Dwight Gayle bagged a hat-trick inside 15 minutes as Posh beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 at Ewood Park.

Peterborough United produced a superb first half display to claim a 3-2 victory at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers with Dwight Gayle bagging a hat-trick inside 15 first half minutes.

Grant McCann sent an early effort well wide of the target on two minutes after a solid start by Darren Ferguson's men. Moments later and Danny Swanson missed a very presentable opportunity as Gayle fed the ball to the winger, but off balance, his left-foot shot was skied.

The deadlock was broken on 10 minutes as Dwight GAYLE converted from close-range into the roof of the net after Kean had twice denied Danny Swanson.

Posh were in dreamland moments later as GAYLE nodded home an expert Mendez-Laing left-footed centre and for a man who had not scored in 2013, he now had two in three minutes.

Posh made it 3-0 on 26 minutes as Mendez-Laing fed Tomlin, his shot was parried by Kean and who was there to gobble up the chance? Dwight GAYLE of course. His first hat-trick of his professional career and in 15 minutes.

Olejnik made a fine stop to deny Scott Dann's powerful header from a Murphy centre from the left. Swanson was then a whisker away from a fourth after finding acres of room in a central area, his curler going just wide.

Blackburn made a triple change at the break with Adam Henley, Cameron Stewart and David Jones introduced from the bench. Moments after the break and intelligent link between Tomlin and Swanson saw the latter denied by goalkeeper Kean by his near post.

Tomlin fired wide on the half volley after good football from Payne and McCann on 51 minutes. Olejnik denied substitute Cameron Stewart while Dann was cautioned for a foul on Danny Swanson.

Swanson himself was then booked for a foul. Blackburn reduced the arrears on 73 minutes as a poor back pass was intercepted by Jordan RHODES, who nutmegged Bostwick and finished clinically into the top corner leaving Olejnik no chance.

Kane Ferdinand replaced Mendez-Laing on 76 minutes to bring more energy to the Posh performance. Swanson was replaced by Joe Newell on 78 minutes.

Lowe was a whisker away from reducing the arrears further moments later, but his shot went wide of the far post after good work from Campbell. Olejnik produced a fine stop to deny an innovative effort from Rhodes on 86 minutes.

Four minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official. Two minutes into stoppage time, Blackburn pulled another goal back as substitute JONES fired home with his left-foot from the edge of the area.

Final Score: Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Posh

Blackburn: Kean, Orr (sub Henley 46min), Dann, Hanley, Rekik, Bentley (sub Jones 46min), Lowe, Murphy (sub Stewart 46min), Markus Olsson, Campbell, Rhodes. Unused subs: Sandomierski, Givet, Pedersen, Nuno Gomes..

Posh: Olejnik, Little, Rowe, Bostwick, Zakuani, Payne, McCann, Mendez-Laing (sub Ferdinand 76min), Swanson (sub Newell 78min), Tomlin, Gayle. Unused subs: Day, Alcock, Knight-Percival, Brisley, Barnett, 

Attendance: 13,192 (385 Posh fans)