Tyrhys Dolan got his fourth of the season for Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers ended a four-game winless run with victory over Reading thanks to goals from Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan at Ewood Park.
The Royals arrived in Lancashire on the back of five wins in their past seven games, but failed to take early chances for Baba Rahman and Andy Yiadom, while Gallagher struck the woodwork in a goalless first half.
Gallagher did find the net in the second period, tucking away Joe Rothwell's ball in just after the hour mark, having also forced a brave stop from Luke Southwood minutes before.
Dolan's curler three minutes later doubled the lead and gave Rovers some breathing space.
George Puscas forced a last-ditch challenge from Blackburn's defensive cover as Reading poured forward, while Leeds loanee Ian Poveda was unlucky not to add a third late on when he fired wide on the counter-attack.
Chile international Ben Brereton-Diaz has been the leading light for Blackburn this season with his 10 goals, but it was his supporting cast who took centre stage in this one.
Gallagher led the line and might have scored more than the strike which brought him a fifth goal of the campaign, while the wily Dolan also went close to a second after haring into the box shortly after his goal.
This win only takes them to 12th, but they are only one point behind Luton Town in fifth.
For Reading, while the threat of a points deduction looms for profit and sustainability breaches, and this result meant back-to-back defeats, they remain just two points off the top six.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBlackburn
Formation 4-3-3
1Kaminski2Nyambe5Ayala26Lenihan20Edun21Buckley27Travis8Rothwell10Dolan9Gallagher22Brereton
- 1Kaminski2NyambeSubstituted forPoveda-Ocampoat 61'minutesBooked at 79mins5AyalaSubstituted forvan Heckeat 39'minutesBooked at 72mins26Lenihan20Edun21BuckleyBooked at 38mins27Travis8RothwellSubstituted forJohnsonat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins10Dolan9Gallagher22Brereton
Substitutes
- 4Johnson7Khadra13Pears14Butterworth19Clarkson25van Hecke30Poveda-Ocampo
Reading
Formation 4-3-3
22Southwood17Yiadom6Moore24Dann21Baba15Drinkwater28Laurent14Ejaria30Azeez19Dele-Bashiru10Swift
- 22Southwood17Yiadom6Moore24Dann21Baba15DrinkwaterBooked at 90mins28Laurent14EjariaSubstituted forClarkeat 84'minutes30AzeezSubstituted forPuscasat 36'minutes19Dele-Bashiru10SwiftBooked at 56mins
Substitutes
- 3Holmes32Camara33Cabral Barbosa36Osorio39Clarke47Puscas48Ashcroft
Referee:Tony HarringtonAttendance:10,517Match StatsHome TeamBlackburnAway TeamReadingPossessionHome38%Away62%ShotsHome12Away12Shots on TargetHome5Away2CornersHome2Away2FoulsHome11Away14Live TextPost update
Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Reading 0.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Reading 0.
90'+2'Booking
Danny Drinkwater (Reading) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Danny Drinkwater (Reading).
90'+2'Post update
Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt saved. Scott Dann (Reading) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Baba Rahman with a cross.
90'Booking
Bradley Johnson (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'Post update
Baba Rahman (Reading) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Blackburn Rovers).
90'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Luke Southwood.
90'Post update
Attempt saved. Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bradley Johnson.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Bradley Johnson replaces Joe Rothwell.
85'Post update
Attempt missed. Jan Paul van Hecke (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Brereton with a headed pass following a fast break.
84'Substitution
Substitution, Reading. Jahmari Clarke replaces Ovie Ejaria.
81'Post update
Attempt blocked. Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyrhys Dolan.
81'Post update
Hand ball by Andy Yiadom (Reading).
79'Booking
Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
79'Post update
Danny Drinkwater (Reading) wins a free kick on the right wing.
79'Post update
Foul by Ian Poveda-Ocampo (Blackburn Rovers).
79'Post update
Attempt blocked. John Swift (Reading) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ovie Ejaria.
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Source: bbc.com