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Striker Sam Smith joined Wrexham from Reading in January 2025 Wrexham defeated strugglers Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park to seal a third successive victory and close in on the Championship play-off places. The visitors took the lead early on as Sam Smith drilled beyond Aynsley Pears for his second league goal of the campaign. Ollie Rathbone then bagged his third goal in five outings in stunning fashion before the break to double Wrexham's advantage. Albeit with the remainder of the division due to play later in the day, victory - Wrexham's first in nine away league games - lifted Phil Parkinson's men to eighth and within a point of the top six. Blackburn sit 19th having won just once in their past nine league outings. Blackburn Rovers Wrexham AFC Wrexham were without their two top scorers, Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass, because of injury, but they needed just 11 minutes to take the lead in Lancashire. Matty James' lofted ball upfield floated over Sean Mc Loughlin and into the path of Smith - making just his second league start of the campaign - whose left-footed strike beat Pears at the near post. Just minutes later, Mc Loughlin produced a crucial last-ditch challenge to prevent Rathbone - on his first Championship start in 2025-26 - from hitting the target from close range as Blackburn looked nervy. Wrexham's press continued to cause problems as Smith was then unable to stretch to guide Ryan Longman's deep cross into the net. Blackburn's lacklustre showing was typified when Todd Cantwell drilled a free-kick into the Wrexham wall before scuffing his follow-up effort over the crossbar. And Rovers fell 2-0 behind as Dan Scarr's header from James' free-kick looped into path of Rathbone who sumptuously volleyed beyond Pears in the 38th minute. Even when Valerien Ismael's side did get into threatening positions, they were met by a stubborn Wrexham defence - as evidenced when Smith blocked Sondre Tronstad's shot late on in the opening half. Blackburn's best opening fell to Moussa Baradji in the 56th minute, although former Rovers defender Dom Hyam got a vital touch on the midfielder's strike as it hit the underside of Wrexham's crossbar. The Red Dragons very nearly made it 3-0 a minute later as Smith teed up Lewis O'Brien who was well denied by Pears. The hosts registered their first attempt on target in the 86th minute as Baradji's weak header was easily gathered by Arthur Okonkwo. But the Welsh side saw out the latter stages with minimal fuss to keep a first clean sheet in eight games and bring an end to Blackburn's three-game unbeaten run. Broadhead seeks Wrexham and Wales double in 2026 He recently admitted to feeling like the "forgotten man" upon returning from injury. But Rathbone delivered an emphatic reminder of his immense qualities with a barnstorming display against Blackburn. The midfielder was regularly afforded time and space on the ball and excellently combined guile and class with endeavour. He won more duels and possession than any other Wrexham player, while his three interceptions and four tackles were also the best in the Red Dragons' ranks. Even more remarkably, his three league goals this season have come at a rate of a goal every 42. 7 minutes, such has been his lack of game time due to injury. Smith can also be immensely pleased with his efforts at Ewood Park. Wrexham were without two forward summer signings in Kieffer Moore and Ryan Hardie, but Smith led the line admirably and will have given Phil Parkinson plenty to ponder with his showing against Rovers. Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael: "It's another setback in terms of the result. I can't complain about the boys, they tried to go again, it was just a lack of energy today. "We lost the game in the first half. We conceded the first goal, we can avoid it. The second goal is a great shot. "We tried to find some energy for the second half and it was much better. We lost two players again today, and it's clear we've touched the limit with the squad. " Wrexham assistant boss Steve Parkin: "In the context of where we are in the season, it's been a great week. "The away form has just wavered a bit, and the gaffer made a point of saying that we need to get back on track away from home and we did it quite convincingly. " After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 1st January 2026 at 15: 49 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Valérien Ismaël Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Phil Parkinson Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Manager: Valérien Ismaël Formation: 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 Manager: Phil Parkinson Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions This will be the first time Blackburn are hosting Wrexham at Ewood Park in a league fixture since October 1981, a 0-0 draw under Bobby Saxton. Wrexham have lost only one of their last 14 league meetings with Blackburn Rovers, though 10 of those have ended level (W3), including the reverse meeting this season in Wales (1-1). Blackburn Rovers have only lost one of their last eight league games played on New Year's Day (W4 D3), drawing 1-1 last year at Elland Road against Leeds United, despite going 1-0 behind in the 88th minute. Wrexham have failed to win any of their last eight away games in the EFL played on New Year’s Day (D2 L6), since a 2-0 win at Lincoln City in the fourth tier in 1966. Wrexham’s Josh Windass has scored four goals across his last four Football League appearances on New Year’s Day, netting a brace for Wigan vs Birmingham in 2020 and for Sheffield Wednesday against Hull and Derby in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Wrexham 2. Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 0, Wrexham 2. Harry Pickering (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Sam Smith (Wrexham). Corner, Wrexham. Conceded by Sean Mc Loughlin. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Offside, Wrexham. Sam Smith is caught offside. Substitution, Wrexham. Harry Ashfield replaces Oliver Rathbone. Attempt saved. Moussa Baradji (Blackburn Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham). Assisted by Todd Cantwell with a cross. Attempt missed. Yuki Ohashi (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by George Pratt with a cross. Substitution, Wrexham. Liberato Cacace replaces Lewis O'Brien. Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Nathan Dlamini replaces Axel Henriksson. Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Dan Scarr. Moussa Baradji (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Ben Sheaf (Wrexham). Sondre Tronstad (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Sondre Tronstad (Blackburn Rovers). Oliver Rathbone (Wrexham) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Sondre Tronstad (Blackburn Rovers). George Dobson (Wrexham) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.