Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction
Follow live coverage as Southampton face Blackburn Rovers in the Championship today.
An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.
Last year Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the top flight and all are hopeful of making a quick return - but the likes of Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland all have real promotion ambitions too.
At the other end of the table, QPR, Cardiff City and Birmingham City will hope for better campaigns than last year’s relegation struggle - while newcomers Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to survive after dramatic progress through the play-offs.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Southampton FC 4 - 0 Blackburn Rovers FC
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
17:01
Match ends, Southampton 4, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
17:01
Second Half ends, Southampton 4, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
17:01
Hayden Carter (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
17:00
Goal! Southampton 4, Blackburn Rovers 0. Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
17:00
Attempt saved. Will Smallbone (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:57
Goal! Southampton 3, Blackburn Rovers 0. Sékou Mara (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:54
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Lewis Travis.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:52
Attempt missed. Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton) header from the centre of the box following a corner.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:52
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Leopold Wahlstedt.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:52
Attempt saved. Ryan Fraser (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:51
Foul by Jack Stephens (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:51
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Arnór Sigurdsson.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:51
Shea Charles (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:48
Penalty missed. Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton) right footed shot is just a bit too high.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:48
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:48
Delay in match because of an injury Sékou Mara (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:45
Penalty Southampton. Sékou Mara draws a foul in the penalty area.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:43
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Shea Charles.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:42
Attempt missed. Joe Aribo (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:42
Attempt saved. Sékou Mara (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Carlos Alcaraz with a through ball.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:37
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:37
Substitution, Southampton. Sékou Mara replaces Adam Armstrong.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:37
Substitution, Southampton. Carlos Alcaraz replaces Stuart Armstrong.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:36
Joe Aribo (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:36
Attempt blocked. Jan Bednarek (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Fraser.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:36
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Harry Leonard.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:33
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Harry Leonard.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:32
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Lewis Travis replaces Adam Wharton.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:28
Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:28
Joe Aribo (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:28
Will Smallbone (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:28
Foul by Will Smallbone (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:28
Substitution, Southampton. Jack Stephens replaces Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:26
Substitution, Southampton. Shea Charles replaces Flynn Downes.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:26
Substitution, Southampton. Ryan Fraser replaces Samuel Edozie.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:25
Goal! Southampton 2, Blackburn Rovers 0. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Flynn Downes.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:24
Attempt saved. Harry Leonard (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Hill.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:22
Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:21
Offside, Southampton. Adam Armstrong is caught offside.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:19
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Harry Leonard replaces Sondre Tronstad.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:19
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Jake Garrett replaces Andrew Moran.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:18
Foul by Will Smallbone (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:18
Second yellow card to Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:15
Samuel Edozie (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:12
Attempt saved. Andrew Moran (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:12
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Armstrong.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:08
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Leopold Wahlstedt.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:08
Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
16:06
Second Half begins Southampton 1, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:51
First Half ends, Southampton 1, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:47
Goal! Southampton 1, Blackburn Rovers 0. Samuel Edozie (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range following a corner.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:46
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by James Hill.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:45
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:43
Foul by Joe Aribo (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:43
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Hayden Carter.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:49
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Sondre Tronstad.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:40
Attempt blocked. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:40
Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:39
Flynn Downes (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:40
Attempt saved. Will Smallbone (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:33
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:33
Delay in match because of an injury Leopold Wahlstedt (Blackburn Rovers).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:31
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Leopold Wahlstedt.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:33
Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:29
Foul by Adam Wharton (Blackburn Rovers).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:28
Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:28
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:27
Attempt saved. Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:27
Attempt saved. Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:25
Foul by Flynn Downes (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:21
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:19
Foul by James Bree (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:19
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by James Hill.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:19
Attempt saved. James Bree (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:17
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Flynn Downes.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:16
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Andrew Moran.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:14
Attempt missed. Will Smallbone (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Adam Armstrong with a headed pass.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:12
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Hayden Carter.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:13
Attempt blocked. Joe Aribo (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Bree with a cross.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:12
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Sondre Tronstad.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:12
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Andrew Moran.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:11
Offside, Southampton. Samuel Edozie is caught offside.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:10
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:08
Foul by Flynn Downes (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:17
Attempt missed. Will Smallbone (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:07
Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Samuel Edozie.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:06
Samuel Edozie (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:06
James Hill (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:05
Foul by Adam Armstrong (Southampton).
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
15:02
First Half begins.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
14:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Southampton vs Blackburn Rovers
14:00
Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
Whether it's Premier League, Champions League, a European Championship or the World Cup we will keep you up to date with everything you need to know.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here.
