Diaz hits hat-trick

BLACKBURN ROVERS Gallagher 24, Brereton Diaz 32, 45, 90 (pen) Dolan 53

CARDIFF CITY

Morrison 58

LINDSAY SUTTON

RED-HOT Chile International Ben Brereton Diaz warmed up nicely for his upcoming World Cup trip to South America with a first career hat-trick.

It brings the 22-year-old’s tally to seven in his nine games this season – and to add to Cardiff’s woes, both his first-half goals came after Sam Gallagher had put Rovers ahead eight minutes earlier.

He steered his shot brilliantly past goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, with

Brereton Diaz hitting home a superb first timer, before bundling in a blocked effort in first-half added time.

It left Cardiff with an uphill secondhalf battle to save their blushes and it heralded a third defeat on the trot.

Just eight minutes into the second half, 19-year-old Tyrhys Dolan hit Blackburn’s fourth after being set up by a Gallagher head-on.

And to follow his double strike, Brereton Diaz scored from the spot right at the death, after sub Reda Khadra was felled by keeper Phillips.

Boss Tony Mowbray said of Brereton Diaz: “Strikers always get the glory for their goals but Ben shows tremendous workrate all round.

“He tracks back and then sweeps forward and I’m delighted he scored his hat-trick against a strong, physical side like Cardiff.”

Cardiff boss Mick Mccarthy said:

“We can’t capitulate like we did. Their first goal was offside but that happens.

“When we conceded again the game had run away by half time.”

Cardiff’s Sean Morrison scored a consolation headed goal.

BLACKBURN: Kaminski 6; Nyambe 7, Lenihan 6 (Carter 56, 6), Ayala 6, Pickering 6; Buckley 6, Travis 6; Rothwell 7 (Edun 83), Dolan 7 (Khadra 65, 6), Brereton Diaz 9, Gallagher 8.

Unused Subs: Pears, Butterworth, Clarkson, Edun, Poveda.

CARDIFF CITY: Philips 6; Ng 5 (Giles 45, 6), Morrison 7, Flint 6, Nelson 5, Bagan 5; Pack 6, Vaulks 5 (Harris 45, 6); Bacuna 5, Colwill 6 (Collins 81), Moore 6.

Unused Subs: Smithies, Mcguiness, Collins, Sang, Bowen.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Ben Brereton Diaz. Showed his hot Chile credentials at the double in this Rovers’ rout.

REFEREE: Keith Stroud 8.