Benni McCarthy scored twice as Blackburn Rovers emphatically claimed their first victory at home over Reading for 27 years.

This was rampant Rovers' fifth straight victory, and Mark Hughes' men had the game sewn up before half-time with goals from McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz and Tugay.

McCarthy added his second late in the second half, sandwiched between two headers from Royals substitute Kevin Doyle.

And there was more good news for the home side as striker Roque Santa Cruz made a rapid return to the team after overcoming tendinitis.

* Full match report and analysis to come.