It all Ads up for Rovers

HAT-TRICK hero Adam Armstrong dazzled as Blackburn Rovers put misfiring Huddersfield to the sword.

Rovers’ top marksman might be on his way out of Ewood come the end of a frustrating season for the club, but the 24-goal hitman showed his class with three fine strikes – and could have had more.

Armstrong and Ben Brereton deservedly put the home side 2-0 ahead within the space of 15 first-half minutes, but defender Ryan Nyambe scored an own-goal on halftime to give the Terriers some hope.

The chances of a courageous comeback were quickly extinguished as Armstrong bagged a second goal nine minutes after the restart and then three minutes later Sam Gallagher put the contest out of reach.

Armstrong completed a stunning afternoon at the office with his treble on the hour – and could have had a fourth if not for a fine

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN:

REFEREE:

Unused subs:

Unused subs: fingertip save from Ryan Schofield.

Josh Koroma bagged a consolation, but it was too little too late as the Terriers suffered their fourth league defeat in six matches.

“It was important to get a win,” said delighted Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, after his side’s second victory in 18 league games.

“It’s been tough this season, we’ve missed a crowd this season, but we got our rewards for our efforts.”

Schofield thwarted Armstrong early on, but the keeper inexplicably missed his punched clearance soon after and the striker headed home from close range.

Brereton sliced wide but soon made amends, smashing home with a sweet strike. Armstrong then miscued a sitter, and the Terriers pounced, Koroma’s cross cannoning off Nyambe into his own net. But Armstrong fired home from a Brereton pass early after the break before Gallagher thumped in a ferocious shot.

Armstrong got his second hat-trick of the season, combining well with Brereton again, before Koroma’s late curling strike.

Under-fire Terriers boss Carlos Corberan said: “We had many mistakes. I know our fans could not identify with that performance.

“I’m responsible as head coach and I must improve – I understand that everyone will blame me.”

ARMED Blackburn Rovers hotshot Adam Armstrong fired in three goals BLACKBURN ROVERS: Kaminski 7; Nyambe 5 (Bennett 74), Lenihan 7, Harwood-bellis 7, Bell 7; Evans 8, Travis 8 (Davenport 64, 5), Rothwell 8 (Buckley 74); Brereton 9, Armstrong 10 (Dolan 74), Gallagher 8 (Elliott 74). Pears, Douglas, Trybull, Holtby. Schofield 5; Pipa 5 (Rowe 58, 4) Keogh 5 (Edmunds-green 66, 4), Sarr 5, Toffolo 5; Eiting 5 (Holmes 58, 4), Hogg 5 (High 69, 4); Bacuna 5 (Aarons 58, 4), O’brien 6, Koroma 7; Ward 6. Pereira, Stearman, Thomas, Sanogo. MAN OF THE MATCH: Adam Armstrong. Bagged a fine hat-trick to make it 24 league goals for the season. Tim Robinson 7.