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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Blackburn Rovers vs Barnsley. Sky Bet Championship.

Ewood ParkAttendance13,781.

Blackburn Rovers 3

  • B Dack (24th minute, 86th minute)
  • S Downing (69th minute)

Barnsley 2

  • C Chaplin (48th minute)
  • C Woodrow (82nd minute)

Blackburn 3-2 Barnsley: Bradley Dack strikes twice as Rovers edge victory

Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at Ewood Park

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Blackburn and Barnsley

Gerhard Struber's first game in charge of Barnsley ended in defeat as Bradley Dack's brace helped Blackburn to a 3-2 win at Ewood Park.

There were encouraging signs for the Austrian's first game but defensive frailties were a constant theme, which gave Dack the easiest of chances to opening the scoring in the 24th minute.

The Tykes hit back three minutes after the break through substitute Conor Chaplin, before fellow sub Stewart Downing restored Rovers' lead in the 69th minute with his first league goal for Rovers.

Cauley Woodrow's seventh of the season looked to have secured a much-needed point in the 82nd minute, but Barnsley's defence once again fell apart and Dack scrambled home a winner four minutes from time.

BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Bradley Dack of Blackburn Rovers celebrates scoreing his side's first goal  the Sky Bet Championship match between Blackburn Rovers and Barnsley at Ewood Park on November 23, 2019 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Rachel Holborn - BRFC/Getty Images)

Barnsley remain at the foot of the table after stretching their winless run to 16, while Rovers put some well-needed space between themselves and the bottom three.

Rovers were forced into changes in defence after injury and illness ruled out Derrick Williams and Ryan Nyambe respectively, but Darragh Lenihan was fit to return.

Struber's first starting XI included five alterations.

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Chances were at a premium in a poor first half, but Barnsley's Woodrow spurned a good opportunity after latching onto a neat flick by Jacob Brown and bursting into the area. He could only fire straight at Christian Walton, who parried to safety.

But a defensive lapse cost them dearly in the 24th minute when a poor pass by Mads Andersen was intercepted by Lewis Travis. The ball fell to Adam Armstrong and he unselfishly squared to Dack, who slotted into an empty net.

That was it for the first period, but the Tykes levelled in the 48th minute when Brown laid the ball to half-time substitute Chaplin who took one touch to control before rifling an unstoppable shot into the right corner.

Rovers were almost handed the initiative straight back when Barnsley goalkeeper Samuel Radlinger's clearance fell straight to Joe Rothwell, but the Austrian stopper made amends, doing well to repel the long-range effort while back-peddling.

Alex Mowatt's sumptuous 25-yard curling strike went agonisingly wide, but they were behind against the run of play 19 minutes from time through Downing, who controlled on the edge of the area before drilling a right-foot shot beyond the despairing Radlinger.

The visitors were not deterred though, as Chaplin stung the hands of Walton soon after.

They levelled eight minutes from the end when Chaplin turned provider, crossing for Woodrow, who diverted the ball home via his chest.

But the Championship's poorest defence was breached all too easily once again as Dack was left free six yards out and although his header was brilliantly saved, he managed to poke home his eighth goal this season.

What the managers said...

Blackburn's Tony Mowbray: "I love watching Dack when he gets wrapped up in it like he did in the second half, working, running, going playing where the ball is, playing like a kid in the playground really and he's got such natural talent.

"He scored his goals and helped us win the game. He scored a couple of weeks ago. Bradley is fine. As I said, we basically want him to get wrapped up in the game. "It was all about getting three points, I think. That's what we talked about, not about performance levels, but just trying to get three points. I think it was a really dangerous game for us."

Barnsley's Gerhard Struber: "In the second half we created a very good game and one point was the minimum we deserved. We have a long to-do list and especially when we build up, we had a better position, and these were not magic moments, but we planned and we build up and have more control.

"Then when we lose the ball we have a better situation from pressing and this is the most important thing now. On the other side, we need to clear when the opponent had set pieces. This is a task for every player, and we lost the game because of that. It's a very disappointing result."

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