Szmodics’ triple whammy gives plucky U’s the blues

SAMMIE SZMODICS was on fire for Blackburn as his clinical first-half treble helped sink League One Cambridge.

Championship big guns Rovers were handed a scare as the gutsy U’s twice led, but Szmodics’ class proved the difference.

Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “Sammie’s a top player and a quality goalscorer. He misses chances too, but it doesn’t matter to him. It’s his first hat-trick, I think, and I’m delighted because he’s a terrific character.

“We scored five but it could have been 10.”

Cambridge struck early when Jack Lankester brilliantly side-stepped two defenders before curling home. Szmodics’ well-taken strike evened it up but the visitors were quickly back in front.

Sullay Kaikai drilled home to make it 2-1 only for Szmodics to go on to complete his hat-trick before half-time.

He clinically despatched Arnor Sigurdsson’s through-ball and then volleyed home Callum Brittain’s sweeping cross.

Sigurdsson’s unerring finish and sub Harry Leonard’s thumping header in the second period made it comfortable for the hosts.

U’s boss Neil Harris said: “Blackburn are a quality side and Szmodics is a top, top player, but we’ve not helped ourselves.

“I was disappointed with some of the goals we conceded.” BLACKBURN: Wahlstedt 7; Brittain 8 (Gamble (90) 6), Hyam 7, Carter 7, Pickering 8; A Wharton 7 (Ayari (76) 6), Garrett 5 (Tronstad (57) 6); Moran 7, Szmodics 9 (Finneran (90) 6), Sigurdsson 8; Telalovic 5 (Leonard (46) 6) CAMBRIDGE: Stevens 6; L Bennett 6, R Bennett 7, Okedina 5, Andrew 7; Digby 7, Cousins 6; May 5 (Gordon (68) 5), Lankester 7 (Janneh (76) 5), Brophy 6; Kaikai 7 (Morrison (85) 6) STAR MAN: Sammie Szmodics – Rovers hit-man is up to 19 for the season. REF: Geoff Eltringham 8