Blackburn 4 – 2 derby

Andi Weimann and Yuki Ohashi both scored their 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 the lead in the 19th minute thanks to a close-range shot from Tyrhys Dolan following a well-worked move.

Rovers had been in control in the first half but Derby came back after the break and a powerful header from Curtis Nelson in the 67th minute levelled the scores.

But the task for the promoted Rams became clear when Blackburn made three substitutions just before the equaliser. Rovers brought on Weimann, Ohashi and Sammie Szmodics and the trio surprised the visitors with three goals in the space of 12 minutes.

First, Weimann headed home from close range against his old club in the 72nd minute, after some great work from Hayden Carter.

Szmodics, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, scored convincingly to make it 3-1 four minutes later and then handed the lead to Ohashi, who scored his fourth with six minutes remaining.

Kane Wilson headed in a consolation goal for Derby in the closing stages, but it was a sobering return to the Championship after a two-year absence.

Blackburn’s new signing Makhtar Gueye fired wide early on but Rovers took the lead after a flowing move saw the Senegalese striker’s low cross land six yards from goal and Dolan fire the ball into the top corner.

After a disappointing first half, Derby came close to equalising early in the second when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s corner almost went in, but Aynsley Pears made an excellent save.

Gueye missed another glorious chance in the 52nd minute when he shot straight at Derby keeper Josh Vickers. County capitalised when Mendez-Laing’s cross was met by Nelson’s powerful header which flew into the roof of the net.

The tie lasted barely five minutes, however, when Weimann made his debut with a goal that was largely down to Carter’s composure. Carter, in an attacking position on the right, feigned a cross and, after taking two Derby players to the ground, he tapped the ball onto the Austrian’s head, who headed it in from close range, unmarked.

Blackburn sealed the tie in the 76th minute after Callum Brittain had done a fine job down the right, finding Szmodics 11 yards out but the hotly-fancied striker made no mistake as he slotted the ball home with great ease.

The home team were very strong at that moment and managed to score a fourth goal. Szmodics sent Ohashi away and he tapped the ball beautifully over Vickers.

A set-piece gave Derby a second goal in the 88th minute when Mendez-Laing’s corner was headed in by the lively Wilson at the near post, but it did little to dampen the spirits of the Blackburn fans.

The managers

John Eustace of Blackburn:

“I thought the lads were excellent. We had four or five lads who hadn’t played in the pre-season.

“Derby are a physical team and we would always put ourselves under pressure. The character they showed was really nice.”

About Szmodics and possible new players…

“Listen, he’s a special player. When he’s in those areas, there’s only one place it’s going to go. We knew bringing him in would elevate 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.”

Paul Warne from Derby:

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