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 comfortable victory.

Roque Santa Cruz partnered Benni McCarthy in the Rovers attack after recovering from tendinitis.

Royals boss Steve Coppell was celebrating his 200th match in charge but opted to leave Irish international Kevin Doyle on the substitutes bench as the visitors went in search of a first ever win at Blackburn.

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.

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.

The American 'keeper was busier after the break though, producing a fingertip save to deny Leroy Lita a 50th career goal.

The England Under-21 player was soon joined on the field by Doyle but opportunities were scarce. For all their fresh firepower it was a defender, Michael Duberry, who came closest to pulling one back for the visitors when his back post header cannoned off the crossbar from Shorey's cross.

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.

But two minutes later Rovers were 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 gained their first victory over the Royals at Ewood Park for 27 years.