Wrexham’s fortunes have been transformed by the Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney but the only stars in the ascendency here were those of Szmodics and Gallagher.
Blackburn released a statement last week allaying supporter concerns about the club’s funding after a court case in India involving owners Venky’s. But they could struggle to keep the likes of Szmodics and Gallagher out of the clutches if they keep delivering like this. Midfielder Adam Wharton was also the subject of an improved bid from Palace in the lead up to the game after an £18 million offer was rejected last week.
Szmodics did not allow his early miss to affect him as he equalised before a clever piece of play from Gallagher unpicked Wrexham’s flat-footed defender. Flicking a long throw in past Ben Tozer, Gallagher tore away before finishing coolly past Arthur Okonkwo.
Blackburn moved the ball at pace and dragged Wrexham all over the place with. Thirty two places separate the sides in the pyramid and it showed. Szmodics scored his second after latching on to a fine long ball from Tronstad and firing low into the bottom corner. Tronstad then got on the scoresheet himself when he blasted into the top corner after the ball fell kindly following a tackle by Gallagher.
It had all started so well for Wrexham too after initially riding their luck. Racing on to Sam Dalby’s through ball, Cannon aimed a bullet of a finish in at the near post beyond the diving Aynsley Pears.
With a raucous away following behind them, Wrexham must have smelled a possible upset but Blackburn barely relinquished control of the game once in front and so it will be Ewood Park that Newcastle must visit in the next round, not north Wales.