Blackburn Rovers could look back on big Sammie Szmodics moment with anguish: View | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers drew 0-0 with Coventry City on Saturday afternoon, and although the Sky Blues are a strong outfit, a point may not be enough in Rovers' quest for Championship survival.

John Eustace's men sit 19th in the table on 50 points, just three points above the bottom three with one game left to play, meaning that wins for Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Birmingham City on the final day of the season, coupled with a Rovers defeat, would send the Lancashire side down to League One.

The Ewood Park outfit take on Leicester City away from home on the final day of the campaign, which is a tricky task on paper, but it is possible that the Foxes will have taken their foot off the gas as they have already secured their Premier League return, so there may be an opportunity for Rovers to take home all three points and secure their safety.

Eustace's side are in for a nerve-wracking last day, but they could have already secured their place in the 2024/25 Championship season if they had beaten the Sky Blues.

Rovers could look back on Sammie Szmodics miss with regret

It could be argued that, without Sammie Szmodics on their side, Rovers would already have faced the fate of an unwanted return to the third tier for the first time since 2018.

The Republic of Ireland international looks certain to win the Championship golden boot, as he has scored 25 goals this season, and his closest rival, Southampton hotshot Adam Armstrong, sits on 20 goals with just one game left.

Szmodics has complemented his goal-scoring exploits with four assists, meaning he has 29 goal contributions from 43 appearances this campaign, a second tier total bettered only by former Rovers man Armstrong, who has been directly involved in 33 goals, with 13 assists.

If the Lancashire outfit avoid relegation, they are indebted to Szmodics, and the impressive manner in which he has led the line at Ewood Park.

However, when a golden opportunity to secure Rovers' Championship status fell to the attacking midfielder on Saturday, he squandered his chance.

In the 12th minute, Sky Blues shot-stopper Brad Collins could only parry Tyrhys Dolan's effort straight to Szmodics, who had the goal at his mercy.

Given Szmodics' goal-scoring record this campaign, the Ewood Park faithful expected the net to bulge, but the 28-year-old ballooned his effort over the bar.

If Eustace's men are relegated to League One, despite all of Szmodics' heroics this season, Rovers fans will surely look back on that miss as the moment their side could have achieved survival.

Whether or not the Lancashire side achieve Championship survival, Szmodics is clearly a class above his teammates, and a move away from Rovers would seemingly be the right thing to do for his career.

According to a fresh report from The Sun, Rovers have set an asking price of £15-20 million for their ace, amid interest from Brentford, Luton and Sheffield United.

A move to the Bees would see Szmodics playing Premier League football next season, while a move to the Blades would see the former Peterborough man plying his trade for a side who will be chasing an immediate return to the Premier League following a dismal top-flight campaign.

The Hatters also look like they will make an unwanted return to Championship football, with just one win in their last 14 Premier League games, with three games left to play.

A move to any of these clubs would favour Szmodics, who is clearly operating at a higher level than that of his current club, who are struggling to keep their heads above water in the second tier.