Blackburn Rovers vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Derby County at Ewood Park on Friday night | Sammie Szmodics scores off the bench in opening-night victory
Saturday 10 August 2024 07:53, UK
Andi Weimann and Yuki Ohashi both notched debut goals as Blackburn opened their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 4-2 win over promoted Derby.
John Eustace's men were rewarded for their fast start as they took a 19th-minute lead through Tyrhys Dolan's close-range finish after a well-worked move.
Rovers were in control for the first half but Derby battled back after the break and Curtis Nelson's powerful header in the 67th minute levelled matters.
But the task facing the promoted Rams was laid bare by a triple Blackburn substitution just prior to the equaliser that saw Rovers introduce Weimann, Ohashi and Sammie Szmodics and that trio blew the visitors away with three goals in the space of 12 minutes.
First, Weimann headed home in the 72nd minute from close range against his former club after superb work from Hayden Carter.
Szmodics, who is being linked with a move to the Premier League, then confidently swept home four minutes later to make it 3-1 before turning provider for Ohashi to add a fourth with six minutes to go.
Kane Wilson headed a late consolation for Derby but this was a sobering reintroduction to the Championship after a two-year absence.
New Blackburn signing Makhtar Gueye fired across the face of goal early on but Rovers were in front following a flowing move that saw the Senegalese striker's low cross find Dolan six yards out and he rifled a first-time shot into the top corner.
After a disappointing first half, Derby came close to an equaliser early in the second when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's corner almost crept in but Aynsley Pears saved brilliantly.
Gueye missed another gilt-edged chance when he shot straight at Derby goalkeeper Josh Vickers in the 52nd minute and County took advantage when Mendez-Laing's centre was met by a thumping Nelson header that crashed into the roof of the net.
Parity lasted barely five minutes, though, as Weimann marked his debut with a goal that owed much to the calmness of Carter who, in an attacking position on the right, feigned to cross and sat two Derby players down before lifting the ball onto the head of the Austrian who nodded home unmarked from close range.
Blackburn made the game safe in the 76th minute after more good work down the right-hand side saw Callum Brittain's low cut-back find Szmodics 12 yards out and the sought-after forward made no mistake, sweeping the ball home with consummate ease.
The hosts were rampant at this point and broke away to score a fourth as Szmodics sent Ohashi clear and he sumptuously dinked the ball over Vickers.
A set-piece gave Derby a second goal in the 88th minute as Mendez-Laing's corner was headed in at the near post by the lively Wilson, but it did little to dampen the mood of the Blackburn faithful.
Blackburn's John Eustace:
"I thought the lads were excellent. We had four or five lads who hadn't played in pre-season.
"Derby are a physical team and were always going to pressure us. The character they showed was really pleasing."
On Szmodics and potential new signings...
"Listen, he's a special player When he's in those areas, there's only one place it is going to go. We knew bringing him on would raise the place, the fans love him.
"I just want good characters. I want to build something special and to do that, you have to keep your best players. That's the plan and hopefully we can bring three or four more quality players into the group."
Derby's Paul Warne:
"I thought we were ascending at 1-1. I come away knowing I have a good group, but you can't concede four and expect to come away with something. Their subs impacted the game, and I delayed mine because I thought we were on top.
"When I watch it back, I'll realise we were more laggy. I've apologised to the dressing room as I should've made changes. I was pleased with the lads to get another goal back and keep going, the character was flawless.
"We gave a good account of ourselves. We aren't 100 per cent match fit. I'm disappointed with the result and we need to address that quickly."
