Blackburn Rovers vs Sheffield United

S24SU · OFFICIAL MATCHDAY EDITION · 2026/27 · No.4

24nd August 2026 - Kick-off 19:45
Blackburn Rovers v. Sheffield United
Carabao Cup Round 2 - Ewood Park, Blackburn

Carabao Cup Round 2 – Tuesday 24 August 2026, 19:45 – Ewood Park, Blackburn
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Match Info

Competition: Carabao Cup, Round 2

Kick-off: Tuesday 24 August 2026, 19:45

Venue: Ewood Park, Blackburn

Player Ratings: CLICK HERE (will open shortly after full time)

Officials

Referee: David Webb

Assistants: Paul Hodskinson and Thomas Cooke

Fourth Official: Sebastian Stockbridge

How to Watch

TV/Stream:

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Keep it on-topic and within the rules – see the forum rules if unsure.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Good to see the squad take a step forward together tonight. Not to get carried away, but some real positives against a much changed blackburn side who looked poor for lots of it.

Baptiste in his first start against championship opponents (right?) Looked good, strong and unphased.

What i like about Donovan is he has that arrogance to keep going, keep trusting his ability, even when things dont work out. He will have games where things just dont come off but if we keep supporting him, I think we will get some really good moments from him this season.

Well taken goal from Cannon as well. Should have had a couple.

Bring on our next game and also the next round!

Baptiste started in the Cup against Cardiff 2 seasons ago, not sure if they were Champ or L1, but let’s hope we don’t have to wait that long for his next one.

 

[Boothy762]

OA was a real disappointment for me. Poor on the goal, lax in possession, not going in for stuff, out of position. Carried by Phillips really and not at all sure why (other than the obvious) he’s seemingly number 2 or 3 in pecking order. Would be back to the reserves for me!

Donovan sharp and fun, McCallum just does everything right, Rothwell looking leaner and promising, and defence looked solid. RND threatened to maraud now and again, but seemed to loose heart and check back. Not quite back to old.

Overall, better than expected. B+

Only thing I agree on is poor on the goal. In possession hes brilliant, great passer of the ball. He also throws himself into challenges and in a var world their player would have been sent off for the challenge on him.
Hes getting back to his best with every minute he plays.

 

[RAP51]

Commentator mixes up McGuinness and Baptiste

Easy to do,they're both tall centre backs

 

[Blade56]

How's Philips doing

Increased intensity and distribution through MF. Could be a game changer if he gets fit and stays fit.
Wilder pushed him and a Donovan out for fans to applaud at end.

 

[Kendal]

Donovan looked a class above the rest. Loved the determination to track back after he lost the ball.
RND showed glimpses of the player he was becoming before his injury. Pace, some aggression and some lovely unexpected forward balls.
Marsh just looks a bit too lightweight. Tried things, but was easily knocked off the ball and ran out of room every time.
Don't get the Adam Davies hate. He's pretty steady. Your never going to get a top goalkeeper to be understudy. We were incredibly lucky with Kelly & Tracey.
The rest... Just better than Blackburn.
As for the ref, gives free kicks for them throwing themselves to the ground, yet nothing when they threw our players to the ground. Mind you, play to the whistle
Is Matalan Tracksuit Man pissyjogger's long lost cousin/brother/dad? (possibly all 3). And someone's in trouble with the wife when they get home, now their 5 year old lass has picked up terrace language

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Great win on the road!

Impressed with Phillips when he came on and RND took a trip down memory lane to previous greatness but Donovan really stood out, just oozing confidence and trickery.

Thought Campbell was cak, completely off the pace and seems to have invented the inverted jump but everyone else made up for this.

 

[Dkc]

Don't get the Adam Davies hate.

Because there isn't any. Decent bloke by all accounts. There's just a belief that there are better second choice keepers out there.

 

[SwissBlade]

Baptiste started in the Cup against Cardiff 2 seasons ago, not sure if they were Champ or L1, but let’s hope we don’t have to wait that long for his next one.

Thought Baptiste looked very comfortable in the side at times, a couple of panic moments but he did well, overall. He looked a unit on TV (I mentioned elsewhere that Phillips did too). I’d have no issues with him playing in the league. Him and McGuinness looked pretty chilled together.

