It has been more than 14 years since Watford secured a victory at Blackburn’s Ewood Park. The Hornets will travel to Lancashire tomorrow hoping to change that.

It was back on September 12, 2000, that Watford last left Blackburn with all three points. Three more trips have followed and the Hornets have come back empty handed.

Watford have hardly had the ideal preparation for this fixture. Head coach Oscar Garcia has been absent as he recovers from chest pains he suffered on Sunday, September 14.

That has meant assistant coaches Ruben Martinez and Javier Pereira have been taking charge of training and of the side for the last two matches.

The duo have overseen a victory against Blackpool and a draw with Bournemouth. The Hornets certainly weren’t at their best in either game and Martinez was asked yesterday whether changes could be made to the Watford side for the clash with Blackburn.

He said: “Maybe, yes. In any game you have to improve different things because we play against different teams. Maybe there will be a few changes.”

One change will be enforced. Gabriel Tamas, who started against Bournemouth, will miss the game with a serious knee problem. Troy Deeney is out with a hamstring injury while Keith Andrews is sidelined with a calf problem (see back Page for full injury news).

Oscar’s side have been inconsistent on their travels this season. Two wins against Rotherham United and Blackpool have come either side of defeats to Norwich City and Charlton Athletic.

Against the Addicks, Watford had the majority of possession, created several chances and still ended up beaten.

It’s unsurprising, as both Oscar and Martinez were schooled at Barcelona, that the duo focus on possession-based football.

But the Hornets assistant does admit that it becomes irrelevant if chances are not taken when they are created.

He explained: “Football is not only about possession, the team that scores the most goals win the game.

“It doesn’t matter if you have 70 per cent possession and the other team has 30 per cent, if they score one goal more then you lose the game.

“Our idea is that if you have possession then the other team doesn’t and they can’t have chances.

“It is clear that we want to have the ball and to score. In the last two games we have had chances to score but have only scored one goal in each game.

“But I would be worried if our team didn’t have chances to score. In the last three matches we have had 15 or 16 chances to score.”

Blackburn sit tenth in the Championship table and have 13 points from their eight matches. Martinez says Rovers are a physical team with two very good strikers in Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede and also highlighted the danger of winger Craig Conway – a one-time Hornets target.

The trip to Blackburn starts a busy week for the Golden Boys, who welcome Brentford to Vicarage Road next Tuesday and then host Brighton & Hove Albion the following Saturday.

Martinez has hinted rotation may take place but added wholesale changes to the Watford side are unlikely.

“I have in my mind an idea and there may be a few rotations. I can tell you that 100 per cent,” he explained.

“We do not like to change a lot, only specific things. The Championship is a big competition and there are to many games.

“We have a very good and big squad so we can make changes to give a few players a rest for different reasons. I can tell you our idea is to make a few rotations.”