Blackburn Rovers are set to host Norwich City in a crucial Championship encounter at Ewood Park, a match that has garnered significant attention and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Scheduled for Saturday, 1 March, with kick-off at 12:30pm, this fixture promises to be a compelling contest between two teams eager to secure vital points.
Currently, Norwich City find themselves in 11th place in the Championship table, five points shy of the play-off positions. As they prepare to face Watford in their next outing, the Canaries will be keen to build momentum. Earlier this season, the two sides met at Carrow Road, where they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Goals from Ryan Hedges and Yuki Ohashi highlighted the attacking capabilities of both teams, setting the stage for what could be another thrilling encounter.
The last meeting at Ewood Park also ended in a draw, with Dom Hyam equalising after Marcelino Núñez had given Norwich the lead. However, Blackburn's last victory over the Canaries came in November 2023, when Sam Szmodics scored twice and Tyrhys Dolan added another, although the match was overshadowed by Scott Wharton’s red card in the second half.
In the lead-up to this match, Blackburn's head coach, John Eustace, has been in the headlines for less favourable reasons. He has been fined £4,000 and issued a warning by the Football Association (FA) for "misconduct" following his comments after Rovers’ 1-1 draw against Leeds United on New Year’s Day. In that match, a late equaliser from Danny Batth salvaged a point for Blackburn after Pascal Struijk converted a controversial penalty for the home side. The decision, which saw Dom Hyam penalised for a foul on Mateo Joseph, sparked considerable debate.
Eustace described the penalty as ‘soft’, asserting that had the roles been reversed, Rovers would not have received a similar decision. The FA's statement clarified that Eustace's comments suggested bias and questioned the integrity of the match official, which are deemed contrary to the best interests of the game. Following an independent Regulatory Commission hearing, Eustace accepted the charge, leading to the imposed sanctions.
As Blackburn Rovers prepare for this pivotal clash against Norwich City, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. Both teams will be looking to assert their dominance and secure crucial points in their respective campaigns. The stakes are high, and fans can expect an engaging contest at Ewood Park.