MX23RW : Monday, November 25 10:48:50| >> :120:65949:65949:
[monks data]
Blackburn logo
Championship | Gameweek 45
Jul 18, 2020 at 3pm UK
Ewood Park
Reading logo

Blackburn
4 - 3
Reading

Brereton (3'), Armstrong (6'), Rothwell (56'), Gallagher (87')
Davenport (71')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Swift (15'), Baldock (64'), Meite (68')

Blackburn beat Reading with late winner in topsy-turvy seven-goal thriller

Gallagher's late header then proved decisive as Blackburn exceeded last season's points total.

Sam Gallagher struck late on to secure Blackburn a thrilling 4-3 Skybet Championship win over Reading.

Both sides had nothing to play for and it showed in the topsy-turvy nature of the game.

Two goals in the opening six minutes – Ben Brereton's first of the season and a clinical Adam Armstrong finish – put the hosts well on course for a simple victory.

But John Swift's 15th-minute free-kick gave the shellshocked Royals hope.

That seemed to be extinguished early in the second half when Joe Rothwell's deflected strike restored the two-goal cushion, but Sam Baldock was introduced off the bench and in the space of five second-half minutes, had headed home his sixth of the season to give Reading hope, and set up Yakou Meite to notch an equaliser – his 17th goal this term.

Gallagher's late header then proved decisive as Blackburn exceeded last season's points total.

Hayden Carter made his first senior appearance for Rovers, meaning Tony Mowbray's starting XI contained five academy graduates.

Blackburn flew out of the traps and were ahead within three minutes as poor defending allowed Brereton far too much space and he cut inside to slot home from close range.

They doubled the advantage three minutes later when Rothwell found Armstrong just outside the box and the in-form striker engineered space to rifle home a left-foot effort into the bottom right corner – his 16th goal this season.

Mark Bowen warned his team not to go through the motions, and they responded in the 15th minute through Swift, who thumped a sumptuous 25-yard free-kick up and over the wall, giving Christian Walton no chance.

Brereton almost added a second just before the break when he was played through by Armstrong, but Rafael Cabral and Liam Moore combined to keep out his attempted chip.

Tony Mowbray's side started the second half brightly and deservedly scored a third in the 56th minute as Rothwell's deflected shot deceived Cabral and found the bottom corner.

Brereton hammered wide when presented with a chance to make it four, and that profligacy was punished in the 64th minute as substitute Baldock announced his presence with a sublime glancing header at the near post.

Incredibly, the visitors were level four minutes later. Baldock again was key, finding space to chip the perfect ball to the back post and Reading's top scorer Meite buried his header into the far corner.

Michael Olise shaved the post moments later but Rovers grabbed a winner three from time when Harry Chapman found fellow sub Gallagher at the far post to head home his sixth of the campaign.

He even found time to hammer the woodwork before the end as Rovers deservedly took home maximum points.

ID:407081: cacheID:407081:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5151:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brentford's Ethan Pinnock celebrates with teammates after his winning goal against Charlton on July 7, 2020
Read Next:
Saturday's Championship predictions including Stoke vs. Brentford
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!