Blackburn Rovers 5-2 Huddersfield Town: Adam Armstrong hat-trick helps crush Terriers

Adam Armstrong scoresImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Adam Armstrong is the first Blackburn Rovers player to score 25 goals in a season in seven years

Adam Armstrong scored his second hat-trick of the season as Blackburn swept aside Huddersfield, whose Championship safety is not yet secured.

First-half goals from Armstrong and Ben Brereton put Rovers in the ascendancy, although a Ryan Nyambe own goal gave Huddersfield hope before the break.

But Blackburn struck three times in seven minutes early in the second half, with Armstrong completing his treble either side of Sam Gallagher's finish.

Huddersfield got a consolation through Josh Koroma's fine left-footed strike.

Rovers move up to 15th place in the Championship table, while Huddersfield remain two places above the relegation places and five points from safety.

Armstrong was the star of the show, as he took his tally to 25 goals in all competitions this season - the first Blackburn player to reach that milestone since Jordan Rhodes in 2013-14.

He also became the first Rovers striker since Chris Sutton in 1997-98 to score more than one league hat-trick in a season.

Armstrong's first against the Terriers was surely his easiest of the campaign, as he finished from a yard out after Terriers goalkeeper Ryan Schofield flapped at Joe Rothwell's corner.

In the second half he was set up for further goals by Brereton and Rothwell.

The only bright spot on an otherwise dismal day for Huddersfield was Koroma's superb effort, as he cut inside and curled one into the far corner, his first goal since December following a hamstring injury.

The Terriers, who have lost four of their past six matches, still need one more result - otherwise, sudden revivals for Derby and Rotherham could yet threaten their Championship status.

Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray:

"It was important to get the win and it's back-to-back home victories for us now.

"It's been tough this season and undoubtedly we've missed the home crowd.

"The front three all scored, we've worked hard with those boys and have invested good money into them.

"Attackers have to score goals, they're judged on the numbers, and we're pleased for them today."

Huddersfield Town head coach Carlos Corberan:

"It's clear, we didn't start well and we conceded two goals very quickly.

"We finished the rest of the half better and then wanted to take the risk to win in the second half.

"When you do this, you can suffer the counter-attacks and we did.

"I am the most responsible one as the head coach, and I must improve this."

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