Watford are currently drawing 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers after a positive start diminished into a disappointing first-half display from the Hornets.

The Golden Boys made four changes to their starting XI as Tommie Hoban and Joel Ekstrand joined Gabriele Angella in the back three, which resulted in Marco Cassetti moving to right wing back. Sean Murray and Alexander Merkel also started in midfield. Essaid Belkalem, Davide Faraoni, Cristian Battocchio and Lewis McGugan made way.

Blackburn Rovers started superbly and Craig Conway forced Manuel Almunia into a good save inside the opening 15 seconds.

But it was the Hornets who took the lead on four minutes when Daniel Pudil’s throw-in was lifted into the box by Merkel and Cassetti volleyed into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Blackburn carried a threat going forward and almost equalised moments later when Rudy Gestede was through but Almunia saved well when one-on-one.

Rovers made it 1-1 midway through the half when Almunia came to punch a free-kick, didn’t make it and the defender’s header went to David Dunn who volleyed into the empty net.

Watford had created openings and enjoyed a few nice passages of play early on but then the match became scrappy and both teams struggled to retain the ball.

Blackburn had the ball in the net just before half-time but the whistle had blown for a foul on Almunia.

And in injury-time, the Hornets keeper had to save a Matt Kilgallon header from a corner.

Watford line-up: Almunia; Hoban, Angella, Ekstrand; Cassetti, Murray, Tozser, Merkel, Pudil; Deeney, Anya.

Subs: Bond, Battocchio, McGugan, Doyley, Faraoni, Diakite, Neill.

Blackburn line-up: Robinson; Kane, Kilgallon, Keane, Spurr; Evans, Williamson, Dunn, Conway; Rhodes, Gestede.

Subs: Eastwood, Hanley, Olsson, Varney, Taylor, Feeney, Dabo.

Follow the second-half action here.