Blackburn Rovers

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

Blackburn Rovers fans have had it tough for a long time now, so it was amazing to see so many smiles on the faces of the home supporters on Saturday.

One man is making a huge difference - Tony Mowbray.

In a frantic, fast-paced first-half in the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough, the 62-year-old was the epitome of calm in the technical area - and his half-time team talk appeared to work wonders.

Boro went from a team dominating the ball, with fast-flowing football, to a team resorting to long-distance efforts.

Meanwhile, Blackburn went from wasting chances before the break to being clinical in the second half, with two headed goals, including an excellent diving finish from Todd Cantwell.

On top of that, after Blackburn had conceded a late equaliser against Wolves on the opening day of the season, you would've expected the final stages to be nervy against Middlesbrough.

But Mowbray's calmness seemed to transfer to his players and after going to five at the back, they were rarely troubled.

On an emotional day against the club where he's a legend, Mowbray masterminded a great win.

Rovers supporters still have plenty of concerns about the way their club is being run, but with Mowbray back in the dugout they have a big reason to be a lot more positive about this campaign.

Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal are getting closer to completing a deal to sign 18-year-old Blackburn Rovers striker Igor Tyjon.

The England youth international has been a long-term target for the Gunners and they attempted to complete a deal to sign the forward in January.

Multiple sources have now told BBC Sport that a deal has now been agreed between both clubs and a medical is expected to take place.

Tyjon has made three appearances for Blackburn's senior side with two in the Championship in the 2024-25 season and the last in the EFL Cup last season.

He has not signed a professional deal with Blackburn but is into the third year of his scholarship.

According to Transfermarkt, Tyjon scored seven goals in 21 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn's academy sides last season.

Blackburn have been approached for comment.

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray says he would not have chosen former club Middlesbrough as the first visitors to Ewood Park this season.

The 62-year-old leads Rovers into the opening home game of his second spell at the helm on Saturday (15:00 BST) against his boyhood club where he spent 11 years as a player and another three as head coach, and expects one of their toughest games of the season.

Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire: "They are probably the best footballing team in the division. Their average per cent of possession, shots, touches in the opposition box, all of that attacking stuff, is number one in the league.

"Coventry won the league (last season) but yet all the data and stats suggests Middlesbrough could have been right up there - if they'd had maybe a Will Lankshear last season (as they do now), it might have made a difference."

Rovers go into the game full of confidence after coming within moments of an opening day win at another of the promotion favourites, Wolves, but Mowbray admitted: "It's a really tough game, I would have preferred a different opposition in the first game where we could have been dominant and had lots of shots and chances.

"I think it's a game against a team who are going to want to have the ball. We have to impose ourselves and make sure they know they have been in a real game.

"It's a tough game but what a great game to win, to build some confidence, test yourselves and check where you are."

The game will be played on the new Ewood Park pitch, which Mowbray said "looks amazing".

He added: "I'm here to try and help and put a smile back on people's faces by playing football, trying to win every game, trying to score goals and be entertaining."

Mowbray said he hopes Rovers will be active in the transfer market until the window closes on 1 September but denied a link to Birmingham winger Patrick Roberts, who played more than 60 games under him at Sunderland.

"It's all speculation," he said. "I'm not sure where they come from to be honest. I don't see any benefit in me playing games with the media and supporters. It's not something I would anticipate or expect to happen.

"We need to lose one or two or add one or two. I wouldn't be happy if the squad was the same at is now going into September, I would like some movement, I would like some help. Behind the scenes everyone is working hard to make that happen."

Midfielder Dion De Neve is back in training but is not available for the weekend but Sam Morsy is fit to start if needed.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has spoken of his admiration for former Boro boss Tony Mowbray ahead of their first meeting in the dugout.

Hellberg's side head to Ewood Park on Saturday (15:00 BST) to face Blackburn, who are playing the first home game of Mowbray's second spell in charge of Rovers, more than nine years after his first began.

The Saltburn-born 62-year-old played nearly 350 league games for Boro over an 11-year stay and also managed the club he grew up supporting from 2010 until 2013.

In February 2024 Mowbray was diagnosed with bowel cancer and quit as Birmingham City boss as he underwent treatment and his only job in football since was a four-month spell at West Brom early in 2025, with much of his time since devoted to following the fortunes of Boro as their promotion push fell narrowly short last season.

Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees: "I know he's seen a lot of games and probably enjoyed a lot of things we have done on the pitch and how we've played.

"In many ways I think we're similar in the way we look at the game. I am looking forward to meeting him."

Mowbray's side were denied an eye-catching win at Wolves in their opening game by a last-gasp equaliser and Hellberg added: "I think he's shown many times at different clubs that he's a brilliant coach.

"The impressive thing about (the Wolves game) wasn't the result, though I think they deserved three points, it was how they played, how brave they were - that comes from the manager and how he gets that into the players to express themselves. He's done a brilliant job."

