SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 23 hrs 27 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
BL
Championship
Apr 21, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
BL

2-4

Zigic (63'), Gray (84')
FT(HT: 0-4)
Gestede (10', 20', 45'), Kane (24')

Rudy Gestede hat-trick leads Blackburn Rovers to win

:Headline: Result: Rudy Gestede hat-trick leads Blackburn Rovers to win: ID:151141: from db_amp
A first-half hat-trick from Rudy Gestde leads Blackburn Rovers to a 4-2 win over Birmingham City.

A first-half hat-trick from Rudy Gestede has led Blackburn Rovers to a 4-2 win over Birmingham City at St Andrews in the Championship this afternoon.

The Frenchman missed a chance to open the scoring early on, but did manage to find the back of the net after 10 minutes, heading in from a Joshua King cross.

Jordan Rhodes almost doubled their advantage, but a block allowed Chris Burke to head down the other end, but he blasted the ball well over from the edge of the box.

Gestede claimed his second after 20 minutes with another header, nodding in from close range following a free kick from Craig Conway.

The visitors' high-tempo style continued to frustrate the Birmingham defence as Todd Kane found his way through just four minutes later to add a third Blackburn goal with a deflected finish.

Gestede completed his hat-trick deep in stoppage time in the first half with another header, resulting in the home supporters booing as their players left the pitch at the break.

Nikola Zigic picked out Federico Macheda just a couple of minutes after the restart as the hosts tried to get themselves back into the match, but Paul Robinson made a save with his legs to keep the ball out.

Zigic managed to find the target himself shortly after the hour mark as he headed in from close range from Callum Reilly's cross.

Conway came close to clinching a fifth for the visitors, but his 35-yard free kick just missed the left post.

The home side's hopes of an unlikely comeback were boosted inside the final 10 minutes when Demarai Gray rounded the defender on the edge of the box before firing into the bottom corner to score his first senior goal for the club.

Reilly tested Robinson during stoppage time as Birmingham tried to continue their comeback, but they were unable to reduce Blackburn's lead further.

The result leaves Birmingham just outside the relegation zone on goal difference, while Blackburn move up to ninth.

amp_article__151141 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2014-04-21 17:23:49:
html db last update - 2014-04-21 17:23:49 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
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
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .