Blackburn Rovers' relegation rivals, Watford, have appointed former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley as their interim manager for the remainder of the season.

The Hornets sacked Valerien Ismael on Saturday night after a 2-1 home defeat to Coventry City. That was their ninth game at home without a win, a run stretching back to November 28.

Pressure had been mounting on the former West Brom and Barnsley coach, who lasted longer than most in the Vicarage Road dug out. Lasting 41 games feels like it should be some sort of club record by their recent standards.

Watford had won just once in their last 12 games and so Ismael is the latest Watford boss to get the boot. They've installed Cleverley, who had been coaching their Under-18 side after his retirement from playing last year.

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The Hornets currently reside in 13th in the Championship table but are only seven points above the relegation zone. They have one of the toughest run-ins, on paper, with eight of their remaining nine games against teams in the top half of the table.

Considering the rate at which teams at the bottom have collected points in the last few weeks, it is not inconceivable that Watford could get dragged into the battle to stay up.

Birmingham City, their only bottom-half opponents, will be Cleverley's first game this weekend, with Leeds United and West Brom to follow after the international break.