READING FC brought the curtain down on their Championship season with a 3-1 defeat away at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

A stunning first-half free-kick from Yann Kermorgant was not enough to prevent Royals from losing at Ewood Park and end a disappointing season for the club.

Blackburn took the lead through a well-taken finish from Elliott Bennett and doubled the advantage when Danny Graham side-footed a first time volley home, but Kermorgant thundered a spectacular set piece in off the stanchion to get the Reading back into the game before the break.

Grant Hanley made it 3-1 with a close range finish near the end and Rovers took the spoils.

Josh Barrett, 17, made his full professional debut at Ewood Park, starting for Brian McDermott's men in the final game of the 2015-16 season, while centre-back Rob Dickie, 20, was involved in the first team squad for the first time in his career.

A fit again Hal Robson-Kanu joined Dickie by starting on the bench as two of seven Academy graduates involved in the 18.

Blackburn took the lead with a fine finish from Bennett. A ball into the box from the left was controlled by Bennett and then well struck, volleying on the turn to arrow across the body of keeper Ali Al Habsi and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

It was 2-0 to Rovers soon after. A ball over the top from the left floated over Cooper found Graham running in behind the back line and he steered a first time volley wide of the dive from Al Habsi and into the back of the net.

Reading found a route back into it via a quite spectacular free kick from Kermorgant. Rakels was bundled over 20 yards out and referee Andrew Madley awarded a free kick.

Norwood and Kermorgant stood over it, but the Frenchman struck it to perfection, sweeping the ball over the Rovers wall and in off the stanchion, the ball bouncing over the line and the assistant referee confirming it as a goal with a wave of his flag.

Two changes at the break saw young defender Dickie make his Football League debut, coming on for Barrett while Hal Robson-Kanu was brought on for Kermorgant up front.

Garath McCleary moved into midfield with Dickie slotting in at right-back.

Rovers put the result beyond doubt with a third when a deep inswinging corner was bundled over the line from close range by Grant Hanley.

Robson-Kanu had the ball in the back of the net but was denied a goal as the referee awarded a foul as the substitute wrestled past his man illegally before firing home.

The final whistle sounded on a disappointing end to a frustrating season for Reading who finish the season in 17th position in the table with 52 points from 46 matches.

Blackburn: Steele, Duffy, Hanley (c), Kilgallon, Marshall (Evans 57), Lenihan, Lowe, Grimes (Conway 74), J Gomez, Bennett (Jackson 68), Graham. Subs not used: Raya, Henley, Ward, Williamson.

Reading: Al-Habsi, McCleary, Gunter, Cooper, McShane (c), Norwood, Quinn (Evans 87), Williams, Barrett (Dickie HT), Kermorgant (Robson-Kanu HT), Rakels. Subs not used: Bond, Watson, Kuhl, Stacey.

Referee: Andy Madley.

Attendance: 13,140 (Reading 446).