Blackburn Rovers suffered a heavy 3-0 pre-season loss to Nottingham Forest in Portugal on Wednesday, with goals from Igor Jesus, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Taiwo Awoniyi sealing the Reds’ second consecutive friendly win.
What happened in Portugal?
Forest dominated possession and created the better chances, with Jesus opening the scoring in the 40th minute after a rebound fell kindly to him in the box. Kalimuendo doubled the lead just after the break, before Awoniyi finished off a flowing move to make it 3-0. Rovers, who sit 20th in the Championship with 52 points from 46 games and a goal difference of -14, had a few half-chances but rarely troubled Forest keeper Matz Sels.
Morgan Gibbs-White forced a save from Balazs Toth early on, while Ryoya Morishita tested Sels with a fierce strike midway through the first half. But Forest’s quality told as they extended their unbeaten pre-season run with a comfortable victory at Estadio da Nora.
Why it matters for Blackburn Rovers
Pre-season friendlies are often treated as mere warm-ups, but Forest’s performance under Oliver Glasner suggests they’re serious about pushing for a top-half finish. Rovers, meanwhile, will need to address their leaky defence-56 goals conceded this season-before the Championship campaign resumes.
The loss comes as Rovers prepare for a tough run of fixtures, sitting 43 points behind league leaders Coventry and with just three wins in their last five league games. A strong start to the new season is now vital if they’re to climb away from the relegation zone.
What comes next?
Glasner hinted at incoming business for Forest, with reports suggesting they’re closing in on Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande for around €40 million. Rovers, meanwhile, are expected to strengthen their squad after a summer of limited activity so far.
The Championship season is just around the corner, and Rovers will need to show far more resilience than they did in Portugal if they’re to avoid another battle against the drop. With 52 points from 46 games, they’re only six clear of the bottom three-and time is running out to turn things around.
League standing: 20th in Championship, 52 pts, 13W-13D-20L from 46 games, recent form LWDLD.
