Sammie Szmodics bags brace as Blackburn batter Stockport

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.