THREE first-half strikes proved decisive as Blackburn Rovers comfortably saw off Premiership bottom club Watford at Ewood Park.

The results boosts Blackburn's chances of grabbing a European spot for next season, and almost certaintly confirms the Hornets' relegation back to the Championship.

An early two-goal blitz saw Rovers, unchanged from Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat, take charge.

They grabbed a sixth minute breakthrough when Christopher Samba scored his second goal for the club, heading home David Bentley's corner at the back post.

Jason Roberts added a second for Blackburn just four minutes later, shrugging off Clarke Carlisle before firing past Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.

The Hornets reduced the arrears on 22 minutes with their first proper attack of the game, Douglas Rinaldi converting Hameur Bouazza's cross.

But Rovers restored their two-goal cushion just after the half-hour mark, through Benni McCarthy's diving header.

Mark Hughes' side continued where they left off after the break, with the Roberts-McCarthy partnership causing the Hornets' defence problems.

Roberts again outmuscled Carlisle to tee up his South African colleague, but McCarthy fired wide.

Brad Friedel made a smart stop from Steve Kabba, while Bentley shot straight at Foster following a mazy run.

Foster also saved a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick, while McCarthy wasted another effort, but Rovers did more than enough to land three points.