced some nice passes into the final third but his moment of madness, which saw him headbutt Gallagher, cost the side hugely. Showed some really nice touches but couldn't get a shot away. Put in a very good shift and appeared to pick up cramp late on. Got a couple of shots away in the first half which forced saves out of Pears but also hit row Z with a well-placed free-kick. Made some brilliant blocks and challenges but also caught ball watching on a few occasions. A little careless defensively but showed good footwork on the ball.

In the best interests of the heart rates and nerves of supporters, a comfortable evening, with a two or three goal cushion to enjoy, would have been…

One more huge effort is now required before the international break. An inability to respond to setbacks when it mattered most cost them last season, but it has been the backbone of the climb up the table this season. That is testament to the togetherness in the squad, and the way that Tomasson has plotted their way through such a packed schedule. One of the most pleasing aspects of this season has been how it has been such a team effort. They have equalled last season’s win tally of 19, with nine games to play, and the 61 points more than five of the last nine completed Championship campaigns. In the best interests of the heart rates and nerves of supporters, a comfortable evening, with a two or three goal cushion to enjoy, would have been the preferable outcome.

The Blackburn Rovers head coach took off his top goal-scorer with the score at 1-1.

Sometimes it’s also to bring energy into the team and you need that. "Sam Gallagher is maybe the only one who can do that, the rest can’t because they’re not that tall. Tomasson was delighted with the composure Rovers showed after being pegged back. “For sure, and that’s why I’m saying every member of the squad is important even if you don’t play, because you’re part of something," he told Lancs Live. Tomasson again outlined his confidence in those on the bench to impact matches. Tomasson had already lined up a double change as Reading scored their equaliser with Hedges and Tyrhys Dolan redied to replace Sorba Thomas and Brereton Diaz.

Ryan Hedges felt it would have been 'a travesty' had Rovers not come away with all three points, and was glad to play his part in the victory…

“I think it’s good that the lads can come on and impact the game but the most important thing is three points and then another win on Sunday.” The 27-year-old knows goals will be key to him being back in the side, and he said: “Players are judged, especially attackers, on goals and assists and to keep chipping away and adding to my numbers is always a good thing. He was one of the most consistent performers in the first half of the season, but has found it difficult to keep his place in the side in 2023, with Sorba Thomas becoming a regular on the right flank his arrival on loan. It was a third goal for Hedges this season, and adding to his tally is a key aim of his as he looks to win back his place in the starting line-up. “We deserved to win and get the three points and that was the main thing.” “It’s then up to us to come on and try and impact the game, that’s what the gaffer said to us, and thankfully we did.