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Sammie Szmodics helps Blackburn beat Derby to record biggest opening day win in 21 years

Sammie Szmodics helps Blackburn beat Derby 4-2, to record their biggest opening day win in 21 years to kick off the new Championship season.

Rovers and County went head to head at Ewood Park on Friday night, with Sammie Szmodics coming off the bench to score, Andreas Weimann and Yuki Ohashi also found the net on their debuts in a thumping victory.

Blackburn were ahead on 19 minutes, a brilliant run by Travis, with the ball then played wide to Brittain, who slipped in Gueye. The Senegalese striker played it across the box where it eventually came to Dolan, who slotting home the hosts first goal of the campaign.

The came the rush of goals, Derby equalised on 67 minutes, Nelson with his head, then on 72 minutes, Hayden Carter won the ball back in the Derby half, played a one-two with Travis to receive it in the box, chopped back onto his left and sent in a perfect cross for Weimann to nod in at the back stick to put Blackburn ahead again.

Five minutes later, Blackburn extended their lead to two goals, Brittain got down the right and received it back from Ohashi before finding the feet of Szmodics in the box, making no mistake.

On the break with full time approaching, Szmodics found Ohashi in space, waiting for Vickers to rush out before beautifully dinking it over him to open his account on his debut.

Wilson got Derby’s second of the game but it was too late for any kind of comeback. Blackburn came close to a fifth, Jackson sent the ball in from just outside the corner of the penalty box, it clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Blackburn: Pears, Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Rankin-Costello (Szmodics 65′), Travis, Tronstad, Hedges (Weimann 65′), Dolan (Batth 87′), Gueye (Ohashi 65′)

Subs: Sigurdsson, Szmodics, Hilton, Weimann, Batth, Markanday, Buckley, Ohashi, Vale

Derby: Vickers, Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Elder (Forsyth 86′), Osborn (Thompson 86′), Ozoh (Fornah 86′), Goudmijn (Adams 73′), Barkhuizen (Collins 66′), Jackson, Méndez-Laing

Subs: Forsyth, Bradley, Collins, Luthra, Thompson, Fornah, Nyambe, Adams, Brown

Attendance: 17,975 (3,715 away)

Blackburn’s John Eustace said post-match:

“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.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Sammie Szmodics helps Blackburn beat Derby 4-2 to record biggest opening day win in 21 years…

@jamieHinchcliff: Can’t stay at Blackburn he’s gotta get a prem move

@whittys11: Time to say match the asking price or fook off enough said!!

@JoshBoswell: You deserve the opportunity should it come Sammie. Your efforts won’t be forgotten by the fans.

@JoshJones10695: Good to see a player under contract making himself available even if they’re tempted by another move. Most players would refuse to play to force a move. Fair play to him.

@floody11: Just stay Sammie, Ipswich can’t love you like we do. Imagine getting promoted this season then you can have your dream of the prem 👀🤣

@Ian_G_Howarth: Surely, it would be more exciting to get Blackburn into the premiership than move to an average club and risk sitting on the bench. Reassess the situation in January. Bang more goals in and get bigger, better clubs than Ipswich come in — or, maybe win something & get promoted

@jmousis: Admirable professional, great attitude. But there’s always the cautionary tale of Bradley Dack and what happened to him right before he got his big move. Situation really needs sorting for the benefit of both the player and club. He deserves it.

@aidenwb02: Hoping he stays in this side we have a potential opportunity to go places!

@SimonJohnFish: I wasn’t expecting Szmodics to be involved, however the half hour he did play he was excellent. Apart from his customary goal, his commitment was top. It would be easy to go through the motions, and ensure no injury. He was closing down and tackling deep into injury time. 👏👍

@JackRourke15: That szmodics is a joke. People saying his goals a simple tap in, the awareness to pull off and be in that position is what every top attacker should be doing. Fantastic footballer

@roverseas: Who’d thunk it. Sam Szmodics getting minutes today an assist and a goal. I thought those days were over! Beyond happy. #Rovers

@JFbrfc: Genuinely believe after tonight Szmodics stays. Ipswich fucking about here and there, there’s something cooking here at Rovers and sammie wants to be part of it 🤍💙

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