Wrexham produced a commanding away performance to defeat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park, securing a third consecutive Championship victory and climbing to eighth in the table. The visitors, missing key attackers Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass, were inspired by stand-in forwards Sam Smith and Ollie Rathbone, who both found the net in a dominant first-half display.
Early Dominance and Clinical Finishing
Despite a poor recent record on the road, Phil Parkinson's side started with fierce intensity and took the lead in the 11th minute. Matty James delivered a perfectly weighted lofted pass that caught Blackburn's high defensive line cold. Sam Smith raced onto it, took a touch, and fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Aynsley Pears at his near post for his second goal of the season.
Wrexham continued to press and were sharper in every duel. They almost doubled their lead ten minutes later when Ryan Longman's cross from the right was turned towards goal by Smith, only for the effort to find the side-netting.
A Goal-of-the-Season Contender
The visitors' control was rewarded with a moment of sheer quality just before half-time. From a set-piece, Dan Scarr guided a header into the penalty area towards Ollie Rathbone, who was making his first league start of the campaign. With his back to goal and under pressure from Ryan Hedges, Rathbone connected with a sublime volley as the ball dropped over his shoulder, sending it arcing over a helpless Pears and into the net.
The spectacular strike marked Rathbone's second goal in as many games and will undoubtedly be a contender for the club's goal of the season.
Blackburn's Woeful Response and Wrexham's Comfortable Win
The home side, who have now won just once in eight matches, offered a desperately insipid display for much of the contest. Their only real chance came in the 56th minute when Moussa Baradji brought a pass under control brilliantly and unleashed a ferocious 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 fine save to deny Lewis O'Brien. The visitors saw out the remainder of the game with ease, with the final whistle met by a chorus of boos from the frustrated Ewood Park faithful.
The result leaves Blackburn with growing relegation concerns after another toothless home performance, while Wrexham's impressive run of form continues to build momentum in their first season back in the second tier.
