Reading 1-2 Blackburn

By Mike Burnett

McCarthy was three times denied by the offside flag before scoring

A David Bentley wonder goal helped struggling Blackburn come from behind and snatch a vital victory.

James Harper had put the home side ahead just before the break, driving home from the edge of the box.

But Blackburn came out fighting in the second half with Benni McCarthy beating the offside trap on his fourth attempt with a diving header.

With seven minutes left, Bentley sealed an unlikely win, sublimely firing home from 20 yards out.

Interview: Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes

Interview: Reading boss Steve Coppell

Blackburn's victory denied Reading a fourth home successive win since losing 4-0 to Arsenal back in October.

It was a frustrating result for Steve Coppell's men, who had waited 41 minutes to find a way past the scrappy Blackburn defence in the first half.

In fact, much of the early play saw the crowd's attention focused on referee Graham Poll.

The controversial official raised the hackles of some Reading fans when he turned down Kevin Doyle's penalty appeal after a clumsy challenge from Lucas Neill.

Doyle for his part showed why he is one of the top scorers in the league with eight goals, blasting over the bar in the 14th minute and drilling a snapshot wide shortly after.

However, Blackburn were made to feel the most unfortunate as McCarthy put the ball in the back of the net three times before finally being rewarded with a goal on his fourth attempt.

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on the match

Both his first effort in the 15th minute and the third shortly after the break were clearly offside, but McCarthy had more grounds for complaint about his second.

At the other end, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Harper forced a great double save from keeper Brad Friedel before the latter finally put the home side ahead.

Four minutes from the break, Harper collected a sublime pass from Stephen Hunt and made no mistake from the edge of the area to give Reading a richly-deserved lead.

The Madejski Stadium erupted into life but the lead was to be short-lived as a more invigorated Blackburn side returned for the second half.

After failing to beat the offside trap for a third time in a row, McCarthy finally got on the scoresheet in the 64th minute.

Neill sent in a looping cross from the right and McCarthy made no mistake as his diving header rocketed into the back of the net.

It looked as though Reading might still hold on for a draw but Bentley seemed to have other ideas.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, the 22-year-old midfielder pounced on a mistake by substitute John Oster, who had given the ball away with his first touch of the game, and dashed to the edge of the area.

Bentley left keeper Marcus Hahnemann with no chance as his stunning strike rocketed into the top left-hand corner of the net and clinched all three points for the visitors.

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Reading boss Steve Coppell:
"All the signs in the first 45 minutes were good as we scrapped and fought hard.

"I thought once we took the lead that we would be strong enough to withstand them.

"We lost our way after the break and it is the first half this season in which we have let ourselves down.

"Blackburn improved their game and they took advantage of our frailties and I was disappointed by our response."

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:
"We had a real go in the second half - we were 1-0 down so we needed a reaction and we got it.

"The way we were playing and the attitude we had in the second half, we weren't to be denied."

"David's scored quality goals this season, but he'll be very pleased because that one won us the game."

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Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Oster 83), Sidwell, Harper, Hunt (Long 88), Doyle, Ki-Hyeon (Lita 75).
Subs Not Used: Federici, Gunnarsson.

Booked: Murty.

Goals: Harper 41.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Ooijer, Gray, Bentley, Kerimoglu, Savage, Pedersen, McEveley (Nonda 46), McCarthy (Derbyshire 90).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Matteo, Peter.

Booked: McEveley, McCarthy.

Goals: McCarthy 64, Bentley 84.

Att: 23,074

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).