Rovers run riot late on to see off Hull City at Ewood Park

Darragh Lenihan opened the scoring with a scruffy close range finish in a game where it felt like a scrappy 1-0 win would do it for either side.

But Rovers turned on the after-burners, Adam Armstrong making it 10 for the season with a stunning strike before Dominic Samuel came off the bench to raise the noise levels yet still.

The win moves them to eighth, although having played a game more, and within three points off the play-offs.

Rovers should have been ahead inside 10 seconds had Armstrong done what he’s been doing of late, and snaffling chances in front of goal.

Graham’s knockdown from a long diagonal was missed by Robbie McKenzie and ran in to the path of Armstrong, only to be denied by the legs of George Long.

That was one of three goalbound efforts from Armstrong in the opening five minutes, the second curled just wide when cutting in from the left and the third a 25-yard strike that was straight down the throat of Long.

It was an encouraging start as Rovers were camped inside the Hull half, but there was a warning from the visitors in the 10th minute when a Callum Elder cross was met by the untracked run of Jackson Irvine but headed over the top.

Graham’s inclusion was likely to try and exploit an inexperienced Hull backline, and another knockdown put Bradley Johnson, but his flying header was saved at point-blank range by Long.

As the half wore on however, Rovers lost some of their impetus as passes went astray. When they did play with tempo they looked threatening against an equally injury-hit Hull side without a win since New Year’s Day.

Downing tested Long with a 30-yard free kick, and it was from the right that Rovers were looking more threatening.

Ryan Nyambe was getting forward from right back with purpose, one cross teeing up Armstrong whose shot was excellent blocked by McKenzie and one moments before the half-time whistle saw the stretching striker almost turn home.

Mowbray resisted until the hour mark to make changes, sending on Ben Brereton and Dominic Samuel in a double switch.

Hull, who had been there for the taking in the first half, had improved in the early stages of the second half and went close to taking what would have a shock lead when Irvine was denied by the bar, with Walton beaten, after a poor Lenihan clearance.

Sean McLoughlin also hooked over after a poor Graham clearance as Rovers struggled to build momentum. A Bennett shot deflected through to Long, and wild Bell shot, all they had to show for the opening 15 minutes of the second period.

They moved to a 4-3-3 after the double change, with Brereton immediately testing Long with a shot on the turn.

An excellent Armstrong run then ended with a shot deflected in to the side netting, with Adarabioyo heading just wide from the resulting corner.

But as much as Rovers were trying to create a grandstand finish, they were lacking an impetus in the final third, with Nyambe’s galloping runs from right back one of their main threats.

It was a set play that would hand them the lead with 17 minutes to play. First Johnson headed a Downing corner goalwards, and although Long was equal to that, Lenihan forced the rebound home from close range after a mass scramble ensued.

That goal appeared to settle Rovers down as they started to enjoy extended periods of possession.

But no-one could have predicted the goal fest that would ensued.

Armstrong made it 2-0, and 10 for the season, with a stunning 25-yard strike that arrowed in to the top corner.

And no sooner had the celebrations died down than Samuel netted his first goal since December 2017, firing across Long and in to the corner after good pressure from Brereton.

It was then party time at Ewood, with Armstrong going close to another stunning as Long needed to be at full stretch to keep out his late free kick.