Rovers race to Royals win

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Mark Hughes' men had the game sewn up after barely half an hour courtesy of goals from McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz and Tugay.

Another McCarthy goal sandwiched between two headers from Royals substitute Kevin Doyle was enough to seal a third consecutive league victory.

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.

Brett Emerton whipped a cross to the back post which Santa Cruz headed back across the goal and McCarthy scored.

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.

Nicky Shorey's clearing header had plenty of distance, but the ball bounced kindly in front of Tugay, who unleashed an unstoppable drive.

Andre 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 also missed with a back post header.

Only Friedel's fingertips prevented Leroy Lita from scoring what would have been a 50th career goal after his shot on the swivel. Michael Duberry's back post header cannoned off the crossbar and Stephen Hunt's effort a yard from goal somehow stayed out.

Doyle headed home Shorey's 80th-minute inswinging corner at the near post. But two minutes later McCarthy scored from the penalty spot after Matt Derbyshire had been fouled. Doyle added his second injury-time, again a near post header from a Shorey cross.