In a Christmas carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is famously confronted by three ghosts. 

The Ghost of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. Well, for Blackburn Rovers, two of those are proving to be the same thing.

Last season, missed chances were their Achilles heel as they missed out on the play-offs via goal difference. This season, they have fallen foul of the same shortcomings.

That was once again their undoing against Watford, as they let a hard-earned three points slip between their fingers. 

READ MORE: JDT highlights referee error against Watford

Whether the Ghost of Christmas future can bring any sort of redemption, remains to be seen. But for now, their present and past are equally as haunting.

It should've been an afternoon for festive cheer and goodwill in the final game before Saint Nicholas comes down the chimney. Instead of gold, frankincense or myrrh, Rovers were left with coal in their stocking.

For 75 minutes, they were the better team. After their drubbing at Southampton, it was a very impressive performance.

Watford are no mugs. They beat up Preston North End just a few miles away last weekend and had collected 21 points from their last 11 games. That's now 24, averaging at two points per game, which is roughly automatic promotion from, over the last two months.

Rovers pressed high, forced mistakes and even got their noses in front early doors. It was a lovely move, started by Scott Wharton, who was again very impressive, and finished by Adam Wharton. That was the start of what would be his best performance of the season, now somewhat overshadowed.

Undoubtedly, Ben Hamer should have done better than allowing a fierce but speculative shot in at the near post. Wharton didn't care and rightly so as he pulled on the badge in front of the Blackburn End.

They created plenty of chances to match their endeavour. Arnor Sigurdsson was foiled by Hamer, as was Jake Garrett in the second half with a curling effort. The midfielder should've done better seconds after the interval too but turned the ball wide inside the box.

A patched up, homegrown Rovers team were working their nuts off but didn't put the game to bed. They'd looked solid, reinforced by Dom Hyam's return, but Watford had looked dangerous without penetrating the defence.

Vakoun Bayo got the first glimpse of goal but Leopold Wahlstedt was equal to it in what was the first save he'd had to make. That was the Hornets' only real opportunity whilst Rovers continued to throw more away.

Harry Leonard slipped through Wharton, who tried to touch it around the goalkeeper but was denied. The rebound fell to Hayden Carter, who dragged the shot into a cross but it was still almost touched in. Whilst this was happening, the happy music was starting to change tone.

Those at Ewood Park have watched Blackburn Rovers, or more specifically this Rovers team, to know what comes next. It's like Jaws, you can hear the music but you're waiting for the danger to appear.

Sure enough, it arrived. This young side had already conceded 16 Championship goals in the final 15 minutes of matches before Watford, that's now 18 and the worst record, comfortably, in the league.

What does it come down to? The age of the squad can't be ignored. When last season they might have chucked on Daniel Ayala, the defensive options were James Hill, Pat Gamble and Leo Duru. 

Hill was, of course, already on at this point, with Hyam asking to come off. It was always unlikely he'd last the 90 minutes and there is no scenario where risking another injury lay-off would be worth it.

Without their vice-captain, though, it was another leader down. When the equaliser did go in, you could see how dejected the players were, having put in such an effort to keep Watford at arm's length.

The second goal is an individual error. Leopold Wahlstedt was having a fine game until the last 10. Could've he have pushed Yaser Aprilla's shot wider? Possibly.

But there is no debate that his punch was not good enough for the second. It barely cleared the box and allowed Edo Kayembe to rifle in another shot through a crowd of bodies. It was an early Christmas present for Rhys Healey.

It feels like Wahlstedt is making improvements with how he commands his box but it is three steps forward and two back. He'd dealt with the aerial threats with no fuss for 80 minutes. Then he gives a goal away, as he did at Southampton. It's frustrating because other parts of his game are excellent; he's a fine shot-stopper and his short distribution is impressive.

What's impossible to ignore is that three of Watford's substitutes were directly involved in the turnaround. Asprilla's shot, Mileta Rajovic's finish and then the same for Healey. Watford's substitutes made them better, even at right-back where Ryan Andrews added pace and energy at half-time.

Rovers, by contrast, were weakened. Niall Ennis for Harry Leonard is par for the course, though the former does again have more experience. Hill for Hyam is again not strengthening the side, as impressive as the Bournemouth loanee has been.

The fact a third change didn't arrive until the 90th minute, Dilan Markanday for Andrew Moran, shows where the squad is at. Lacking in experience and depth.

So, yes, Rovers were their worst enemy. Could they have defended better? Of course. But when you consider the fine margins that will dictate the top-six rat race, the average of their bench and the lack of ruthlessness is a deciding factor.

At half-time, Rovers were eighth. At full-time, they're 14th, in the bottom half.

There were positives, as mentioned. Blackburn were impressive for 75 minutes. The two Whartons were outstanding, with Adam producing his best performance of the season.

The teenager was the best player on the pitch and sustained his high levels for 90 minutes. He dictated the game and, playing higher up, was a goal threat too.

Defensively, they looked assured despite being patched up. Lewis Travis was impressive at left-back, particularly in the first half. Hyam and Wharton were rock-solid. 

So, back to the drawing board. It was not the way Tomasson wanted to sign off at Ewood Park for 2023 but trips to Yorkshire might bear more positives. You'd like to think a similar level of performance will bring a better result on Boxing Day.