Blackburn Rovers took all three points against Bristol City in their first match back in the Championship. The clap for the NHS and the kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement produced a powerful start to the fixture. 

A beautiful strike from substitute, Adam Armstrong clinched the three points for Rovers in a thriller at Ewood Park. 

  • Story of the game

The two sides needed a win to boost their hopes of securing a playoff spot and their tempo reflected that right from the get-go. City started the game just one point off sixth, whereas Rovers were three points adrift. 

Jamie Patterson gave the Robins an early lead when his powerful header was too strong for Rovers keeper, Christian Walton. 

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Rovers reacted immediately as Corry Evans' got his first goal in the league since November 2015. Nobody got on the end of his cross and it trickled into the back of the net. 

Early in the second half, a Rovers corner saw Daniel Bentley spill the ball into the path of Joe Rankin-Costello and he slammed it into the top-right corner. Referee, Oliver Langford, ruled out the goal as Tomas Kalas collided with his centre-back partner - Langford thought a Rover attacker had fouled Kalas and awarded a free-kick. 

Rovers kept up the pressure and took the lead on the hour mark after a superb strike from Tosin Adarabiayo. City failed to clear their lines from a lofted free-kick, Adarabiayo punished. 

It was the top goal-scorer and substitute, Armstrong, who confirmed the three points for Rovers. Armstrong got his 13th goal in all competitions this season when he cut inside from the left-flank and mimicked Adarabiayo's technique into the bottom right corner. He extended Rovers' lead to two and put the game to bed. 

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Blackburn move to just one point off Preston North End as they drew 1-1 with Luton Town. Rovers climb up to seventh in the Championship table and are serious contenders for a playoff spot. 

Tony Mowbray's side do have the tougher fixtures to come as they have to play Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion, but a trip to bottom-half Wigan Athletic is next.