Blackburn Rovers Vs Bristol City: Robins come from behind to win 2-1 as Atkinson faces ankle scan
Bristol City edged a tense encounter at Ewood Park to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1, a result that halted Blackburn's recent momentum and leaves questions over Rob Atkinson's fitness. The match mattered for both clubs’ season trajectories: City secured three points that affect their playoff chase, while Blackburn — buoyed by a new-manager bounce — suffered what became their first defeat under Michael O'Neill.
Ewood Park: goals, chances and late pressure
The scoring sequence began when Yuki Ohashi gave Blackburn the lead, but Emil Riis and Scott Twine each struck to put Bristol City in front; Riis and Twine recorded their ninth league goals of the campaign. The game finished 2-1 after a frantic second half in which Blackburn mounted sustained pressure. Rovers produced 16 attempts, six on target, and forced a last-minute free-kick as five minutes of added time were signalled.
Radek Vítek produced important saves as City weathered the late surge. Opportunities in stoppage time included a deep Moussa Baradji effort that Vítek kept out and a moment when George Tanner made a crucial intervention to deny substitute Andri Gudjohnsen. Blackburn also saw Yuki Ohashi fail to convert a later chance, his strike skidding into the ground and wide from the centre of the box.
Substitutions shaped the closing stages: Max Bird came on for Tomi Horvat for City, while Oladapo Afolayan replaced Kristi Montgomery for Blackburn. Observers noted hopeful deliveries such as Morishita's that lacked the precision to break down City’s defence. Radio commentary, summarised with the assistance of AI and checked by a journalist, highlighted the swing in tempo from City’s control early on to Blackburn’s relentless second-half assault.
Gerhard Struber on Rob Atkinson's ankle and team performance
Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber said Rob Atkinson's ankle injury, which forced him off after lengthy treatment following a heavy challenge late in the first half, "looks not so good. " Atkinson did not return after the break and Neto Borges took his place on City’s left. Struber suggested Atkinson may have over-rolled his ankle and said a scan would likely follow the next day, adding he had "not such a big hope for the Friday game with him, at the moment. " He also referenced the club's broader injury woes, citing the situation with Rob Dickie.
Struber described himself as "really happy" with the overall display, noting the team showed two different sides: control in the opening 45 minutes and a resilient, combative approach as Blackburn pressed. He warned of Blackburn's aggression, intensity and vertical directness, praising his players for doing the hard work to secure three points.
Michael O'Neill, Blackburn's recent form and context
Blackburn’s encounter with City interrupted a run of positive results under Michael O'Neill. The Northern Ireland manager had overseen back-to-back wins on arrival at Ewood Park; earlier he marked his first home game in charge with a dramatic 95th-minute winner from Yuki Ohashi against Preston North End that moved Rovers five points clear of the relegation zone with 13 matches remaining. That late strike was part of a spell in which Blackburn scored four goals in the last 180 minutes of play, but the club’s season-long attacking return of 31 Championship goals remained the third-lowest in the division.
The managerial change last season saw Blackburn part ways with Valerien Ismael after a run of just 11 wins in nearly a year. O'Neill continues to balance his club role with responsibilities for the Northern Ireland national team.
Standings, recent results and what it means for Bristol City
City’s win ended a run without victory in two of their previous three Championship matches and, as a result, the club was reported to have climbed to eighth in the table while remaining four points shy of the playoff positions. Before the match, a preview published on 22 February 2026 and updated on 23 February 2026 noted Bristol City had been sitting 12th and described their form as erratic since the turn of the year.
The Robins had returned from a narrow 1-0 defeat in South Wales, undone by a Zan Vipotnik strike, and had faced Welsh opposition twice in less than a week without success. The preview also recorded that City had slipped into mid-table despite the playoff gap remaining at four points, and that consistency had eluded them since the New Year, including a damaging 5-0 home defeat earlier in the season.
Injuries, interventions and local coverage
The match produced several notable moments beyond the scoreline: a heavy Atkinson challenge and lengthy treatment, a fine stop from Vítek to deny late chances, and a strong defensive intervention from George Tanner. Former Sunderland and Bristol City midfielder Gary Owers contributed to radio commentary, praising attempts such as a "great attempt by Tommy Horvath" and highlighting the keeper's quality in keeping one effort out.
For supporters wanting regular updates, local coverage now offers a WhatsApp community delivering match coverage, team news, fixtures and analysis. Club and match developments will hinge on the scan for Atkinson and how both sides manage injuries and form in the run-in; what makes this notable is how a single substitution and a medical update can reshape immediate tactical choices and the short-term outlook for a playoff chase or survival fight.