Boro dominated a goalless draw at Ewood Park in March in the midst of a seven-match winless streak which derailed their automatic promotion push.

Hellberg added: "We had a lot of opportunities but couldn't get the the goal we needed in that game.

"They have changed a lot since last season. They have a new style of play. It's going to be a very good, open football game.

"They will have a very attack-minded approach to the game. Blackburn showed against one of the favourites how good they can be. We're looking forward to the challenge."

Midfielder Aidan Morris returns to the squad, forward David Strelec is 50/50 to be in the squad but defender Ashley Phillips may not be ready to feature until September.

These two sides made promising starts to the season with only a stoppage-time penalty denying Blackburn a win at Wolves last Friday while Middlesbrough came from behind to beat Lincoln City 2-1.

This is also a game which sees Rovers boss Tony Mowbray come up against a side he managed between 2010 and 2013 and where he started his playing career, making more than 300 appearances in a Boro shirt.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their past six league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D3), keeping four clean sheets across the past five of those matches.

• Each of the two league games between Blackburn and Middlesbrough finished goalless last season, while the past five have witnessed just three goals in total.

• Blackburn have won five of their past six opening home games of a league season, though did lose their last such fixture 2-1 to Birmingham last campaign.

• Middlesbrough are hoping to win their opening two league games of a campaign for the second season running; prior to that, Boro had not completed the feat at all since 1994-95.

• Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway has netted four goals across seven league games against Blackburn, his joint-most against any team in his career. His four goals have come from just six shots on target.

QPR and Blackburn Rovers have reportedly joined the race to sign Liverpool defender Luke Chambers. Portsmouth are another Championship sides interested in taking the 22-year-old on loan. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Find more of Tuesday's EFL gossip here.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

A result and a performance that Blackburn Rovers can be proud of and look to build on, but in the immediate aftermath it feels like a defeat.

When the Championship fixtures were released in June, this looked a daunting task for a Rovers side who found the going tough last season.

A television graphic captured the Championship in a nutshell. The Wolves starting XI cost £98.3m to assemble, with Rovers' a much more modest £6.9m.

It is a good job money does not always decide the outcome of a football match.

The atmosphere was electric. Both sets of supporters contributed greatly to it. Wolves fans probably expected more of an easy ride, but Tony Mowbray's men gave as good as they got.

They fell behind to a goal that stemmed from a good run by Munetsi, but he was afforded too much time and space as he got in between Ryan Alebiosu and Tom Atcheson.

Credit to Rovers though as they did not let their heads drop. Instead, they levelled matters through Sean McLoughlin's first goal since 2019, a terrific run and header leaving his manager expecting more. He wants his centre-halves to emulate his playing career tally of around half a dozen goals a season.

So, one each at the break, and Rovers were quickly out of the blocks in the second half. Dapo Afolayan, who had his best night so far for the club, stung the fingertips of Daniel Bentley, and then the second goal was a beauty. Morishita was again involved, playing a lovely reverse pass into the path of Afolayan, who found Andri Gudjohnsen to finish from close range.

Gudjohnsen has switched to the number nine shirt this season, and both of his goals so far have been typical of the Rovers strikers of yesteryear who wore that number.

To give an indication of Blackburn's relative comfort in the game, goalkeeper Balazs Toth was forced into only one save all evening, with Bentley in the Wolves goal making three.

When four minutes were added on at the end, it became a case of game management. Could Rovers run down the clock and keep the ball away from their goal? They largely did, apart from one moment. They lost possession in the Wolves half. I felt they could have taken a foul at that point and taken the sting out of the counter-attack, and when they did not, you kind of feared the worst.

A cross struck the hand of the excellent Alebiosu and referee Farai Hallam immediately pointed to the spot. It was such a close, tough call. Even when I see it back, I cannot make a definitive verdict on it. The referee had one look and had to make a snap decision. Wolves benefited from leaving VAR behind. They might still be checking it at Stockley Park now!

Raul Jimenez, the returning hero, shimmied and stuttered up to the ball before placing it firmly past Toth for a stoppage-time leveller.

Even then, Jake Garrett drew a fine save from Bentley before the final whistle.

This was a result that many would not have forecast. Tony Mowbray's team were almost good enough to get the job done, but in his words he will "put the point in the bag and move on to the next one".

Image source, Getty Images

New Blackburn Rovers midfielder Sam Morsy was a "critical signing" for the club as they prepare for the start of the Championship season, says boss Tony Mowbray.

The former Ipswich Town captain, who joined Blackburn on Monday on a one-year deal, will be chasing a 600th professional appearance in his time at Ewood Park.

"The team needed more manliness really, an experienced man, somebody who was more animated and I would say Sam is animated on the pitch," Mowbray said.

