Sammie Szmodics may have played his final match for Blackburn
Sammie Szmodics came off the bench to score and Andreas Weimann and Yuki Ohashi netted on their debuts in a thumping victory for Blackburn Rovers over Derby County.
Tyrhys Dolan's opener put Rovers ahead in a one-sided first half, but promoted Derby, in their first match back in the Championship, equalised through Curtis Nelson's 67th-minute header, but two goals in quick succession secured John Eustace's first home win as Blackburn boss
Weimann, against his former club, scored with his second touch after coming on as a substitute, and Szmodics picked up where he left off last term when he was the division's top scorer.
Japanese forward Ohashi added a fourth before Kane Wilson headed a consolation for the Rams.
The opening goal came after Lewis Travis’ piercing run towards the penalty area led to Makhtar Gueye receiving the ball in space on the right.
Nelson prevented Ryan Hedges from getting a decisive touch to Gueye’s pull-back but the ball ran to Dolan, who smashed home from close range.
The breakthrough came after Senegalese striker Gueye, making his debut following his recent move from Belgian club RWD Molenbeek, had an early chance but shot wide after collecting Travis’ clever pass.
Derby barely threatened in the first half but almost equalised direct from a corner early in the second, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s delivery was clawed away at the near post by keeper Aynsley Pears.
Andi Weimann was at Derby between 2015 and 2018
After Gueye had a strike saved by Josh Vickers, having been set up by Hedges, Derby suddenly began to assert themselves, enjoying much more possession and managing to put Rovers on the back foot.
Blackburn boss Eustace responded by sending on Szmodics, who did not feature during pre-season and is wanted by Ipswich Town.
It did not halt Derby’s momentum and they equalised a couple of minutes after the substitution.
Paul Warne’s side were excellent from set-pieces last season and a short corner routine resulted in Mendez-Laing crossing for Nelson to haul them level.
However, Blackburn responded emphatically, with Weimann nodding in after superb work on the right by centre-back Hayden Carter, and Szmodics finishing coolly after Callum Brittain had sent the ball over after linking up nicely with Ohashi.
Szmodics then turned provider, teeing up Ohashi, who calmly lifted the ball over keeper Vickers.
Derby were well beaten in the end but set-pieces remain an asset for them and Wilson’s late goal came from another Mendez-Laing corner.
Post-match reaction
Blackburn boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"We've had seven weeks of work in pre-season and there's been good things and also bad things that we've had to put right.
"It's only the start - there's so much hard work ahead of us, but it was pleasing to see that performance today.
"I thought every player that was on that pitch was outstanding. But there's a lot more hard work ahead."
Derby boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Derby:
"At 1-1 I honestly thought we would go on and win it. We got punished for mistakes and it's a quick lesson for us.
"You can't go away from home and concede four and expect to come away with anything. I was pleased with massive parts of our play but not with the scoreline.
"In the second half we had a right go, scored a goal and I fancied us. We were on top and I made the mistake of probably not making my subs quick enough.
"I think the turning point was that they made changes and brought on fresh legs - and outstanding fresh legs."
