Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers are to press forward with plans to introduce an area of safe standing at their Ewood Park home in time for next season.

An area affecting 406 seats in the lower tier of the Blackburn End stand will initially be converted with the scheme to be extended during the 2025-26 season.

To comply with regulations, barriers will also be installed across 250 seats in the away end of the stadium.

Referencing a football ground guide published in September 2024, , externalRovers would become the 19th EFL side with areas of safe-standing rails. West Bromwich Albion announced a similar move last month.

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Blackburn head coach Valerien Ismael spoke to the media after his side was beaten 2-1 by Cardiff City.

"This one is the most disappointing [of Ismael's four results]," he said.

"We played well with belief and conviction. It was a step forward, especially in the first half.

"This one is tough to take. The first Cardiff goal we defended badly and the second one we just lost the ball. At the end you get punished. Details make the difference."

On the penalty decision: "The referee is five yards away and has a clear view. It's difficult to take. At the moment, decisions are not going our way but we have to accept it."

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Blackburn Rovers full-back Callum Brittain will miss Saturday's game against Cardiff City at Ewood Park with a calf injury.

Brittain, 27, is due for a scan to determine its severity.

He has played 29 Championship games this season, helping Rovers challenge for a play-off place.

They go into the game ninth in the table, three points behind Coventry City in sixth.

Cardiff City will look to avoid dropping into the relegation zone as they visit play off chasers Blackburn Rovers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are only one point above 22nd placed Derby County and within three points of basement dwellers Plymouth Argyle.

The Welsh side will need to put an end to a three-game losing run if they are to take all three points against Blackburn and ensure safety, though the Lancashire side's form hasn't been all that bright lately either.

Rovers have not won any of their past four matches to drift four points shy of the top six.

• Blackburn Rovers have only lost one of their last 12 league games against Cardiff City (W6 D5) and have beaten them in three of their last four meetings (D1).

• Cardiff are winless in their last eight league visits to Blackburn (D5 L3) and have lost each of their last three at Ewood Park. Their last win at this venue came in December 2012 under Malky Mackay.

• Blackburn Rovers have won three of their last five home league games (D1 L1), with two of those wins coming under John Eustace and one under caretaker manager David Lowe.

• Cardiff City have won only one of their last 20 away league matches (D9 L10), beating Watford 2-1 in December.

• Blackburn forward Andreas Weimann has scored seven Championship goals against Cardiff City, more than he has against any other team.

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Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael says that his players must embrace the pressure of trying to secure a play-off spot.

Rovers suffered a 1-0 loss at Stoke City, their second loss in four days after defeat at Derby County.

They have picked up just one point in Ismael's three games in charge and have slipped to ninth, four points outside the top six.

But they will have a chance to turn their form around on Saturday when they host struggling Cardiff City.

"The performance in the first half wasn't what we expected," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"We made a mistake, but how we finished the first half, how we played in the second half, is what we wanted to see from minute one.

"The players showed quality. Last season, Rovers were in a bad situation with much more pressure, and now we are competing for something positive, so we need to enjoy it and start the games as we started the second half.

"We need to work on our confidence. The second half was much better. We have to build on that."

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Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael says his side possess the quality to compete for a Championship play-off place this season.

Rovers are eighth in the table, three points off sixth, but Ismael is still waiting for a first win since replacing John Eustace on 25 February.

His side travel to Stoke on Wednesday, and Ismael is hoping to see the best of January loan signing Emmanuel Dennis, who is yet to score for the club.

"I know him from last season at Watford," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He is more in form; he looks really good, sharp. We will get the best from him quickly. He can help the team and he is a player who can make the difference.

"We've got enough quality in the squad to compete. It is about finding the right formula."

Ismael is also challenging midfielder Todd Cantwell to find form before the end of the season, and believes he could be the difference maker.

"We are not seeing the best of him, he has to do more. I know what he is capable of, he is an X-factor player; our job is to make him comfortable and get the best out of him."

