Rover and out

The 3-1 defeat - Watford's 19th of a wretched campaign - leaves them 11 points from safety with only four games remaining. The inevitable will be confirmed should the Hornets fail to beat Manchester City at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

The Hornets certainly bore all the hallmarks of a side heading for the Championship as Blackburn comprehensively won the battle of the two losing FA Cup semi-finalists at Ewood Park.

All the damage was done inside the opening 32 minutes, Blackburn scoring three times through Christopher Samba, Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy. Watford had made the score 2-1 when Douglas Rinaldi headed in his first goal of the Hornets on 22 minutes.

As if seeing his side's goals against tally increase to 11 in their last three away matches was not bad enough, Aidy Boothroyd's problems were compounded by injuries to Tommy Smith and James Chambers. In fact, Watford were virtually forced to play the last 15 minutes with ten men after Steve Kabba picked up a leg injury but had to soldier on as Watford had used all three subs.

Boothroyd made one change to the side beaten 4-1 by Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final. Rinaldi came in for James Chambers, who dropped to the bench. The Brazilian midfielder took his place on the left-hand side of midfield, Smith reverted to his favoured spot on the right flank while Hameur Bouazza was again asked to partner Tamas Priskin in attack.

Elsewhere, Richard Lee - on his return to the club where he spent last season on loan - dropped out of the 16 altogether while Dan Shittu earned a recall to the bench after missing out on Saturday.

Mark Hughes named the same side which pushed Chelsea all the way in Sunday's FA Cup tie at Old Trafford.

And it was Blackburn who overcame the disappointment of losing out at the semi-final stage the quickest, taking the lead after just seven minutes. A deep corner from David Bentley looped over Ben Foster, who mis-judged the flight of the ball, and was headed in by Samba. Question marks will be asked of Clarke Carlisle who failed to track the run of the Blackburn defender.

Three minutes later and Rovers were two goals to the good. Roberts latched onto a lofted through ball from Bentley, out-muscled and out-paced Carlisle before sliding the ball past Foster and into the far corner.

Only the agility of Foster prevented a third on 18 minutes, the England keeper saving at point-blank range from Roberts, who proved a real handful for Carlisle. Morten Gamst Pedersen tucked in the rebound but the effort was ruled out as the Norwegian had strayed into an offside position.

There was nothing wrong though, with the Hornets' opening goal of the night on 22 minutes. A move started by a lovely flick from Tamas Priskin ended with Rinaldi heading a Bouazza cross past Brad Friedel. It was a goal that came out of the blue and one that gave the visitors a lifeline.

The Hornets' hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow on 26 minutes when Smith was replaced after sustaining what looked like a hamstring injury. Chambers was the obvious replacement, and he took up the position he filled against Man United at Villa Park.

It was down the Watford left that Blackburn were causing problems and their third came courtesy of another assist from Bentley, the right winger who was in sparkling form.

The former Arsenal youngster turned Gavin Mahon inside out before whipping over a low cross that McCarthy dived to expertly head past Foster after getting in front of Jay DeMerit.

Foster was again called into action in first half injury-time, saving with his legs at the near post after a short-corner routine between Pedersen and McCarthy.

Boothroyd made one change at the break, strangely substituting Rinaldi, the goalscorer, and introducing Steve Kabba. Bouazza moved to the left-hand side.

Just four minutes of the second half had elapsed when Boothroyd was forced to make his third change of the match, Marlon King replacing Chambers who left the field on a stretcher. It was only King's second appearance since October.

Buoyed by the introduction of their talisman, Watford came within a whisker of pulling a goal back on 51 minutes, Kabba seeing a sizzling low drive saved by the finger tips of Friedel.

To their credit, Watford improved markedly in the second half, finally getting to grips with Bentley and Roberts and passing the ball as well as they have done at any stage this season.

Blackburn played like a side who knew the points were in the bag, taking their foot off the pedal but they should really have scored a fourth on 69 minutes. A swift counter-attack from a Watford corner resulted in Roberts teeing up McCarthy to pull the trigger from 16 yards out, but the South African skewed his shot wide.

King managed to find the target on 77 minutes but his header from a Bouazza free-kick was directed straight at Friedel. Either side of the American keeper and King would have been celebrating his first goal since returning from knee surgery.

Blackburn: Friedel; Emerton, Nelsen , Samba, Warnock; Bentley, Dunn, Mokoena, Gamst Pedersen; Roberts, McCarthy.

Subs: Gallagher for Pedersen, 75; Tugay for Duun, 78; Derbyshire for McCarthy, 80. Henchoz and Brown not used.

Watford: Foster; Mariappa, DeMerit, Carlisle, Stewart; Smith, Mahon , Francis, Rinaldi, Bouazza; Priskin. Subs: Chambers for Smith, 26; Kabba for Rinaldi 45; King for Chambers, 50. Shittu and Bangura not used.

Booked: Ref: C Foy Att: 16,035