Top scorer in England saved club from relegation by shining against champions < In Attack

Sammie Szmodicsof Blackburn Roversfinished the Second Division of the English Championship as top scorerwith 27 goals in 44 games. The midfielder was instrumental in the team’s stay in the EFL Championship, scoring twice in the 2-0 victory over champions Leicester City. The teams faced each other this Saturday (4/5), at the King Power Stadium.

If the game was a celebration for Leicester, winners of the Second Division with a round to spare, Blackburn needed the triumph to avoid falling into League One (Third Division) without depending on other results. Thus, Szmodics’ star shone, who found the net in the 22nd and 48th minutes of the second half with counterattacks.

In the first goal, Sammie protected the ball after a shot from the defense, accelerated down the left wing and lightly touched the ball as it passed goalkeeper Hermansen. In the second, the number 8 received a deep pass while still in defense, broke through the midfield divider and dribbled past the Leicester archer before taking the ball into the penalty area and finishing low to the back of the goal.

Watch the goals from Leicester 0x2 Blackburn

Sammie Szmodics Career

Born in Colchester, United Kingdom, Sammie Szmodics, 28, chose to play for the Irish National Team, for which he was called up for the first time in 2024. The midfielder began his career at Colchester and also played for Braintree Town, Bristol City and Peterborough United.

Szmodics was signed by Blackburn for £2 million in August 2022. In his first season, he played 41 games, scored seven goals and provided three assists in the EFL Championship, FA Cup and League Cup. .

In his second season at Blackburn Rovers, Sammie started scoring goals. In addition to 27 in the English Second Division, the midfielder scored six in the FA Cup, totaling 33 in 2023/2024. The excellent performance made the athlete enter the radar of clubs such as Brentford, Fulham, Luton and Celtic (Scotland).

Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers has a tradition in English football, having won three editions of the first division, in 1911/1912, 1913/1914 and 1994/1995. The club also has six FA Cups, one English League Cup, one Super Cup, one Second Division Championship and one Third Division.

In the 1994/1995 Premier League title, Blackburn scored 89 points in 42 rounds, ahead of second-placed Manchester United (88). Rovers’ highlight in the campaign was center forward Alan Shearer, a legend of English football, with 34 goals.

Blackburn Rovers’ last participation in the Premier League was in 2011/2012, when they finished 19th, with 31 points. Since then, the team has almost always been in the EFL Championship, obtaining seventh place in 2022/2023 as the best campaign. In 2017/2018, the club participated in the Third Division and returned to the Second as runner-up.

EFL Championship standings 2023/24

1. Leicester City (champion) – 97 points
2. Ipswich Town (promoted) – 96 points
3. Leeds United (playoff) – 90 points
4. Southampton (playoff) – 87 points
5. West Bromwich (playoff) – 75 points
6. Norwich (playoff) – 73 points
7. Hull City – 70 points
8. Middlesbrough – 69 points
9. Coventry – 64 points
10. Preston – 63 points
11. Bristol City – 62 points
12. Cardiff – 62 points
13. Millwall – 59 points
14. Swansea City – 57 points
15. Watford – 56 points
16. Sunderland – 56 points
17. Stoke City – 56 points
18. Queens Park Rangers – 56 points
19. Blackburn Rovers – 53 points
20. Sheffield Wednesday – 53 points
21. Plymouth Argyle – 51 points
22. Birmingham (relegated) – 50 points
23. Huddersfield Town (relegated) – 45 points
24. Rotherham (relegated) – 27 points