Tony Mowbray's worrying Blackburn Rovers claim after what he saw v Huddersfield & Blackpool | OneFootball

Tony Mowbray wants his side to create a

Tony Mowbray wants his Blackburn Rovers outfit to create more of a "mismatch" against sides in the Championship this season, but admits that his team isn't at that level just yet.

Not many know what to expect from Blackburn in the upcoming campaign. Rovers have flip-flopped between seventh-placed finishes and relegation battles in the last four years.

Last season saw them finish just five points clear of the drop, due mainly in part to a strong ending to the year under interim boss Michael O'Neill, who oversaw a top-half record in the 15 games he took charge.

So, this Blackburn side has shown they can put any relegation worries behind them, and with beloved former boss Tony Mowbray back in charge, there's some hope that the 2026/27 campaign can have a few more ups than downs.

Tony Mowbray outlines what he wants from Blackburn Rovers this season

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All in all, it's not been a bad first pre-season back for Tony Mowbray as Blackburn boss. Rovers lost just one of their six games, against Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest.

But there were arguably a few too many draws against sides who play further down the EFL, including League Two side Accrington Stanley and third-tier outfits Blackpool and Huddersfield Town, who were the final two tests ahead of their EFL Cup matchup with Burton Albion on Friday.

Blackburn had to come from behind to draw with Huddersfield last Saturday, and Mowbray wasn't too pleased with the performances, outlining that he wants his side to be much more dominant against League One sides if they stand a chance at having a good Championship campaign.

"I'm trying to hold back from saying it was really great today [vs Huddersfield] because it wasn't really great," he said, per the Lancashire Telegraph. "We want to come and try to beat Huddersfield if we are going to make an impact in the Championship.

"There were spells. I thought there was a 20-minute spell here, then a bad 10 minutes, then another five where we were good. We need to string longer periods of domination together.

"I want to come to Huddersfield, Accrington and Blackpool, and it be a mismatch, really. At this moment in time, it's not a mismatch, but I hope that somewhere down the line it will be.

"When I say mismatch, I mean all 22 pros on the pitch working hard and competing, but 11 of them with the blue and white shirt on have just got a bit too much nous, a bit too much knowledge, a bit too much desire than the other team. Hopefully, we can keep trying to instil that and drop it into them bit by bit."

Tony Mowbray credits Blackburn Rovers' work ethic in pre-season draw

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While Tony Mowbray can demand more from his side in terms of asserting their dominance more effectively against lower league opposition, what he can't ask more of is the work ethic from the team.

The Blackburn boss admitted that there's an importance in combining the steel and determination that you need to open up opportunities to show class and finesse, and he hopes that the latter will be built on as the season begins.

"You are in a fight when you come to Huddersfield and Barnsley and these teams," Mowbray continued.

"If you think you are just going to come and pass them off the pitch, you are mistaken, I think. So you have to tackle. You have to win your duels. You have to fight. But then I'm hoping, as we move forward, we will be better with the ball than these teams.

"I've just been talking about mindset in the dressing room to them because I can't question their desire. They're all exhausted in there. You can see the sweat on the shirts. I can't question their desire."

Blackburn Rovers may struggle to impose themselves this season with the same squad as last year

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It's been a very quiet transfer window thus far at Ewood Park, both when it comes to outgoings and incomings.

Last year, there was a massive squad turnover, as players who excelled under John Eustace moved on, some of whom to Eustace's new Derby County side. But this year, other than Sondre Tronstad, Ryan Hedges and Taylor Gardner-Hickman, there haven't been many key departures thus far.

On the flip side, though, Jayden Fevrier is the only new addition to Tony Mowbray's squad, with the EFL Cup opener just two days away.

While the current squad showed last year that they could pick up enough points to avoid a relegation battle under Michael O'Neill, they did so mainly by having strong defensive foundations, rather than dominating opponents.

Only Birmingham City, Leicester City, Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday scored fewer goals than Blackburn did under O'Neill. Players are back off the injury list since then, and the natural progression of the likes of Ryan Alebiosu and Andri Gudjohnsen, as well as the emergence of Jake Garrett, could be helpful.

But right now, there's not much to suggest that this Blackburn side can create that "mismatch" that Mowbray wants over fellow Championship sides. Quality signings between now and September 1 would definitely help.