Stoke City are without a win from their past four Championship matches with Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Coventry their third loss in that run.

The Potters are four points clear of the relegation zone as they prepare to host Blackburn on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

Rovers are three points outside the play-off places but yet to win under new head coach Valerien Ismael.

• Stoke City have won four of their past six league games against Blackburn Rovers (L2), keeping a clean sheet in three of those wins.

• Blackburn Rovers have won four of their past six away league games against Stoke City (L2), winning this exact fixture 3-0 last season which is their joint-biggest away league victory over the Potters alongside another 3-0 win in December 1889.

• Stoke have only lost one of their past six home league games (W2 D3), keeping four clean sheets in that time, as many as in their previous 17 league matches on home soil.

• Blackburn have only lost two of their past eight midweek league games (W4 D2), though those two defeats have come in their past three such games (0-2 v Coventry, 1-2 v QPR).

• Stoke boss Mark Robins is unbeaten in his last eight Championship games against Blackburn (W3 D5), winning each of his past three at home with Coventry from November 2022 to October 2024.

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Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after his side was beaten 2-1 at Derby County.

"I think the players are really disappointed about the result, they wanted it and maybe too much," he said.

"We lost the game in the first seven minutes. We knew exactly what we would face, everything was set and I think that the first seven minutes was very difficult to manage.

"We had an injury (to Augustus Kargbo) and after that we changed the shape. It was much better, we had more control and had great chances, with Yuki to come back into the game earlier, and the goal from Pape [Gueye] after that gave us that momentum for the second half

"But the second half we were under control, it is clear, but Derby for sure played the game to waste time, to slow down the process, which is normal.

"But we were not very dangerous and I expected more crosses, more penetration, more shots on target and that is something we need to work on and learn from to do better next time."

Andy Bayes
Sports Editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

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With 11 games remaining and fans dreaming of a further three, the prospect of losing your leading scorer for all of them is a sizeable blow.

Andi Weimann has proved to be one of Blackburn Rovers' key signings of last summer. He turned 33 just as the season started and had spent most of the close season as a free agent.

Nine goals later (in all competitions), without playing in the traditional number nine role, he's made a firm case for a new deal.

His final touch of the season was to head home a very late leveller against Norwich last week.

He had already picked up his season-ending knee injury at that point.

Another one to remember was his spectacular goal in September at Burnley, which is highly likely to land him the goal of the season award.

He might not have the lightning pace from earlier in his career, but it's that knack of being in the right place at the right time that can't really be coached that will be missed in the run-in.

Whether he was a starter or a substitute, you felt that a chance might fall to him at some point just due to his football intelligence.

Head coach Valerien Ismael has been telling me what a blow it is to lose the Austrian, but he was quick to point at the options at his disposal.

Ismael is backing deadline day signings Emmanuel Dennis and Cauley Woodrow to make an impact on the team that hasn't happened so far.

He's worked with both of them before and feels that he can get the best out of them.

Dennis will miss the visit to Derby this weekend as he serves a one-match ban following a sending off against Norwich last time out.

Ismael feels that the front man who is on loan from Nottingham Forest has a lot to prove in the coming weeks.

"Maybe next time he will learn that when you get the first yellow card, you should be more careful in the dual for the second one," Ismael said.

"I've found since I came that Dennis looks sharper than when I saw him last year at Watford. More focused, really sharp in shape, positive. It's only one game (the suspension), and three days later we have another game, so he will be back.

"At some point he has a point to prove. Every year you are on loan here, on loan there, and at some point you just want to settle and find your home."

Woodrow finds himself in a similar position. You have to go back to 2020-21, when Ismael managed him at Barnsley, that he featured in more than 30 league matches in a season.

He's made a total of eight starts in the league for Luton in two and a half seasons.

Ismael feels that Woodrow can slot into the role that Weimann has vacated.

