The 2024/25 English Football League Championship season began with a bang, as John Eustace’s Blackburn Rovers dominated with a 4-2 victory over newly promoted Derby County under Paul Warne.
This match at Ewood Park was a sparkling example of Championship quality, and despite Derby County’s brief possession, they regained control of the game.
Blackburn dominated the most of the game and came back from a 20-minute sluggish start in the second half to destroy the County defence and earn their first three points in the second division this season.
Blackburn subs made an impact
Blackburn made a poor start to the second half, while the Rams gradually took control of the game.
But Rovers came back to win the game, and one significant component of the result we’ve seen is manager John Eustace’s substitutions, which helped to limit Derby County and successfully reduce their dominance of the ball.
Three particular substitutes had a significant impact on the game. Andreas Weimann, a seasoned newcomer, veteran Japanese striker Yuki Ohashi, and likely departing star Sammie Szmodics.
Weimann demonstrated his experience among the players on that pitch. The way he used his football knowledge to make his run towards the back post, along with the Derby defenders simply letting him stay onside for the easy header, makes him a dangerous attacker.
Ohashi’s pace and press are simply amazing. He never gives those defenders a chance to breathe, and the way he glides out of possession to cover all bases in an attempt to win the ball back is a precious ability to witness.
Szmodics is one of the most creative players in the Championship right now, and his ability to look one step ahead of opponents, make the right runs forward, and force very effective 1v1 situations made him a dangerous player on the night, and he capped it off with a goal and an assist to start his campaign.
Substitutes are important in contests, and teams must use their bench. Paul Warne will need to learn more in the future, especially in such a dangerous and tough league, but Blackburn Rovers benefited the most from effective players ready to come off the bench with a variety of experience.
Kayden Jackson Needs More Service
Derby County striker Kayden Jackson demonstrated his pace and pressing skills on the pitch throughout this game, and it was evident that he controls possession and build-up play very well, even against the goalkeeper. The one thing Rams fans want to see is better service to Jackson.
He only had one shot on target and one off target, but the expectation is that his season will only improve from here.
Kayden has the pace to sneak into the box like a fox-in-the-box and use his speed to make runs off the last defender’s shoulder, therefore a mix of high and low crosses from wide areas are required to create these opportunities.
Low-to-the-ground passes and through balls are also important, and there were a few possibilities to do so at Ewood Park, but the Rovers were able to snuff out the threat far too easily.
Set pieces are also extremely significant. Kane Wilson demonstrated the final goal of the game by creeping into the front of the box and flicking a header into the net for Derby’s second goal, so there is a potential to use these set pieces to have Kayden Jackson fulfill that position as well.
Crossing key for Rovers
This was Blackburn Rovers’ largest opening day victory in 21 years as a football club, and one significant factor in securing three points was the ability to successfully cross the ball into the box.
Within the opening ten minutes of the game, there were seven crosses, with one team receiving all seven.
That was Blackburn Rovers. Makhtar Gueye, the debuting Senegalese striker who started the game, had a fantastic performance and might benefit from more crosses into the box and changes in transition.
The 26-year-old former Saint-Étienne, Oostende, and RWD Molenbeek striker has often demonstrated his versatility as an all-around striker.
At least a handful of times during that game, he’d be on the receiving end of potentially effective crosses that could have resulted in something.
Rovers fans have already seen what Gueye is capable of if given the opportunity to develop further at Ewood Park and gain more experience.
Derby must improve defensively
Derby County cannot allow four goals in any game. That cannot be allowed to happen again.
Throughout the second half, we saw cracks arise in the defensive formation on many occasions, allowing Blackburn to put more pressure on the Derby goal.
Two goals were scored in unmarked situations down the right-hand side, and with a wingback playing in the right fullback role, we could see him moving forward nicely, but defensively, he’s not in the position to cover the gap that Rovers’ wingers utilize to cause issues.
Something the Rams need to do is adjust their defensive shape to allow that cover on the right-hand side with Kane Wilson tracking back further and developing the deeper defensive side of his game to continue his adaptability both as a fullback and wingback.
