WATCH: Chelsea loanee Palmer seals Blackburn win with gorgeous free kick

Strictly speaking, Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer wasn’t needed when he came on in the 60th minute for Joe Rothwell. Blackburn Rovers were already leading League Two pacesetters Lincoln City 3-1 in their second-round Carabao Cup (i.e. League Cup) tie and the game was comfortably in hand.

But football is a game of aesthetics as well as results. And the 21-year-old flashed both skill and beauty when he struck a free kick with pure perfection in the 77th minute.

A sweet strike like that is always needed in football. The goal was Palmer’s third already in all competitions as Rovers continued their unbeaten run to start the season, despite making six line-up changes.

Palmer himself has played a big part in the successful start for the fifth-placed Championship club, averaging almost sixty minutes per match so far. Scoring goals like that certainly won’t hurt his chances for getting more playing time.

The draw for the third round of the Carabao Cup will be on Friday, with Chelsea’s name in the hat as well.