Jordan Rhodes scored a hat-trick to help Blackburn Rovers beat Huddersfield Town 4-2 in their Championship match at the John Smith's Stadium.
The visitors started strongly and took the lead in the fourth minute. Rhodes got on the end of a flicked header from Rudy Gestede, before sliding the ball into the bottom corner past Alex Smithies.
Rhodes came close again soon after when he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area before firing in a strike that was hit straight at the keeper.
Blackburn continued to create the better of the chances, and David Dunn was next to try his luck with a shot from range that was held by the goalkeeper.
Midway through the half the home side equalised. Adam Hammill cut inside from the left and curled an effort into the far corner past Paul Robinson.
There was a worrying moment for the visitors as Gestede received treatment for a head injury and had to leave the pitch with his neck in a brace.
Nahki Wells wasted a chance for the home side before half time when he was played through by Jonathan Hogg, but he dragged his effort wide of the post.
After the break Wells had another opportunity to score for Huddersfield as he latched onto the ball inside the box, before lifting an effort past Robinson and narrowly over the bar.
In the 55th minute Blackburn regained the lead when Rhodes met Craig Conway's cross from the right to head into the bottom corner.
Ten minutes later the visitors scored their third of the afternoon, as Conway fired in a shot from distance that beat Smithies and went in off the post.
Huddersfield pulled a goal back in the 71st minute through Wells, who latched onto James Vaughan's header to smash an effort into the back of the net.
Blackburn restored their two-goal cushion with nine minutes of the match left to play. Adam Clayton lost the ball on the edge of his own area, with Rhodes stealing in to take advantage and complete his hat-trick.
Alex Meyers
