Blackburn 4-0 FK Vetra, Rovers earn UEFA spot

Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes saw his side secure a place in the UEFA Cup on the day he signed Roque Santa Cruz from Bayern Munich.

The pressure is on the other strikers to deliver now the Paraguay international has set up camp at Ewood Park.

Blackburn scored goals for fun in this Intertoto Cup third round tie but it is doubtful if they will enjoy such an easy ride in the coming season.

The Lithuanian team were outclassed after being reduced to 10 men before half time.

Blackburn romped home and clinched a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup thanks to goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen, Jason Roberts, Christopher Samba and Benni McCarthy.

• Rovers bag Santa Cruz, earn Euro spot

Hughes made one change to the side that recorded a 2-0 victory in Lithuania last week with midfielder Aaron Mokoena replacing Tugay.

Blackburn ran the game from the start and McCarthy had a good chance of opening the scoring in the 15th minute only to hook his effort across the face of the goal.

Then a minute later the highly-rated South African dragged his shot wide of the target.

However the visitors almost pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute when Severino was left unmarked at the back post.

But the Brazilian failed to test goalkeeper Brad Friedel much to Blackburn's relief.

That acted as a wake-up call and Pedersen opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he powered home a cross from David Bentley.

Bentley tried his luck in the 36th minute only for goalkeeper Vaidas Zutautas to make a clean save.

Vetra's troubles increased in the 40th minute when they were reduced to 10 men with Dejan Miloseski sent off for two yellow cards.

Blackburn needed only three minutes of the second half to make it 2-0 on the day and 4-0 on aggregate.

Pedersen skipped to the byline and delivered a ball to the back post where Jason Roberts was waiting.

He made no mistake against a depleted Vetra side, who looked short on confidence.

Blackburn stepped up the pace and extended their advantage with two goals in quick succession.

McCarthy showed superb skill to score from inside the area in the 54th minute.

Then 60 seconds later Christopher Samba got on the end of a Pedersen free kick to head past Zutautas and put Blackburn 6-0 ahead on aggregate.

Substitute Matt Derbyshire should have added a fifth but saw his shot blocked in the 68th minute as Blackburn ran out easy winners.