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Sammie Szmodics notched a brace as Blackburn Rovers got here from behind to see off Sky Wager League Two high-flyers Wrexham 4-1 at Ewood Park and arrange an FA Cup fifth-round conflict on the similar venue with Newcastle.
The guests, who gained at Coventry and drew with Sheffield United in final season’s competitors, have been on for an upset when Andy Cannon put them in entrance within the nineteenth minute, bringing an enormous roar from the 7,000-plus away followers who had made the journey.
However Blackburn responded in ruthless vogue with objectives in fast succession from Szmodics and Sam Gallagher simply previous the half-hour mark to show issues round.
Szmodics, the Championship’s main scorer this time period with 16 objectives who had bagged a hat-trick within the 5-2 third-round victory over Cambridge, then scored his second of the night time simply previous to the interval earlier than Sondre Tronstad wrapped issues up within the second half.
Securing cup progress was a fine addition for former Newcastle ahead Jon Dahl Tomasson’s males, who’re presently 18th within the second tier and winless of their final seven league video games.
Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham, second in League Two, return to their quest to make it back-to-back promotions of their high-profile resurgence beneath the possession of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Szmodics had a very good likelihood to place Blackburn forward within the third minute however put his shot broad and moments later despatched the ball previous goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo from the suitable aspect of the field, however Wrexham skipper Ben Tozer was available to clear.
A few additional efforts for the hosts from Jake Garrett adopted earlier than Wrexham started to exert some stress, with Aynsley Pears gathering a Sam Dalby header and a Paul Mullin free-kick.
Quickly after, there was jubilation within the vociferous away part as Purple Dragons grabbed the lead when Cannon collected the ball from Dalby and fired previous Pears.
They usually went near swiftly including one other as Pears parried Cannon’s drive, then did beautifully to tip over James McClean’s follow-up try.
Having been rocked, Blackburn hit again with an equaliser within the thirty second minute, Szmodics slotting in from Gallagher’s cutback.
And two minutes after that they have been in entrance as a miscalculation by Okonkwo was punished, the goalkeeper opting to race out of his space as Tozer was overwhelmed by Gallagher, who was left with a easy process to fit into the online.
The hosts then prolonged their benefit in first-half stoppage time as Szmodics managed Tronstad’s move and stroked house, placing a finger to his lips as he celebrated in entrance of the away followers.
Tronstad added a aim of his personal simply earlier than the hour mark when Gallagher tried to shoot, the ball got here to the Norwegian and his shot went in by way of a deflection off Elliot Lee.
With the sport wanting very a lot up for Wrexham, Lee subsequently tried his luck with a try from inside his personal half that dropped broad, and substitute James Jones had a low shot saved.
Szmodics had an opportunity to finish one other treble within the closing levels, however noticed his strike saved by Okonkwo.
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