Match overview: Ewood Park hosts an intriguing mismatch
Blackburn Rovers welcome Watford to Ewood Park on 24 January in a clash that looks far closer on the odds board than the league table suggests. On paper, Watford sit comfortably in seventh with 42 points and an uptick in form across January, while Blackburn linger in a relegation scrap at 22nd with just 28 points. The market has produced near-identical prices for home and away wins (2.68 each) with the draw at 3.10, but the snapshot of recent performances and team statistics paints a clearer picture of how this game might unfold.
Blackburn arrive with a worrying run of results: defeats against Swansea and Ipswich, a cup exit on penalties, and only one win in their last ten competitive outings. Their season numbers underline the problems — 25 goals scored and 36 conceded, and a home goals tally that has been underwhelming. Watford, by contrast, have been more robust in attack this campaign with 38 goals and have shown resilience in recent matches, collecting wins and grinding out a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth last time out. The previous meeting this season also went Watford’s way, a 1-0 success that gives them a psychological edge.
Watford’s shot metrics suggest they create more threatening opportunities (369 total shots, 126 on target) compared to Blackburn’s lower output (329 shots, 89 on target). Blackburn’s home trends, however, present one notable pattern: their games have a high rate of both-teams-to-score events when hosting opponents. That, combined with Watford’s tendency to find the net even away from home, sets a clear tactical expectation for this fixture.
How the game will likely play out and betting angle
Expect a cagey start but increasingly open phases as Blackburn try to force play and Watford look to exploit space on the counter. Blackburn’s defensive fragility and erratic form make them vulnerable to conceding, while Watford’s attacking numbers and momentum make them likelier to breach the home defence at least once. At the same time, Blackburn’s home BTTS profile suggests they are capable of carving out chances and getting on the scoresheet, especially against a Watford side that has dropped points but still carries offensive punch.
For bettors focused on timing and market selection, this contest is a textbook case for targeting goal markets rather than a straight 1X2 punt. If you want to refine when to act on goal markets, check out guidance on the right time to place bets on goal markets, which dovetails with viewing in-play windows when patterns emerge. And when managing stake decisions in a volatile fixture, remember to keep your head — advice on maintaining emotional control when placing bets is invaluable.
Final call: with Blackburn’s high BTTS rate at home and Watford’s consistent attacking output, the most sensible market here is on goals rather than a market that over-commits to a single winner.
Betting suggestion: Back Both Teams to Score — Yes.
