Derby County fell to a 4-2 defeat in their first game of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Friday night.
The clash was the Rams’ first game back in the second tier since May 2022, after promotion from Sky Bet League One last term.
A first half strike from Blackburn attacker Tyrhys Dolan was cancelled out by Curtis Nelson’s header in the second period before quickfire goals from Andi Weimann and Sammie Szmodics gave the hosts a two-goal lead.
Yuki Ohashi then put the game out of reach making Kane Wilson’s headed goal nothing more than a consolation as the hosts claimed all three points.
Derby’s first opportunity came through Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who was played down the wing by Kayden Jackson. The Derby winger’s combination play with Jackson and Ben Osborn came to nothing though as his low cross couldn’t find a team-mate’s leg.
Blackburn came close in the seventh minute when Lewis Travis played through striker Makhtar Gueye in the box, but Rovers’ summer signing couldn’t get enough contact on the ball and dragged his shot low and wide of the post.
Dolan handed Blackburn the lead in the 20th minute after he latched onto Gueye’s deflected shot in the box and converted from close range by smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
The Rams looked for a fast response as Tom Barkhuizen set up Mendez-Laing on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked and went out for a corner.
Mendez-Laing was denied at the near post by Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears in the 34th minute as Derby pushed forward.
Kenzo Goudmijn looked to be the creator towards the end of the half, as he delivered a ball from deep to Nelson, but the Rams defender’s outstretched leg couldn’t get a heavy enough touch to send the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
The second period began with Josh Vickers being alert to the danger as he denied potshots from Gueye and Travis as the hosts looked to double their lead from the restart.
The ball looked to have been bundled into the net by Barkhuizen from a Rams corner by Mendez-Laing in the 49th minute, but the Derby attacker was denied by a block in the mouth of the goal.
Vickers was called into action once again when Gueye pounced to win the ball back high up the field and surged into a one-on-one with the Rams’ shot-stopper. However, Vickers met the strike down low and scooped it up.
An inviting cross by left-back Callum Elder forced an assured clearance in the 56th minute and indicated the Rams' intention to ramp up the pressure on the hosts after a prolonged spell of possession, where they were creating chances but just not finding the final ball.
Wilson looked to be dangerous at the back post as a whipped delivery from Osborn met his head as he ran into the box, but the attacking full-back directed the ball to the wrong side of the post.
Nelson equalised in the 67th minute as he rose high to meet Osborn’s dangerous corner delivery with aplomb to send the Rams fans wild.
Blackburn responded in the 72nd minute as some neat wing play allowed substitute Weimann a free header at the back post which he duly converted.
Szmodics then netted a second in as many minutes for Blackburn, as he found space inside the box and placed the ball low into the net from six yards out.
Ohashi’s deft chip in the 84th minute put the game to bed before Wilson claimed a consolation goal for the Rams four minutes later from a corner.
Blackburn Rovers: Pears (GK), Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Trondstad, Travis, Dolan (Batth 88), Rankin-Costello (Szmodics 65), Hedges (Weimann 65), Gueye (Ohashi 65).
Unused Substitutes: Hilton (GK), Sigurdsson, Markanday, Buckley, Vale.
Derby County: Vickers (GK), Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Elder (Forsyth 86), Ozoh (Thompson 86), Osborn, Barkhuizen (Collins 66), Mendez-Laing, Goudmijn (Adams 73), Jackson.
Unused Substitutes: Luthra (GK), Bradley, Nyambe, Brown.
17,975 (3,715 away supporters).
Derby return to action on Tuesday night as they meet Sky Bet League Two newcomers Chesterfield at Pride Park Stadium in Round One of the Carabao Cup (7:45pm kick-off).
