Blackburn Rovers hit with ‘Groundhog Day’ verdict amid ‘soft touch’ claims

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Blackburn Rovers were defeated 2-0 by Middlesbrough, with Valerien Ismael’s side losing for the fifth game in a row in the Championship.

We learnt more about Middlesbrough in the win over Blackburn but we also learnt that their play-off ambitions are all but over, with a run of one draw and five defeats in six nowhere near the sort of form required at this stage of the season at the run-in.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
8	West BromWest Brom	40	13	18	9	48	36	12	57
9	MillwallMillwall	40	14	12	14	39	41	-2	54
10	WatfordWatford	40	15	8	17	48	53	-5	53
11	NorwichNorwich	40	13	13	14	62	56	6	52
12	BlackburnBlackburn	40	15	7	18	42	43	-1	52
13	Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday	40	14	10	16	54	61	-7	52
14	PrestonPreston	40	10	18	12	40	47	-7	48
15	SwanseaSwansea	40	13	9	18	41	51	-10	48
16	QPRQPR	40	11	13	16	45	53	-8	46

Valerien Ismael was honest about what his side didn’t have against Boro where his worst repeat fears were realised on Friday night at Ewood Park. They have an opportunity to get back on track against an equally out of form Sheffield Wednesday tonight, though.

Rovers will still be keen to end the season on a positive note, even if they are looking down the table rather than up it currently. Up until the last two matchdays, they had never been lower than 10th in the division.

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Ali Maxwell’s damning Blackburn Rovers verdict after Boro defeat

Even the presence of Todd Cantwell could not provide a spark, with Ismael suffering another blow to Boro. For the longest time this season, the club were in and around the play-offs and well-placed to return to the Premier League.

That was prior to things unraveling regarding Eustace but also their disappointing January signings, too. Sky Sports pundits have blasted the club’s January recruitment, where very few players have made a meaningful impact on the pitch thus far.

EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek of the Not The Top 20 podcast have had their say on the situation at Blackburn.

Maxwell, in particular, is not impressed with the way things have gone on and off the pitch, with a big summer ahead for Rovers. He said: “A pretty messy game in the second half. 

“Blackburn are a real soft touch at the moment, as we saw here. Poor start to the game; 2-0 down.”

He added: “Probably, actually, Boro in the game that looked like they might extend their lead in the second half.

“Although Blackburn did have some chances as well. They are in a real hole right now, Blackburn.

“Kind of feels like Groundhog Day a little bit — the way their season has gone.”

It’s likely to be a summer of soul searching for the club, with uncertainty both in terms of the playing side but also financially and operationally. Will Ismael be given the summer and be given time?

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A dreadful 2025 for Blackburn Rovers

An EFL Analysis exclusive revealed the Venky’s could sell Blackburn after they made a mistake allowing John Eustace to leave so easily to be replaced by Ismael.

That looks likely to be costly in terms of the play-off picture, with Opta and their supercomputer giving Rovers just a 0.20% chance of making the top six from here. Their form since the turn of the year highlights why that is so low now.

Tyrhys Dolan is out of contract this summer as one of the club’s star men and one of the best players in the Championship. That uncertainty is not the only thing which will hold the club back from progressing, with plenty of other areas of the squad and club needing to be rebuilt.