"He knows the way to goal, he knows the game, he is fit, so at some point he will get his chance to come back," he said.

"It's easy when you know the player and his quality, and I've spoken with him already. He knows himself that he wants to prove something. I know that he is able to help the team. It's just a question of timing now and as soon as it comes, we expect him to take his chance."

The absence of Weimann certainly presents an opportunity, and Woodrow, Dennis and the returning Yuki Ohashi will be keen to prove their worth from now on in.

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Blackburn Rovers forward Andreas Weimann will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

The Austria international came off the bench to score Rovers' injury-time equaliser against Norwich in the Championship last weekend but head coach Valerien Ismael has revealed that will be his final contribution of the campaign.

"He had a scan and it's bad news for him and us because his late goal gave us a great feeling but unfortunately now he will be out for the rest of the season," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He played on until the end but after the game he complained about his knee which was swollen and he was limping as well - it is a meniscus tear and he now has the decision how to deal with the injury."

Weimann has made 34 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn this season, scoring nine goals.

Rovers will also be without forward Emmanuel Dennis for this weekend's game at Derby as he serves a suspension after being sent-off against Norwich.

Derby County boss John Eustace welcomes some familiar faces to Pride Park on Saturday as they host his former side Blackburn Rovers.

Eustace departed promotion-chasing Rovers in February to take helm of the Rams as they look to escape relegation.

But Derby have yet to claim any points under their new boss and he'll be hoping to pick up his first against a side he knows all too well.

• Derby County have lost each of their last five league games against Blackburn Rovers, conceding exactly three goals on average per defeat.

• Blackburn Rovers have won their last two away league games against Derby County, as many wins as across their prior 12 visits to face the Midlands outfit (D4 L6).

• Derby County have lost 10 of their last 12 Championship matches (D2) and are the only side in the division without a victory in 2025 (D2 L9).

• Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael has faced Derby four times previously, beating them in his first game against them in November 2020 with Barnsley but he's since gone three in a row without seeing his side score a goal against the Rams (D2 L1).

• John Eustace has lost all three of his Championship matches as Derby manager so far, having joined from Blackburn in February. No Rams manager has ever lost each of his first four league games in charge.

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Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael was full of praise for his side's spirit and battling qualities after Andi Weimann's 96th-minute header earned a point against fellow play-off hopefuls Norwich City.

The Canaries looked to have snatched victory when Ante Crnac scored in the final minute, very soon after Rovers had been reduced to 10 men when Emmanuel Dennis was sent off - only for Weimann to add to the late drama at Ewood Park.

"It was a tough game for us with a strong opponent," Ismael said.

"I think until the red card, it was really good and we were on top and had the momentum. But the red card changed everything - it's a new game. After that it was tough for the players to concede the goal.

"But they showed again a great mentality. I think the season [has shown] a really good, honest, hard-working group to believe in themselves and to make sure we give everything. As I say, a no-regret attitude and they made it today.

"We deserved a point but it feels like more a win because the boost and the mentality [of] the players showed me they are ready to compete for the play-offs. We have to keep that going."

Andy Bayes
Sports Editor, BBC Radio Lancashire

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Rightly or wrongly, first impressions are really important to me.

In 26 years in the industry, I've lost count of how many new managers or head coaches I've been privileged to speak to.

The first meeting is generally a pooled interview or press conference, and it's only when things get to a week or so in, that faces become familiar and a level of trust can hopefully be established.

As the BBC local reporter, it's about treading that fine line of being respectful always but getting as much information as you can that the supporters are chatting about at the match, in the pubs, and online.

The role has certainly evolved over my time at BBC Radio Lancashire. Valerien Ismael is the 17th different man that I've stuck a microphone in front of at Blackburn Rovers alone.

In the main, a new man has been brought in because something has gone wrong. This certainly isn't the case with this one.

Ismael inherits a team that is in the top six ahead of his first match. He told me that the majority of clubs across Europe that he's spoken to over the last year have been battling at the wrong end of the table, and only this opportunity felt right.

