Blackburn boss John Eustace hailed his side’s “top drawer” substitutes after they helped earn a 4-2 win over Derby in their Championship opener.
Rovers started quickly and were rewarded when Tyrhys Dolan finished off a well-worked move in the 19th minute.
The promoted Rams slowly played their way into the game and equalised through Curtis Nelson’s thumping header in the 67th minute.
The change in momentum was identified by Eustace, who summoned Andi Weimann, Sammie Szmodics and Yuki Ohashi from the bench just before the leveller and the trio took the game away from Derby.
Weimann nodded a debut goal from close range, Szmodics converted a Callum Brittain cross and Ohashi cleverly lifted the ball home for his first Rovers goal before Kane Wilson’s late consolation header.
It was an almost faultless night for the hosts and Eustace was pleased with the impact his substitutes had.
He said: “I thought we were very good for the first 30 minutes. I was really pleased with the way we set the tone with how we wanted to play. The last 15 minutes, there were a few tired legs and we dropped off a little and defended well when we had to.
“It was always a plan to make changes on 60 minutes to get the emphasis back and the energy back in the team and I thought we did that.
“We conceded a goal, but I think with the three changes, defending a set-piece is always difficult, but after they scored I thought we controlled the game again for the next 15 minutes which was great.
“When you bring experience off the bench at vital times, they don’t panic. They are very settled, allow the other players to relax and get on the ball and I think that’s what happened tonight. The substitutes were top drawer and it was pleasing to see everyone play a big part.”
The game highlighted the challenge awaiting Derby on their Championship return and Paul Warne described the opposition substitutions as “cheat codes”.
He said: “I’m pretty proud of the performance. Box to box we were really good. First 10 minutes we weren’t. The pace of their movement was outstanding. They were switching the ball and getting out to their full-backs more than we would like.
“We had to tweak the way we pressed and our shape and I thought the lads from 15-20 minutes on were really good. We created good opportunities, but without much cutting edge.
“I thought second half we looked like, especially after we equalised, the team that were going to win it.
“I don’t think prior to us scoring the equaliser they got in our box. I felt we were in a good place and we were going to go on and win it. Maybe naively.
“They made changes, brought on cheat codes all over the place and we looked a little bit leggy. It’s my fault, I didn’t make the subs quick enough.
“I just felt we gave the ball away unnecessarily and at this level you get punished. I don’t think it was a 4-2 game. I thought the lads kept going to the end. I was really proud of that.”
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