Blackburn Rovers 5-2 Birmingham City: Armstrong grabs treble in Blackburn win

Adam Armstrong scores for Blackburn Rovers against Birmingham CityImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Blackburn trailed but Adam Armstrong's penalty made it 1-1

Adam Armstrong finished a prolific season with a hat-trick as Blackburn beat Birmingham in an entertaining final-day encounter.

Kristian Pedersen put Blues ahead but goals from Armstrong and Ben Brereton had Blackburn in front at half-time.

Lukas Jutkiewicz nodded in an equaliser after the break only for Armstrong to restore the lead.

Harvey Elliott's superb finish and Armstrong's third - his 28th league goal of the season - added a late gloss to the scoreline.

Blackburn's win completed their first league double over Birmingham since 2000-01, as they finished 15th in the final Championship table.

Armstrong's hat-trick was his second in a row at home and third of the season and his final goal saw him beat Jordan Rhodes' tally of 27 back in 2012-13.

Birmingham ended the campaign in 18th place, the fifth successive season they have finished in the bottom third of the table.

They recovered strongly, winning five of their 10 games under manager Lee Bowyer, who missed this match for personal reasons.

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray: "Adam Armstrong could have had 40 goals rather than 29 but that's okay, that's good that he's disappointed he hasn't scored more.

"For Adam's sake let's hope the phone rings and someone offers us a ridiculous amount of money, we shake him by the hand and we say 'go and bang in loads of goals in the Premier League'. And we'll use some of that money in the team and can find another striker who can bang loads of goals in.

"He's such a talent. Let's keep rolling, see what the summer brings for Adam and the team."

Birmingham City coach Craig Gardner told BBC WM 95.6: "The younger players have had a great season, with the under-23s and the under-18s, and we thought it was only fair that we gave them the opportunity they deserve.

"The young players and the players that haven't had much game time coped with it quite well, because they had a strong team out and we matched them for most of the game.

"We faded in the last half an hour, which is expected. For them, to play back-to-back games in the Championship is a real test."

On manager Lee Bowyer's absence, following his wife's operation: "We got to the hotel yesterday. He had a phone call and he's had to leave, which under the circumstances was totally understandable. We were all behind him, and we wish him and his family well."

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