McCarthy brace helps Rovers beat Reading

Blackburn 4 Reading 2

Benni McCarthy celebrated his return to Blackburn’s starting line-up with a brace as rampant Rovers recorded their fifth straight victory with a 4-1 win over Premier League rivals Reading at Ewood Park.

Mark Hughes’ men had the game sewn up after barely half an hour courtesy of goals from McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz and Tugay as the Royals’ rueful away form continued.

The home side sat back in the second half but another McCarthy goal sandwiched between two headers from Royals substitute Kevin Doyle was enough to seal a third consecutive league victory for Rovers for the first time since New Year’s Day.

Paraguay striker Santa Cruz partnered McCarthy in the Rovers attack after recovering from tendinitis, with the South African the only change to Hughes’ side, coming in for Morten Gamst Pedersen who dropped to the bench.

Royals boss Steve Coppell, celebrating his 200th match in charge, made three changes to his starting side with Emerse Fae, Andre Bikey and Ibrahima Sonko - making his first appearance since January – restored to the XI.

It took the home side 10 minutes to force Marcus Hahnemann into action, and the American goalkeeper had to be at his best to push away Christopher Samba’s low goalbound effort after good work around the box from McCarthy.

The Blackburn attack began to penetrate a Reading defence which has conceded an average of three goals on their league travels this season – and after 17 minutes they made the breakthrough.

Brett Emerton whipped an inviting cross to the back post which Santa Cruz headed back across the goal – and with Hahnemann stranded, McCarthy showed considerable poise to guide the ball home for his third league goal of the season.

Five minutes later, it was 2-0.

The otherwise quiet David Dunn slid in Santa Cruz – and Rovers’ leading scorer made no mistake, firing low into the left corner for his sixth goal in all competitions.

By now there was only one team in this game and with the home crowd in vociferous mood, it was no surprise when they added a third in the 31st minute.

Nicky Shorey’s clearing header had plenty of distance but unfortunately for him - and the Royals – the ball bounced kindly in front of Tugay, who unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top-right corner.

Tempers flared two minutes later when Stephen Hunt and Emerton squared up to one another but referee Andre Marriner showed common sense in opting to lecture the pair rather than go to his pocket.

Bikey had a great chance to pull one back for the visitors with a free header from 10 yards but his effort was straight at the otherwise untroubled Brad Friedel, and Samba showed similar profligacy with a back post header at the other end shortly before the whistle.

Coppell made a double switch in a bid to revive his side’s fortunes, with Brynjar Gunnarsson and Leroy Lita replacing Liam Rosenior and Bikey, but the changes had little impact.

McCarthy’s crisp drive moments after the break indicated Hahnemann would again be the busier of the American goalkeepers, although Rovers were dealt a blow when Stephen Warnock hobbled off with a knock to be replaced by Zurab Khizanishvili.

Only Friedel’s fingertips prevented Lita from a 50th career goal after his shot on the swivel appeared destined for the bottom-left corner.

The England Under-21 player was soon joined on the field by Doyle but opportunities were scarce with Rovers happy to hold on to the ball and frustrate their opponents.

For all their fresh firepower it was a defender, Michael Duberry, who came closest to pulling one back for the visitors, who have recorded just one point on their travels this season, when his back post header cannoned off the crossbar from Shorey’s cross.

Coppell’s side could again count themselves unfortunate moments later when Hunt’s effort a yard from goal somehow stayed out after a scramble inside the box.

The home side eventually paid the price for inviting pressure, however, when Doyle stole in ahead of his marker to head home Shorey’s 80th-minute inswinging corner at the near post.

But two minutes later Rovers had been awarded a penalty after substitute Matt Derbyshire – on for Santa Cruz – was clumsily clipped by Sonko and McCarthy drilled the resulting penalty low into the left corner.

Doyle added his second injury-time, again a near post header from a Shorey cross.

But it was to prove a mere consolation as Rovers claimed their first victory at home over the Royals for 27 years and Reading were left to ponder a potential relegation battle.