Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and West Brom at Ewood Park as goals from Dilan Markanday and Harry Leonard helped Jon Dahl Tomasson's men to an opening-day win
Saturday 5 August 2023 19:44, UK
Blackburn started the 2023/24 Championship season on a high note by beating West Brom 2-1 at Ewood Park on the opening day.
Rovers delivered what turned out to be the knockout punches in a clinical three-minute spell as a tidy finish from Dilan Markanday - who became Tottenham's first British Asian player when he made his Spurs debut in October 2021 - from a narrow angle set the hosts on their way in the 20th minute.
They suffocated their opponents straight from the kick-off and academy graduate Harry Leonard slammed in a second two minutes later on their first league starts for Blackburn.
The Baggies struck back in fine style just after the restart through Matt Phillips' stunning 25-yard effort but Blackburn finished strongly and better finishing would have made the margin of victory more comfortable for the hosts.
West Brom's frustration was summed up by boss Carlos Corberan being sent to the stands for dissent late in the second half.
Corberan's dismissal meant he was not allowed to speak to the media after the game, in accordance with new EFL rules.
"I think it was an exceptional win and performance," said Jon Dahl Tomasson afterwards. "We scored two great goals,
really good goals and should probably have had a third, fourth or even fifth goal against one of the best teams in the league.
"The intensity of the team was very good. I think we played some good football as well."
Blackburn's Jon Dahl Tomasson:
"It's great to see, and especially to see all those young lads. I think actually we were just below 24 in average age today but to see the development of those players and the joy and also getting a goal. I think Harry [Leonard] started at the academy when he was 10. After the game, I said 'well done Harry, you played a good game, scored a great goal' and he said 'I should have had a hat-trick'. That's the ambition of the boy.
"It's also good to see Dilan [Markanday]. We all know Dilan had a difficult period. He came back in pre-season with the right attitude, he's been working hard and doing the right things. I'm also pleased for him. I think it was an exceptional win and performance. We scored two great goals, really good goals and should probably have had a third, fourth or even fifth goal against one of the best teams in the league. The intensity of the team was very good. I think we played some good football as well."
West Brom captain Jed Wallace:
"I thought first 20 minutes we were in control of the game, definitely looked the better team. It's the Championship, quickly the ball goes in the channel, probably don't do as well as we'd like with it, and from our own kick-off, within the blink of an eye we're 2-0 down and given ourselves a mountain to climb.
"The gaffer got behind us at half-time and then I think we responded really well second half. Had a couple of goalmouth scrambles to get that second goal after Matty scored a great goal. Just couldn't quite manufacture that yard in the box to get that shot off. Then they're naturally going to have their chances on the break. It was a typical wide-open Championship game at the end and we just couldn't get that goal. But on the whole I think there were positives to take from the game."
