Blackburn Rovers kicked off their Sky Bet Championship campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over promoted Derby County at Ewood Park. The match featured notable performances, including debut goals from Andi Weimann and Yuki Ohashi, as well as a standout effort from Sammie Szmodics.
The hosts made a fast start, taking the lead in the 19th minute with Tyrhys Dolan’s close-range finish following a well-executed team move. Blackburn maintained control throughout the first half, but after the break, Derby began to fight back, leveling the score in the 67th minute with Curtis Nelson’s powerful header.
However, just prior to Derby’s equalizer, Blackburn made a triple substitution, introducing Weimann, Ohashi, and Szmodics. This decision quickly paid off, with Weimann heading in a goal in the 72nd minute against his former club, thanks to a brilliant setup from Hayden Carter.
Szmodics then boosted his reputation further by confidently scoring four minutes later, followed by Ohashi, who completed a fine team move to net Blackburn’s fourth goal with six minutes remaining.
Despite Kane Wilson giving Derby a late consolation goal with a header in the 88th minute, the hosts remained in high spirits after securing all three points.
Manager Reactions
Blackburn manager John Eustace praised his team’s performance: “I thought the lads were excellent. We had four or five players who hadn’t played much in pre-season. Derby are a physical team, and it was pleasing to see the character we showed.”
Eustace spoke highly of Szmodics, stating, “He’s a special player; when he’s in those areas, there’s only one place it’s going to go. We brought him on to lift the atmosphere, and the fans love him.” He emphasized the importance of keeping their best players and his aspirations to bring in additional talent.
On the other side, Derby’s manager Paul Warne reflected on his team’s effort: “I thought we were on the ascendancy at 1-1. I know I have a good group, but you can’t concede four goals and expect to get something from the game. Their substitutes impacted the match significantly.”
Warne admitted he should have made substitutions sooner, recognizing that the team was not yet match-fit. Despite the disappointment of the result, he noted, “I’m proud of the character the lads showed and pleased we were able to get another goal back.”
Overall, Blackburn’s strong start sets a positive tone for their season ahead, while Derby will be eager to address their defensive issues promptly.
Credit: Sky Sports
