Sam Szmodics has insisted Blackburn Rovers have proven they were too good to be relegated and deserved to stay in the Championship.

Szmodics' brace on the final day of the season ensured Rovers remained in the division. Defeat would have sent them down with other results and so a positive result at Leicester City was imperative.

It had to be Szmodics who saved Rovers' season. He's scored 45% of their goals this season and none more important than his two on final day. 

Reflecting on a difficult campaign and a relegation battle that went to the wire, the league's top-scorer insisted they proved doubters wrong and showed they're good enough to kick on next year.

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"We worked so hard and I think we deserved it. It's been an up-and-down season, we're not where we want to be," Szmodics told RoversTV. "We don't want to be down there, we're too good to be down there.

"It's been the best season of my life. It sounds cliche but I couldn't have done it without the lads, we are a close-knit group. To score 33 goals is amazing for me.

"The defence, the midfield, they dug in. We have argued and celebrated all season. We deserve this.

"This season has been a tough one, we showed that resilience. People have been against us and doubted us all season, especially towards the end when the gaffer came in. We have proven today that we're a proper Championship team.

"We can rebuild in the summer and go again next season."

Whilst the season has been turbulent for Rovers on and off the pitch, Szmodics has enjoyed the best season of his career. 27 league goals, 33 all in all competitions and the feat of becoming the first Rovers player since Alan Shearer to break the 30-goal marker.

His goals at Leicester were the epitome of what he's about. Opportunism, graft, perseverance and quality. He ran through the goals and heaped praise on his team-mates for creating the opportunities.

"Two goals, a great team performance, golden boot, three points, I couldn't ask for anything more," he reflected.

"It's been amazing. We knew it was in our hands, we needed a point. I thought we defended brilliantly. We're dangerous on the counter-attack and we proved it again today.

"It started with Pears making an unbelievable save from Harry Winks' shot which I'm pleased he did because it was my man. 

"We dug in as a team and I think we deserved the win. We dug in, the defence was amazing. I knew if we got one chance down the middle, with them pushing men forward, we'd score.

"It was a great pass from Joe (Rankin-Costello) and it made my job easier. The goalie came steaming out. I went early, I'll be honest.

"The first one was all me (joking). The second one was on a plate, touched it around the goalkeeper and I was celebrating early. The defender nearly caught me but it was a great feeling.

"We knew at half-time that teams were winning, Birmingham were drawing. We were then blinded that we had to do our job. We didn't know the scores.

"The crowd that followed us was a great feeling. We have come to The King Power and done our job again. Congratulations to them because they're probably the best team we've played this season, great players.

"The emotions are high because we have dug in and we deserve to stay in the league."