Blackburn Rovers have played a significant role in shaping Joe Rothwell’s career, with 161 appearances over four years making them his defining club. Despite leaving as a free agent in 2022, the midfielder returned to Ewood Park on Saturday, only to be met with a less than welcoming reception from the locals who still hold a grudge over his departure.
As Rothwell faced generic boos and colorful insults from the crowd, chants of “You’re just a — Lewis Travis” echoed around the stadium. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Patrick Bamford caught up with his best friend Lewis Baker as they warmed up as substitutes for the match.
Ewood Park’s reputation for hosting large away followings was evident once again, with Leeds United bringing over 7,500 supporters to the game. However, this still wasn’t enough to satisfy the demand from West Yorkshire fans, as a couple of away supporters managed to sneak into the home end before being escorted out to the amusement of the home fans.
The game also saw back-up centre-backs Max Wober and James Debayo warming up with the starting XI due to an injury concern over Joe Rodon. Despite Rodon ultimately starting the match, Wober and Debayo were ready to step in if needed.
In a rare post-match altercation, Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis was involved in a heated argument with United manager Daniel Farke before the two eventually settled their differences with an embrace. This unexpected confrontation added an interesting twist to an already eventful match at Ewood Park.
