Cambridge United’s run in the Emirates FA Cup came to an end at Ewood Park as Blackburn Rovers came away 5-2 winners…
After twice taking the lead in the first half through goals from Lankester and Kaikai, Blackburn Rovers came roaring back in response and it was a Szmodics first half hat-trick that grabbed the local headlines, before a further two goals in the second half to confirm their progression into the next round.
Neil Harris named three changes following the New Year's Day clash against Leyton Orient, as Ryan Bennett, Sullay Kaikai and Adam May came into the team in place of Michael Morrison, Saikou Janneh and George Thomas.
United came out of the blocks fast and immediately put the home side under pressure. Looking hungry to cause an upset, it took just seven minutes for Lankester to score the opening goal with a superbly struck curling effort following a U’s free-kick which was recycled out to the attacker, who brought the ball inside before finding the far corner.
The game was fairly stretched and both sides failed to make the most of decent openings within the next five minutes – Liam Bennett almost getting into the perfect position to receive Lankester’s pass on a swift counter attack before Rovers flashed the ball across goal at the other end.
The other Bennett – Ryan – made a brilliant block to deny a certain Blackburn goal on 17 minutes as he slid across the face of goal to deny Telalovic from scoring at point blank range.
Pressure was growing on the U’s goal though and on 22 minutes, Rovers star man, Sammy Szmodics drew his team level after a neat passing exchange opened United up.
Rather than accept their fate as underdogs and go down with a whimper, United fought back again and retook the lead before the half hour mark, as Sullay Kaikai volleyed home after latching onto Lankester’s knockdown from Brophy’s cross.
Blackburn came back again though and levelled things up 10 minutes later - Sigurdsson slipping in Szmodics again who finished past Stevens to score his second of the game.
Kaikai tried to catch the keeper off his line soon after with an ambitious effort from near the half-way line - which drifted into Wahlstedt’s hands - and the final twist of a topsy-turvy half came in added time, as Szmodics completed his hat-trick by latching onto a whipped cross into the box, leaving Stevens no chance of making the stop.
A frustrating end to the half for United who despite showing so much promise going forward, it was the hosts who ended the period on top with three well taken goals themselves.
The second half started in a worrying fashion for United as Stevens’ crossbar was rattled by Moran just a few minutes after the restart, but the pattern of the game continued from the first half with the attacking failing to relent, as Kaikai lead a United counter up the pitch before laying it off for May, whose strike was comfortably saved by the Rovers keeper.
With less than 30 minutes to play, Blackburn made United suffer as they continued to push for more. After the U’s defence failed to clear their lines, Sigurdsson made no mistake from six yards out to open up a two goal advantage.
Gordon was brought on for May and Janneh was brought on for Lankester in response, but Leonard finished the job for Rovers with 10 minutes to play, directing a fine header into the goal to secure their passage to the fifth round.