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Szmodics brace sends Rovers through

Monday 29 Jan 2024
Blackburn celebrate Sam Gallagher's goal which put them 2-1 up against Wrexham at Ewood Park

Sammie Szmodics scored twice as Blackburn Rovers came from behind to beat Wrexham 4-1 at Ewood Park and set up an Emirates FA Cup fifth round proper tie with Newcastle United.

The League Two side scented an upset when Andy Cannon gave them an 18th-minute lead but Szmodics' brace either side of Sam Gallagher's cool finish gave Rovers a 3-1 lead at the break.

Sondre Tronstad's deflected strike settled the outcome in the second half as Wrexham exited at the fourth round stage for the second season in succession.

Szmodics, the Championship’s top scorer this season with 16 goals, could have given his side an early lead only to miss the target when well placed.

Gallagher and Jake Garrett also came close as Wrexham weathered an early storm before sending their 7,000 travelling fans into raptures when the aptly-named Andy Cannon fired past Aynsley Pears to give them a surprise lead.

Pears then pulled off a superb double save to prevent his side falling further behind, keeping out Cannon and James McClean in quick succession, and Rovers soon levelled through a familiar source as Szmodics lashed home from Gallagher’s clever cutback.

The hosts completed the turnaround within two minutes as Gallagher slid the ball past the onrushing Arthur Okwonko, who flew out his penalty area but was beaten to the ball by the striker.

Szmodics then doubled his tally for the evening in first half injury time, latching on to a lofted throughball and placing a left-footed strike into the bottom corner to open up a two-goal cushion.

Just before the hour mark, the advantage was extended as Tronstad’s thumping strike found the top corner via a deflection with Szmodics and Gallagher again involved in the build-up.

Elliot Lee was unsuccessful with an ambitious effort from inside his own half and James Jones saw a long-range effort saved by Pears as Wrexham sought a way back into the contest but Rovers continued to pose a threat at the other end.

Szmodics spurned several chances for back-to-back Emirates FA Cup trebles but his side had done more than enough to advance and will now prepare for a visit from the Magpies, who Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson represented as a player in the 1997/98 season.

By FA Staff