Blackburn Rovers host Middlesbrough at Ewood Park this Saturday, August 22, 2026, for their first home fixture of the new Championship season. The 3 p.m. local time kickoff (10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT in the USA) sees Rovers looking to build on a solid start that has them sitting 6th in the table with four points from two games.
What are the Blackburn Rovers lineups?
Head coach John Eustace has made one change to the side that drew 2-2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 14. Sam Morsy makes his full debut for the club in midfield, coming into the starting eleven. The official lineup, as reported by Athlon Sports, sees Balazs Toth in goal behind a back four of Harry Pickering, Sean McLoughlin, Tom Atcheson, and Ryan Alebiosu. Kristi Montgomery, Morsy, and Todd Cantwell form the midfield trio, supporting forwards Oladapo Afolayan, Andri Gudjohnsen, and Ryoya Morishita. Mathias Jorgensen also returns to the squad, providing defensive cover from the bench.
How can fans watch the match?
For supporters in the United States, the match will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Golazo Network. It is also available for streaming via the Paramount+ US platform. Unfortunately, the game is not scheduled for live television broadcast in the United Kingdom, meaning domestic fans will need to follow via radio or official club digital channels. This early-season clash offers American viewers a chance to see Rovers' new signings in action at a historic venue.
What was the result of the last match?
Blackburn Rovers began their campaign with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sean McLoughlin and Andri Gudjohnsen found the net for Rovers in that entertaining encounter. Gudjohnsen's goal was his second of the young season, making him the team's current top scorer. The point on the road was a positive start, contributing to their current goal difference of +1, with four scored and three conceded overall. You can track the team's offensive output on our stats page.
What is the recent history against Middlesbrough?
The recent meetings between these two sides have been incredibly tight. Last season in the Championship, both fixtures ended in draws. The most recent clash at Ewood Park finished in a goalless stalemate. Rovers will be hoping to turn one of those draws into a win this time around, especially with the boost of a home crowd for the first time this term. A victory could see them close the gap to just two points behind early leaders Millwall.
What comes next for Blackburn Rovers?
Following this fixture, the schedule remains busy. Rovers are back at Ewood Park just a week later to face Queens Park Rangers on August 29. QPR currently sit 5th in the table, setting up another challenging encounter. The team's early form, marked by a win and a draw (WD), provides a platform. Managing the squad and integrating new players like Morsy will be important during this congested period. Fans can look ahead to all upcoming matches on our fixtures list and monitor the evolving standings as the season takes shape.
