Most pundits already had
The
There was certainly no shortage of spirit and commitment against Mark Hughes' side, a team that came into the game having scored ten goals in their previous three away outings, but for once
Brett Emerton's own goal gave the home side the breakthrough they needed and, after they had been pegged back by Benni McCarthy's leveller on the stroke of half-time, Jay DeMerit made the most of a decent spell of pressure following a second-half free-kick to score the decisive second.
But do not be surprised after this victory if the ever optimistic Boothroyd starts a petition at
After David Bentley had fired the game's first decent opening wide,
Adrian Mariappa found Tommy Smith in the inside-right channel, and the former
Hameur Bouazza and Francis, either side of a good opportunity for McCarthy, both had good chances to extend
The impressive Bentley latched on to a throw from the right and easily by-passed a couple of half-hearted challenges before sending over a cross which McCarthy superbly dispatched over Ben Foster with a looping header that went in off the underside of the bar.
Boosted by getting back on terms,
Rovers also suffered a blow when Robbie Savage was stretchered off following a clash with Al Bangura, but the visitors were made to pay for their profligacy after 70 minutes.
Jordan Stewart whipped in a free-kick from the right, Will Hoskins got the near post flick but the ball fizzed across the face of goal before a stretching Malky Mackay cleverly kept it in play and found Bouazza.
The Frenchmen sensing a wonderful opportunity then delivered an exquisite chip for DeMerit to flick wide of Friedel and inside the far post to send the majority in a sparse crowd of 13, 760 into raptures.
Watford should then have made the game safe when Stewart missed an excellent opportunity to present Hoskins with his first
That miss was almost punished when in-form Rovers substitute Matt Derbyshire headed a glorious chance over following a Bentley cross but it was not to be for Blackburn and a deserved three points was
Golden Boys man of the match: Jay DeMerit, replaced the unfortunate Dan Shittu but defended stoically and headed home the all important match winner!
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