Donovan looked a class above the rest. Loved the determination to track back after he lost the ball.
RND showed glimpses of the player he was becoming before his injury. Pace, some aggression and some lovely unexpected forward balls.
Marsh just looks a bit too lightweight. Tried things, but was easily knocked off the ball and ran out of room every time.
Don't get the Adam Davies hate. He's pretty steady. Your never going to get a top goalkeeper to be understudy. We were incredibly lucky with Kelly & Tracey.
The rest... Just better than Blackburn.
As for the ref, gives free kicks for them throwing themselves to the ground, yet nothing when they threw our players to the ground. Mind you, play to the whistle
Is Matalan Tracksuit Man pissyjogger's long lost cousin/brother/dad? (possibly all 3). And someone's in trouble with the wife when they get home, now their 5 year old lass has picked up terrace language

Donovan was clear MoM last night and looked very good down the right, the left needs solving as Marsh wasn’t the answer and I don’t think that’s a natural fit for O’Hare in this set up either

We looked solid and composed throughout the team and the changes were mostly like for likes, improving us as the game went on

On Davies, I think because he plays so rarely he’s just not up to speed, he also comes in when we’re playing cup games with a weakened side. Looked alright last night but Cooper is a much more commanding keeper. You’re right about the Kelly / Tracey / Rees days.

One thing on Seriki. Looked like he went down with a knee injury and didn’t seem like he’d be coming back on with the ligament checks they were doing and pain he seemed to be in. Finished the game as we would’ve been down to 10, but hopefully it’s a knock rather than something more serious.

Someone needs to give him smaller shorts though, looked like a basketball player

 

[Jan Age]

I’m quick to come on here and knock them but I also praise them when it’s due.

Firstly wilder - tactics spot on for me last night attacked and looked to try and win the game - we got the ball forward a lot quicker than normal which is a big plus for me.

I thought the team played well and I enjoyed watching the game.

Baptiste looked really good and should take mcguiness’ place alongside JT for next game.

Donanvan was exceptional on and off the ball - just his desire to take players on , win the ball back etc was exceptional - should also start the next game.

Marsh - looked neat and tidy and positive - should be on the bench for the next game.

KP - looked quality when he came on.

Probably with my tin hat on - Arblaster needs a loan in league 1 - and I really like the lad - so that’s not meant as a negative - I honestly think it would hugely benefit him.

 

[Grey Blade]

Thought Cannon had possibly his best game for us. At the end when CW pushed Donovan forward for applause, he should have done the same for Cannon

 

[Chimpan-A]

I see we have a new scapegoat in Campbell, because Cannon ruined a few people’s night by scoring a beauty. I thought Campbell put in a decent shift, put himself about and got a lovely assist. Not perfect by any means but we got his longest shift in a while, and gave enough to show he can be a pain in the arse for defenders.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

 

[Goodpinchofclough]

Anyone know if this flag made it in? Stewards didn't seem too keen

 

[blader]

I see we have a new scapegoat in Campbell, because Cannon ruined a few people’s night by scoring a beauty. I thought Campbell put in a decent shift, put himself about and got a lovely assist. Not perfect by any means but we got his longest shift in a while, and gave enough to show he can be a pain in the arse for defenders.

I can’t help but feel the word ‘scapegoat’ has lost virtually all meaning.

Cannon isn’t a scapegoat, he’s just crap. Calling out Campbell for being rubbish isn’t scapegoating it’s just observing. And I loved Campbell in our playoff final season I really thought we had a gem but he just seems to have lost everything he had.

Just saying people aren’t playing well isn’t scapegoating, it’s just having an opinion. In my humble and honest opinion, ofcourse

 

[Chimpan-A]

I can’t help but feel the word ‘scapegoat’ has lost virtually all meaning.

Cannon isn’t a scapegoat, he’s just crap. Calling out Campbell for being rubbish isn’t scapegoating it’s just observing. And I loved Campbell in our playoff final season I really thought we had a gem but he just seems to have lost everything he had.

Just saying people aren’t playing well isn’t scapegoating, it’s just having an opinion. In my humble and honest opinion, ofcourse

Fair point, maybe scapegoat isn’t quite correct, as there is nothing to apportion blame for in this instance. But it seems we have to target someone for being rubbish, irrespective of the performance or result. There is a negative, “get rid”, undercurrent in a lot of the posts. Maybe I am misinterpreting some of them. I just think that Campbell’s performance and minutes was a positive last night, we don’t win that game without his contribution.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Enjoyed reading g all the comments, makes a great change to read and feel the excitement and enjoyment people have enjoyed.
I expect the management and players willfeel the same and it gives a huge kick to the confidence, suddenly everyone, well nearly everyone is looking forward to the next game, enjoy.
Y