The 2016-17 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Blackburn Rovers as the former Premier League champions finished a devastating 22nd in the Championship, condemning them to League One for the first time in 37 years. The season, marked by managerial upheaval that saw Tony Mowbray replace, the universally unpopular, Owen Coyle, was defined by final-day agony. Despite a 3-1 victory away at Brentford, including a stunning free-kick from Charlie Mulgrew, results elsewhere sealed their relegation by the slimmest of margins. Leading the attack was the experienced striker Danny Graham, whose 12 goals across all competitions were a crucial, albeit ultimately futile, contribution to a campaign built on struggle.