Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Wrexham: Red Dragons clinch third successive Championship win

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 McLoughlin 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, McLoughlin 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.