Blackburn Rovers: Sam Szmodics on Cambridge hat trick

Szmodics netted a hat trick against Cambridge at the weekend, taking his total to 19 for the campaign. He was also on target in the recent fixtures against Hull and Rotherham.

While the 28-year-old was pleased to continue his ruthless spell in front of goal, he was more bothered about getting “back on track” after a poor run of results.

“We have been putting in good performances and not getting the results I think we have deserved,” he said.

“We played a strong team and I thought we did really well, a good team performance. I am happy to score three goals and, more importantly, get back on track.

“Hopefully, we can take that performance into West Brom and get back on track in the Championship.

“I just feel like I am not going to miss at the minute and it is a great place for me to be. Without the boys and the way we play, these goals are not possible.

“The way we play and manipulate the ball forward, it makes my job easier.

“Some of my finishes are so simple because the boys put the ball into the right positions. Credit to them, and hopefully we can kick on.”

Szmodics remains the top-scorer in the Championship – three points clear of Morgan Whittaker and ex-Rovers man Adam Armstrong.

Szmodics scored a hat trick at the weekend (Image: Camerasport)

He is relishing being part of a side that creates plenty of chances in the final third and hopes that trend will continue in the coming weeks and months.

“Sometimes we are open because we are such a free-flowing, attacking team,” the midfielder explained. “But when we score five goals, it doesn’t really matter what happens at the other end.

“We maybe conceded two soft goals again, but we know that we create so many chances each game and should probably score more. To score five is a real confidence boost for us.

“When we played Rotherham, we were kicking ourselves because we should have scored five or six.

“We missed chances but we create so many, and days like (Cambridge) are good for us because it gives us confidence and gives the fans a boost.

“If we can take that goalscoring into the Championship, we will be fine.”

Saturday’s win against Cambridge was the first time Szmodics has scored a hat trick in his career, and it quite rare that all three goals came in the opening 45 minutes.

“This is my first one,” he grinned. “I got one at Colchester, took the ball in and then found out that the first goal went down as an own goal so I had to give the ball back! This one is pretty special.”

Szmodics also played a small part in Rovers history, making way for Rory Finneran during the final stages.

The midfielder was delighted to see him get on the pitch and insists age is irrelevant if players are deemed ready to handle first-team football.

“(I’ve only trained with him) three or four times, I’m 13 years older than him so it is crazy really,” he smiled.

“He is technically really good. He is still only a young boy but it was brilliant to see him come out and get some minutes.

“He is obviously so proud and his family, and he deserves it. If you are ready to play, you are ready to play whatever the age.

“Pat Gamble also got some minutes that he deserved as well so it is brilliant to see.”

Finneran becomes the latest Academy product to be given an opportunity in the first team at Rovers under Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Szmodics is one of the more senior players in the squad but is enjoying being around “hungry” youngsters at Ewood Park.

“It is a young team, that is where we are at,” he said. “They have still played a lot of games and the manager says it all the time, people are learning on the job.

“We know the situation and age doesn’t matter if we are putting in performances like that against a good League One team. The boys are young and hungry to learn.”