Ismael is an imposing figure, a tall man with a presence. He seemed completely at ease with every question coming his way. He immaculately answered them all in fluent English.

The main takeaway from our conversation was that the interview process worked both ways. He answered the questions the powers that be had for him, and then it was his turn to ask the questions to make sure that this opportunity would work for him.

He felt there were 'no grey areas' in terms of the job description and was happy to take it.

He views the role as both short and long-term. His deal is for three-and-a-half years, and he told me, "The idea is simple. To create an identity, a way to play, and to create a pathway for young players."

That identity will wait for now - 12 games left of a season with half of the squad either out of contract in the summer or returning to their parent clubs isn't the time to put a big stamp on things.

"With 12 games remaining, it's just to support the players and not to touch too much," he said. "The players have done well so far. I'm just here to support and to observe."

Those observations will be key with how the club moves forward next season, regardless of the division they find themselves in.

"The other hand is the vision for the summer," Ismael added. "Prepare for the windows and be prepared to assess which players will be able to continue with us from the academy.

"I see this as a chance to pick the right players we need for the team. For sure it's a lot of work to do, but I see this as a great opportunity."

I was left with no doubt that Ismael's key principles are not optional for his players to adhere to. He'll be as clear with them as he was with me.

"I have my principles on the pitch, and I have my rules: respect, discipline, commitment and hard work. My rules as a player, as a human being and as a head coach. I try to stick to my rules because it's brought me success."

So my first impressions leave me with nothing but positive thoughts. A straight-talking man who knows what he wants. Someone who will concentrate on fine-tuning over the final 12 games but have an eye on the future too and what he wants it to look like.

As always, results are the only important thing in a managerial appointment. But relating to the fanbase is crucial too.

New Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael says he intends to stick to the principles which have brought him success elsewhere.

The Frenchman was appointed as John Eustace's replacement this week after the latter made the surprise decision to jump from a play-off challenge to a relegation battle with Derby a fortnight ago.

"I have my principles on the pitch, and I have my rules: respect, discipline, commitment, and hard work. They were my rules as a player, human being, and head coach," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I try to stick to my words because I know it brought me my success.

"Football is a bumpy road for a head coach but you have to stay true to yourself, stick to your principles but try to adapt and evolve."

Ismael's first game in charge of Blackburn is at home to Norwich City in the Championship on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The former Barnsley and West Brom head coach has been out of football for nearly a year after leaving Watford last March but will take his time before making any major changes at Ewood Park.

"We have a short-term focus to support the players and not to touch too much because the players have done well so it means something is right at the minute," he added.

"But I have the division of the summer where I will prepare the windows and assess the players - I have to observe what type of players I have to do the job I want to do.

"I don't want to force anything, for the player to do the job they have to feel comfortable. How many players will be out of contract, how many will we need to take in - it's a massive job we have to do but we are ready."

The Valerien Ismael era begins at Ewood Park with a big match in the race for the Championship play-offs.

The 49-year-old Frenchman succeeded John Eustace at the Rovers helm this week and is pitted against a side four places, and four points behind sixth-placed Blackburn in his first game on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Rovers have won three of their past four at home, while Johannes Hoff Thorup's Canaries have picked up four points from their past two on the road.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their past six league games against Norwich City (W2 D3), after losing six of their prior seven meetings with the Canaries between 2014 and 2020 (D1).

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past six away league games against Blackburn Rovers (W5 D1), since a 2-0 defeat at Ewood Park in April 2012 in the Premier League.

• Blackburn drew three of their first six league games this season (W3), but have since drawn just three of their subsequent 28 in the Championship (W12 L13).

• Norwich have won just two of their past 13 away league games (D5 L6), scoring more than one goal in just two of those matches.

• Norwich's Josh Sargent has been involved in 13 goals in his last 12 starts in the Championship, scoring nine and assisting four.