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Result: Adam Armstrong's late header sees Blackburn overcome Luton

Result: Adam Armstrong's late header sees Blackburn overcome Luton
© Reuters
Adam Armstrong struck in the 85th minute.

Adam Armstrong's late header made it three wins in four for Blackburn as they edged out Luton 1-0 to strengthen their Championship play-off hopes.

The striker's powerful 85th-minute header after quick thinking from Lewis Holtby following a Luton injury stoppage proved to be enough in a tight game where neither side deserved to win on the balance of play.

But with a striker as clinical as Armstrong, one chance can make all the difference and he struck to move Rovers within three points of sixth-place Bournemouth.

Luton will be bitterly disappointed after a spirited display that warranted something. They remain midtable after losing for the fourth time in five away league games.

Stewart Downing made his 750th career appearance, in one of two changes from Blackburn's win at Middlesbrough. Luton made three alterations, including a first start since December for Matty Pearson, the matchwinner in this fixture last season.

Blackburn started the game with real intensity and were handed a golden early opportunity after a stray backpass from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall but Sonny Bradley's superb tackle denied Armstrong.

Harry Cornick's lung-busting run from deep inside Luton territory relieved the pressure on the visitors and his threaded pass set up Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 12 yards out but Downing brilliantly blocked his strike.

Instant control from Harvey Elliott manufactured a chance for Rovers on the half hour but the shot did not match the touch, and Luton ended the half strongly, with Ryan Nyambe producing an important intervention to deny Mpanzu.

Blackburn's Armstrong had the first shot on goal immediately after the restart when he did well to cut inside from the right before shooting straight at Simon Sluga.

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray made a quadruple substitution and it seemed to inject much-needed impetus into his side.

Tyrhys Dolan was sent on and missed a glorious chance in the 73rd minute when Bradley Dack intercepted a pass from the back and Sam Gallagher's cross fell to the teenager, but a last-ditch block by Martin Cranie deflected the ball over.

It felt like one goal would be enough all afternoon and so it proved as Rovers struck five minutes from time when Holtby's ball was nodded across goal by Gallagher towards Armstrong who powered his header past Sluga from 12 yards for his 18th of the season.

The Hatters went agonisingly close to equalising in the final minute. A testing free-kick was flicked goalwards but cleared off the line by Barry Douglas before the offside flag thwarted Cornick, and Blackburn held on for a vital win.

ID:432855:cQx

How you voted: Blackburn vs Luton

Blackburn Rovers
59.1%
Draw
31.8%
Luton Town
9.1%
22
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Norwich City manager Daniel Farke pictured on January 23, 2021
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich29177539241558
2Brentford29169455302557
3Watford30159638201854
4Swansea CitySwansea27158435152053
5Reading30156944341051
6Bournemouth291210743281546
7Cardiff CityCardiff30127114233943
8Middlesbrough30127113431343
9Stoke CityStoke30101283433142
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn281161142311139
11Barnsley28116113134-339
12Preston North EndPreston30123153438-439
13Bristol City30123152941-1239
14Millwall2981472827138
15Luton TownLuton29107122331-837
16Derby CountyDerby2997132130-934
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2989122530-533
18Queens Park RangersQPR2789102632-633
19Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3096153444-1033
20Coventry CityCoventry29710122740-1331
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham2785143338-529
22Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2997132131-1028
23Birmingham CityBirmingham29610132135-1428
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2947182251-2919

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