Wrexham secured a commanding 2-0 away victory against a lacklustre Blackburn Rovers side at Ewood Park, with Ollie Rathbone scoring a spectacular volley on his first league start of the season.
Dominant Start Seals Early Advantage
Despite being without an away win in their previous eight outings and missing injured forwards Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass, Phil Parkinson's team began with impressive intensity. Their early pressure paid dividends in the 11th minute when Matty James delivered a perfectly weighted lofted pass behind the Blackburn defence. Sam Smith raced onto it, took a touch, and fired a left-footed shot past Aynsley Pears at the near post for his second goal of the campaign.
Wrexham continued to dominate, nearly doubling their lead ten minutes later. After dispossessing Todd Cantwell, Ryan Longman's cross from the right was turned towards goal by Smith, only for the ball to find the side-netting.
Rathbone's Moment of Magic
The visitors' control was rewarded with a truly magnificent second goal before half-time. In the 38th minute, a set-piece was headed into the area by Dan Scarr. The ball dropped over Ollie Rathbone's shoulder around 12 yards out, and the midfielder, under pressure from Ryan Hedges, connected with a sublime first-time volley that looped over a helpless Pears and into the net.
The stunning strike marked Rathbone's second goal in as many games and effectively put the contest beyond a struggling Blackburn side.
Blackburn's Feeble Response and Wrexham's Comfortable Win
The home side, who have now managed just one win in eight matches, offered little threat for much of the game. Their best chance came in the 56th minute when Moussa Baradji brought a pass under control and unleashed a fierce shot that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar, bounced in front of the line, and away to safety.
Wrexham almost punished them immediately on the counter-attack, with Pears forced into a smart save to deny Lewis O'Brien. The visitors saw out the remaining minutes with ease, with the final whistle met by a chorus of boos from the disgruntled home supporters.
The result lifts Wrexham to eighth in the Championship table, securing a third consecutive league win. For Blackburn Rovers, the insipid performance will heighten concerns about their form and potential relegation battle.
