Lewis Miller scores for Blackburn Rovers against WatfordGetty Images

Lewis Miller (left) scored his second goal in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers since joining the club last summer

Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers fought back to earn a point against Watford, who lost ground on the Championship play-off places.

Having dominated the opening stages, Edo Kayembe drove home to give Watford the lead, but just two minutes later Blackburn hit back courtesy of Lewis Miller.

Substitute Giorgi Chakvetadze should have put the visitors back in front after the break when he was free at the back post, but he buried his effort from Othmane Maamma's cross high and wide.

The hosts pushed for a late winner, first through Sondre Tronstad's blocked shot, Yuki Ohashi's saved effort from close range, and another close-range strike from Tronstad, but they could not find a way through for what would have been a valuable three points.

Valerien Ismael's Blackburn are now level on points with 22nd-placed Portsmouth albeit having played two games more, while Watford hover outside the play-offs in eighth off the back of Wrexham's comeback win at Queens Park Rangers.

The game took place at a mostly empty Ewood Park, as Blackburn's supporters began a boycott of home fixtures in protest against owners Venky's.

Earlier in the week, Rovers told BBC Radio Lancashire that they urged supporters to "show unity" despite the strength of feeling against their position.

For the home fans that were in attendance, it was a difficult opening 26 minutes as Watford played on the front foot, and took the lead through Kayembe's left-footed strike as a result of their seventh corner kick.

Yet that lead did not last for long as Blackburn also prospered from a corner kick, this time as Todd Cantwell's swinging set-piece was met by the onrushing Miller, who finished past visiting keeper Egil Selvik.

There was a short break in play before half-time as Watford's Rocco Vata, who had a spell out earlier this season due to a hamstring injury, was forced off.

Blackburn came into the match off the back of losing to Swansea in midweek, a match where they were without 13 players, as Ismael gave first senior starts to midfielder Brandon Powell, forward Aodhan Doherty and defender Connor O'Riordan.

His side finished stronger than they started, with Ohashi's late effort coming narrowly close to giving them what would have been an enormous three points, but in the end the result did few favours for either side in their respective aims for the season.

'A step in the right direction' - reaction

Blackburn Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It was a great game, the main message is we got five players back in the squad and more options on the bench.

"It has given us more possibilities, flexibility and energy - we are pleased with the performance but not the result.

"It's a step in the right direction to show you have to compete with your best players, and with at least half of the injured players back it will help us to compete.

"We were on the front foot and close to winning the game - we feel another energy on the pitch, and when we are able to keep our players together and build our momentum we will be much better."

'Pleased with the performance, not with the result' - Ismael

Watford boss Javi Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We came looking for the three points, but after competing well, we only take one, and we start thinking about the next game.

"After scoring and dominating, it was a shame to concede so early and from a corner.

"It is something we have to learn because if they don't score in that moment we can manage the game better.

"In the second half we competed well, the game was more open and we had the better chances."

Gracia: 'In the second half we competed well'

Player of the match

J. Abankwah
8.40
12 L. Miller
7.58
26 C. O'Riordan
7.30
28 A. Forshaw
7.18
47 A. Doherty
6.67
22 B. Tóth
6.46
6 S. Tronstad
6.14
23 Y. Ohashi
6.08
20 E. Cashin
6.00
25 R. Morishita
6.00
10 T. Cantwell
5.91
29 M. Jørgensen
5.89
15 S. McLoughlin
5.58
24 M. Baradji
5.45
14 D. De Neve
5.42
2 R. Alebiosu
5.10
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After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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