Blackburn Rovers surrendered a 2-0 lead at The Hawthorns on Saturday, 18 October, losing 3-2 to West Bromwich Albion after Felix Horn Myhre scored a 90th-minute winner, as the Lancashire Telegraph reported. The defeat, painful as it was, interrupted an otherwise encouraging week in which Rovers collected six points from three fixtures following the international break.
The broader story of Blackburn's season, according to BBC analysis published on 20 October, is one of genuine progress undermined by a recurring failure to protect winning positions. Thirteen points have slipped away from leads already this campaign, a figure that separates a comfortable side from one hovering in mid-table.
Gudjohnsen's brace evokes better memories
For twelve minutes at The Hawthorns, everything seemed to be falling into place. Andri Gudjohnsen, fit and full of confidence, produced two finishes that the BBC's columnist compared to Alan Shearer in his prime: the first a stunning strike from outside the penalty area, the second the kind of instinctive poacher's goal that no coaching manual can teach.
Gudjohnsen's switch to the number nine shirt during the summer has added to his appeal for supporters who appreciate a traditional centre-forward, and his form is arguably the most encouraging individual storyline at Ewood Park this season. Only seven teams in the division have scored more league goals than Rovers.
Why do Blackburn keep losing winning positions?
The defensive record tells the harder truth. Sixteen goals conceded in eleven games have slowed Blackburn's progress, and the pattern behind those concessions is strikingly consistent. In the matches against Wolves, Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Cardiff and West Brom, the opposition were repeatedly allowed too much time and space in central areas, either just inside or outside the penalty box, and they made Rovers pay each time.
The consequences are measurable. Rovers led away at Wolves and Portsmouth and had to settle for a point on both occasions. They were also in front against Sheffield United, QPR and now West Brom, and lost all three. As the BBC's analysis put it, thirteen points have slipped away from winning positions, a margin that would place Tony Mowbray's side materially higher in the table.
West Brom, it should be said, earned their victory. The BBC noted that the Baggies were brave and defiant after falling two behind, securing back-to-back wins for a third time this season, while Rovers' game management left much to be desired. The visitors had lost only two of their ten league games on the road before this fixture.
Mowbray's selection questions and a defensive reshuffle
Tony Mowbray has used both a back four and a back five this season, though his preferred system is clearly the former. Over the next fortnight, left-back Yuri Ribeiro and centre-back Scott Wharton are expected to push for starting places, increasing competition across a defensive unit that has looked vulnerable in transition.
Mowbray has never been reluctant to make difficult selection decisions and leave good players out, which the BBC's columnist identified as one of the realities of managing a competitive squad. Time will tell whom he judges best placed to make those starting spots their own.
The Morishima injury and the wider fitness picture
The late defeat carried a further cost. Ryoya Morishita, ever present so far this season, suffered an ankle injury and his run of appearances looks likely to end against Wrexham on Saturday. Should he be unavailable, five senior players would be sidelined, a figure that compares favourably with recent seasons but still limits Mowbray's options at a demanding moment.
Perspective: a bright start, not a crisis
There is a temptation, after a defeat of this kind, to reach for dramatic conclusions. The evidence does not support them. Six points from three games in a week, a potent attacking record, and a squad largely intact constitute a sound foundation. The disappointment lies not in the direction of travel but in the failure to convert promising positions into banked results.
If Rovers can address the structural weakness in central areas, the same discipline that has made them one of the division's more productive attacking sides could yet make them one of its more durable defensive ones. The visit of Wrexham on Saturday offers the immediate opportunity.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score between West Brom and Blackburn Rovers?
West Bromwich Albion won 3-2 at The Hawthorns on Saturday, 18 October, with Felix Horn Myhre scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute. Blackburn had led 2-0 through two goals from Andri Gudjohnsen.
How many points have Blackburn dropped from winning positions?
According to BBC analysis published on 20 October, Blackburn have let thirteen points slip from winning positions this season, including defeats after leading against Sheffield United, QPR and West Brom.
Who is injured for Blackburn Rovers?
Ryoya Morishita suffered an ankle injury in the West Brom defeat and is expected to miss the Wrexham match, which would end his ever-present record. If unavailable, he would become the fifth senior player currently sidelined.
When do Blackburn Rovers play next?
Blackburn Rovers host Wrexham on Saturday, 25 October, in their next Championship fixture.