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Blackburn Rovers' Sammie Szmodics celebrates scoring (file pic). Alamy Stock Photo

Ireland's Szmodics continues where he left off last season

Andreas Weimann, Yuki Ohashi, Makhtar Gueye and Jack Vale were also on target for Blackburn.

Updated 23.08

IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Sammie Szmodics scored twice as Blackburn booked their Carabao Cup second-round place with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Stockport.

Szmodics’ double, Andreas Weimann’s strike and Yuki Ohashi’s header put Championship side Rovers in control as Makhtar Gueye and Jack Vale netted after half-time, while youngster Nathan Mapengu netted a consolation for League One County.

After County goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe denied Ohashi twice early on, Szmodics began the scoring inside eight minutes with a well-placed finish inside the box.

Blackburn doubled their lead after 20 minutes when Weimann drove into the area to slot home.

Szmodics’ second came from a fine half-volley into the bottom corner in the 25th minute, before Ohashi’s header from John Buckley’s cross secured Blackburn’s fourth.

Stockport’s first attempt came before half-time through Lee Williams’ deflected header, with Hinchliffe later diverting Arnor Sigurdsson’s effort behind.

After the break, Szmodics could have completed his hat-trick but fired just wide.

County grabbed one back through Mapengu’s low 67th-minute finish, before Hinchliffe’s fingertip save denied Gueye but from the following corner could not stop the Rovers substitute’s header.

Ohashi was denied a second on the line by Hinchliffe and later struck the woodwork, before substitute Vale swept home Blackburn’s sixth as full-time neared.

Elsewhere, League Two Fleetwood celebrated a shock 2-1 Carabao Cup comeback victory at home to Championship West Brom on Tuesday night.

The Baggies took an early lead through a cheeky Modou Faal finish, but the English third-tier side completed a fine turnaround in the first half thanks to impressive goals from Irish duo Ryan Graydon and Ronan Coughlan.

Ex-Ireland U21 international Mark McGuinness and Rubin Colwill scored second-half goals to send Cardiff into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers.

McGuinness, the subject of interest from Luton, finally broke the deadlock at Cardiff City Stadium in the 68th minute when his header from Ollie Tanner’s corner just crossed the line before being cleared by Jake Garrett.

First-half goals from Ireland U21 squad member Tyler Goodrham and Matt Phillips on his debut gave Championship new boys Oxford a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over League One Peterborough.

Posh were hoping to gain a measure of revenge for their play-off semi-final defeat by Oxford in May, but failed to convert good early chances.

A brace by Jordan Shipley and another from fellow Irish U21 graduate Joshua Kayode helped Shrewsbury beat Notts County 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in normal time. Conor Grant was on target for the visitors.

A goal by Dublin-born Millenic Alli was not enough for Exeter City — they drew 1-1 with Walsall before losing 4-3 on penalties.

Another Dubliner, Ruari Paton, scored his first goal since signing for Port Vale this summer in their 3-2 defeat by Barrow.

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:00 PM

    Strange that some of the mid table premier league teams wouldn’t take a chance on Szmodics. Obviously too good for the championship. Yet some totally unproven youngster from the continent with a bit of “potential” will cause a bidding war with someone paying 30 odd million, only to find that he can’t adapt to English football, culture, climate or whatever.

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    Mute John Devine
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:06 PM

    @Bert Carolan: Szmodics has said himself many times he doesn’t want to play in the premier League

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    Mute Dave Moran
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:30 PM

    @John Devine: well that’s a complete lie

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:31 PM

    @Dave Moran: A lie that he doesn’t want to play in Pl or that he said he doesn’t want to?

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:33 PM

    @John Devine: Where or when did he say that? Not doubting you but that’s a weird attitude for a championship player. Chance to secure his future, play at the highest level in England.

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    Mute Square
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    Aug 13th 2024, 10:57 PM

    Premirship incomning Ipswich

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:27 PM

    @Square: Would be a good fit I think.

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    Mute Square
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:30 PM

    @Bert Carolan: Did he really say he not want to play on premirship are you just joking

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:31 PM

    @Square: John Devine said that, not me.

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    Mute Square
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    Aug 13th 2024, 11:32 PM

    @Bert Carolan: Oh ya haha nonsense i think

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Aug 14th 2024, 12:35 AM

    Can someone sign him please? I don’t particularly like Rovers winning. Ipswich has to be a good fit given his time in the Colchester area. I used to live down there too and he wasn’t rated highly at the time. Every credit to him for getting to where he has.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Aug 14th 2024, 8:13 AM

    @Justin Robinson: Ipswich after him the whole summer but no deal, looking slightly less likely to happen at this stage but hopefully it gets done, Ipswich need him I think.

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Aug 14th 2024, 8:39 AM

    @Michael Kennedy: Can’t blame Rovers for squeezing out every last penny I suppose. SS is about 13 months off being 30 so it’s now or never for him really.

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    Mute Michael Kennedy
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    Aug 14th 2024, 12:58 PM

    @Justin Robinson: 100%, but it has fairly dragged on, Ipswich tried to sign Gallagher from them in the last transfer window, similarly difficult to deal with them then. Joke club, joke owners is what I’ve heard.

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