Adkins tinkered with his squad for the trip to Ewood Park only to see his side slump to a sixth defeat in nine games in all competitions.

Reading’s boss surprisingly dropped Jamie Mackie to the bench even though the midfielder was named man of the match against Blackpool in the previous league fixture, which Royals won 3-0.

Simon Cox was also dropped to the subs bench on Saturday, with Jake Taylor taking his place.

The moves were met with stinging criticism from Royals fans and some sections of the media, prompting Adkins to speak out and explain his controversial decisions.

“For every game we analyse the opposition and put the team out we think is best suited to win the game,” he declared.

“We knew if we played with our two wingers right out wide, Blackburn would have a field day in the middle of the park because they play narrow.

“We put our players in between the lines so they could drive forward like they did at the start of the season, and I thought in the first half it worked well.”

The other change for Reading on the day was an enforced one as Michael Hector was suspended, allowing Jake Cooper to take his place in central defence.

The visitors started on the front foot and almost took a sixth minute lead when Glenn Murray’s header from Oliver Norwood’s cross struck the Rovers crossbar.

But Blackburn went ahead in the 16th minute when Rudy Gestede headed past Adam Federici from a Ben Marshall centre.

Adkins’ men grew in confidence after that and deservedly equalised a minute before the break when Murray converted Jordan Obita’s cross from close range.

However, Rovers regained the lead in the 55th minute in controversial style after Hal Robson-Kanu conceded a free-kick just outside the Reading area, a decision Adkins vehemently questioned.

Ben Marshall slammed the free-kick past Adam Federici from 30 yards to put the home side 2-1 up and leave Adkins seething.

Rovers secured all three points in the 68th minute when Gestede tapped in a rebound after former Reading target Jordan Rhodes had nodded against the post.

Adkins felt the defeat was harsh on his side after suggesting Rovers’ should never have won the free-kick that led to their controversial second goal.

“I’ve watched it back on video four or five times and for me it’s not a free-kick,” he fumed; “It was a big turning point as from there, the confidence in Blackburn grew.

“We’ve got to keep going and keep the belief about ourselves. We must show the grit, passion and perseverance to keep doing what we believe is the right thing.”

He also added: “As the away side I thought we did well in the first half, and Blackburn are in good form.

“We hit the crossbar at 0-0 through Glenn Murray, and deserved to get an equaliser when we did.

“Then at half time the vibe was good in the dressing room, and I said to the players to have belief and make it the first time we’ve come from behind to win a game.

“We came out brightly again, but then in my opinion it’s not a free kick for their goal. It’s a great finish, take nothing away from him, but it shouldn’t have been a foul.

“We were on the counter attack, their man has gone down because he knew Hal was away from him.”

The result means Reading have won only one of their last eight Championship fixtures, and that was against rock-bottom Blackpool.

However, Royals’ injury worries are beginning to ease with Danny Williams and Anton Ferdinand both fit for selection.

The pair could be handed a start tomorrow night when Reading host Rotherham United at Madejski Stadium (8pm ko).

Adkins admitted: “We just keep moving forward. Jake Cooper came in at Blackburn for his second game and did well again. It’s also pleasing to have the likes of Anton Ferdinand and Danny Williams available on the bench.

“For the first time in a while we had experienced players on the bench, not just in the starting 11. So we have to keep looking forward.”

Blackburn: Steele - Baptiste, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson - Cairney, Evans, Williamson (Tunnicliffe 45), Marshall (Conway 86), Rhodes, Gestede (Varney 81). Subs not used: Henley, Kilgallon, Dunn, Eastwood. Booked: Evans, Varney.

Reading: Federici - Gunter, Pearce, Cooper, Obita - Blackman, Akpan (Williams 76), Norwood, Taylor (Mackie 61), Robson-Kanu (Cox 61) - Murray. Subs not used: Andersen, Kelly, Ferdinand, Pogrebnyak, Cox, Mackie, Williams. Booked: Cooper, Obita, Akpan.

Ref: Carl Boyeson

Att: 14,237.