Fleetwood Town beaten by Blackburn Rovers in Highbury friendly

Goalscorer Ched Evans on the ball for Fleetwood against Blackburn Picture: FLEETWOOD TOWN FC

Ched Evans gave Town the lead but the Championship club hit back as Adam Armstrong scored two of their three second-half goals.

Paddy Madden was the first to test Rovers keeper Andrew Fisher with a long-range shot.

Town took the lead inside 15 minutes as Callum Camps' corner was volleyed goalwards by Danny Andrew and Evans headed home.

New Town keeper Joel Coleman's first taste of the action was a comfortable save from Ben Brereton at his near post.

He made a more impressive save from the same player shortly afterwards, pushing his penalty around the post after Ryan Nyambe had been brought down by Andrew.

Andrew then dragged a shot wide but Blackburn equalised on 25 minutes, when Harry Chapman found space in the box to fire home.

Fleetwood had chances to regain the lead before half-time but Evans' effort from an Andrew cross was cleared off the line by Jacob Davenport, who also blocked Wes Burns' effort at the near post.

The Championship club made a flying start to the second half and took the lead when Armstrong converted a cross by substitute Tyrhys Dolan.

Barry Baggley twice tested the Rovers' second-half keeper Jordan Eastham from range but the visitors extended their lead on 67 minutes, Armstrong bursting clear to fire his second past the advancing Coleman.

The victory was sealed when Luke Brennan made it four but Fleetwood battled to the end, and James Hill twice tested Eastham with headers from corners.

It means Fleetwood have followed two pre-season wins with two defeats before heading to Huddersfield Town on Wednesday for a further test against Championship opposition.

Fleetwood: Coleman, Triallist, Andrew, Boyes, Holgate, Burns, Evans, Camps, Baggley, Coutts (C), Madden; Subs: Cairns, Biggins, Triallist, Hill, Rydel, Triallist, Triallist, Saunders, Matete, S.Morris.

Blackburn: Fisher, Nyambe, Bell, Wharton, Lenihan (C), Travis, Chapman, Buckley, Brereton, Davenport, Holtby; Subs: Eastham (GK), Rankin-Costello, Carter, Williams, Evans, Johnson, Lyons, Rothwell, Dolan, Grayson, Pike, Brennan, Armstrong, Bennett, Hilton.