Blackburn Rovers face a significant Championship challenge this week as they host Queens Park Rangers at Ewood Park. Tony Mowbray's side will aim to continue their positive early season form against a team that has enjoyed recent success on this ground.
How have Blackburn Rovers started the season?
Blackburn Rovers have collected four points from their opening two fixtures of the new campaign. They began with a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux stadium. The team followed that up with a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, a result achieved despite having only 29% possession. This demonstrates a resilient defensive structure and a potent counter-attacking threat, qualities that were perhaps underestimated before the season began. Many observers had tipped Blackburn to struggle, but these early performances suggest a different story. The club finished 20th in the Championship last season with 52 points from 46 games, recording 13 wins, 13 draws, and 20 losses. Their final run of form was LWDLD.
What is the recent history against QPR?
The recent history between Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers is remarkably one-sided in terms of results. None of the last 17 league meetings between the two clubs have ended in a draw. QPR have won two of their last three league visits to Ewood Park. They secured a 2-1 victory in February 2024, a match notable for Joe Hodge scoring on his debut. Another 2-1 win came in November of a previous season, sealed by a late header from Paul Smyth. Blackburn's most recent home win in this fixture was a 2-0 triumph in a game where QPR's Jonathan Varane was sent off. Before this recent spell of away success, QPR had managed only two wins in their previous 18 league trips to Ewood Park.
What challenges does the Ewood Park pitch present?
The physical dimensions of the playing surface at Ewood Park could play a key role in the tactical battle. QPR manager Julien Stephan has specifically highlighted the 'huge' Ewood Park surface as a different challenge. He noted that the additional space provides both 'bigger space to defend and to attack'. This assessment, reported by Vital Football, suggests the wide areas and transitions will be critical. For a Blackburn side that has shown it can be effective without dominating the ball, the large pitch may suit their counter-attacking approach. It places a premium on defensive organisation and fitness for both teams over the ninety minutes.
What is the current squad situation for Blackburn?
Blackburn Rovers head into this period with several players currently sidelined. The unavailable list includes Lewis Miller, Mathias Jørgensen, and Yuki Ohashi. Their absences will test the depth of Mowbray's squad as the fixture list begins to intensify. Supporters can check the latest availability updates on the club's injuries page. Last season, the team conceded 56 goals while scoring 42, resulting in a -14 goal difference. They finished a considerable 43 points behind league champions Coventry City, underlining the scale of the challenge in the division. The next fixture after QPR is an away trip to face Lincoln on September 1st, 2026.
This match represents an early opportunity for Blackburn Rovers to build momentum. A positive result against a team with a good recent record at Ewood would reinforce the encouraging signs from the first two games. The focus will be on maintaining defensive solidity and exploiting the spaces on the large pitch. Fans can follow the team's progress throughout the season via the official standings and fixtures pages.