"His voice is very evident every day, he doesn't give the ball away very often, he's got a really good use of his body to protect the ball.

"I think he's a critical signing for the club and will prove over the period how important he's going to be."

Meanwhile, Mowbray said striker Mathias Jorgensen is "not too far away" from a return but won't make it in time for Rovers' league opener at Wolves on Friday (20:00 BST).

Defender Scott Wharton and forward Augustus Kargbo have both trained as they make their way back from their respective injuries.

Watch the full interview below or listen on BBC Sounds here.

Explore more Blackburn Rovers content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Opta

The Championship campaign kicks off on Friday night as Blackburn head to newly-relegated Wolves (20:00 BST).

Both sides made winning starts to the campaign in the EFL Cup first round last weekend but it's a first league game in the dugout for Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto while Tony Mowbray begins his second spell in charge of Rovers.

Wanderers have lost their past five opening day games while Blackburn had won four straight before going down 1-0 at West Brom to start last season.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers are unbeaten in their past eight league meetings with Blackburn Rovers (W4 D4), drawing both games the last time they met in 2016-17.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their past nine away league games against Wolverhampton Wanderers (W2 D6), with their last two visits to Molineux both finishing 0-0 (April 2016 and April 2017).

• Wolves ended the Premier League last season losing just one of their final six home games (W2 D3), earning more points in that time (9) than in their previous 15 at Molineux (6 – W1 D3 L11).

• 59.6% of Blackburn's points in the EFL Championship last season came away from home (31/52), the highest proportion; Rovers finished 2025-26 winning three of their final five matches on the road (D1 L1).

• New Wolves signing, Rafiki Saïd, attempted more take-ons than any other player in the Belgian Pro League last season (171), completing 69 of them, while leading the competition for shots following a take-on (16) and behind only Nacho Ferri (2.69) for xG from a take-on (2.61).

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Former Ipswich Town midfielder Sam Morsy, 31, is having a medical at Blackburn Rovers on Monday and the Egyptian's move is expected to be completed in time for the Championship opener against Wolves on Friday. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

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Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

When you're drawn away in the first round of the EFL Cup against lower-league opposition, the two most important things are to come home with a victory and without injury. Blackburn Rovers did both.

This was never going to be a straightforward task for Rovers, but they could and should have made it easier for themselves.

When the match stats show 27 attempts at the Burton goal and 41 touches inside the opposition penalty area, the fact that it took until the 81st minute to level the tie will be a legitimate concern for Tony Mowbray.

In fact, despite their dominance, both keepers were forced into the same number of saves, totalling five.

Falling behind to a set-piece goal has been a problem in the past and was again. It was a scruffy goal to concede, where they just couldn't defend the second ball. Zac Scutt was left all on his own to convert from close range.

Close-range headers from Yuki Ohashi and Dapo Afolayan from excellent right-wing deliveries flew over the bar, Todd Cantwell missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and other less straightforward attempts failed to register in the first half. It was clear post-match that the head coach was less than impressed.

"We should have scored four or five goals in the first half, not could have. Should have, really. They're too much of guilt-edged chances for them not to score, I feel," Mowbray said.

It's that lack of a clinical edge that concerns Mowbray most as he begins his second spell in charge.

During his first stint at Ewood Park, he could call on players such as Bradley Dack at his best, a rapid Adam Armstrong, a teenage Harvey Elliott, a seasoned focal point like Danny Graham with a set-piece specialist Charlie Mulgrew to create opportunities. This squad is different.

There is talent there, without doubt, but Mowbray remains convinced he needs more. It's a message he has made clear to the club's owners, Venky's, in recent days.

Mowbray said: "I'm greedy for good players, as I keep saying to Rudy (Gestede, head of football operations). It doesn't matter to me where they come from or what age they are. I want to see personality on the pitch, players who are desperate to win and be really good at what they do on the pitch."

This cup tie was won by the introduction from the bench of substitutes Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier. The latter scored on his competitive debut with a trademark check inside from the right onto his favoured left foot to curl home an excellent winner.

If Mowbray gets his wish, there could be more new faces in the building before Friday's trip to Wolves.

Sam Morsy appears the most likely arrival. Even at this stage of his career, he would bring leadership, grit and experience to the squad.

Alan Browne is another name doing the rounds. If Rovers can get that deal done on loan, he would look a very useful addition too.

The flip side, of course, is that arrivals will mean departures, or at least some difficult conversations. Bring in another two or three players and the squad starts to look overcrowded. When September arrives and the 25-man squad has to be finalised, some players are going to miss out.

Big decisions are on the horizon.

Image source, Shutterstock

AFC Fylde have signed Blackburn Rovers midfielder Zack Stritch on a season-long loan.

Stritch, 21, was a member of the Blackburn under-21 side last season but spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Curzon Ashton in the National League North.

Image source, Getty Images

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