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More to come from Blackburn Rovers' Ben Marshall - Gary Bowyer

3 November 2014

Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer was delighted with the contribution of Ben Marshall in Saturday's 3-1 defeat of Reading in the Sky Bet Championship.

The 23-year-old had a hand in all three goals that saw Rovers climb into the top six before the late kick-off between Bournemouth and Brighton - their highest league position under Bowyer.

Rovers went ahead after 16 minutes when Marshall produced a wonderful inswinging cross that Rudy Gestede met with a towering header.

Glenn Murray tapped in just before half-time to give Reading a deserved equaliser but Marshall curled in a superb free-kick 10 minutes after the restart and another pinpoint cross saw Jordan Rhodes head onto the post before Gestede slammed home the rebound.

And Bowyer feels Marshall can get even better.

"You look at the goals and Marshy's contributed to all three," he said. "The first one, you've seen exactly what he brings to the team. It's an outstanding inswinging cross with his right foot, the second is an unbelievable free-kick and then the third one, he's displayed great wing play and set the lad up with a great left-foot cross.

"We're delighted with his contribution, but I keep saying it - there's more to come from him. I thought his work-rate was terrific."

The win moved Blackburn two points away from the top two and Bowyer was quick to praise his side's work ethic after another rousing second-half performance against what he described as a "tough" Reading side en route to a third straight win.

"We were very good against a tough, tough team. It wasn't easy," he said. "We spoke during the week about getting the first goal and we're delighted we did that. To concede just before half-time knocked us back a bit but, again, the response in the second half from our lads is phenomenal.

"We get stronger in the second half. The fitness levels, energy and belief they've got is fantastic and it was evident again today. They [Reading] are a tough team and tough opponents and they'll be up there, that's for sure."

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