Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored the winner for Reading in the 2-1 win over a valiant Derby County while Mark Hughes’ return to Ewood Park ended badly as his Stoke City side fell to a 4-1 loss at Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

It was Steve McLaren’s Derby that began the match like rams on rampage, going close twice in the opening two minutes of the encounter.

First Craig Bryson concluded a neat team move with a sidefooted effort which was saved by Adam Federici in the Reading goal, with Federici denying Simon Dawkins moments later.

Simon Cox was denied by the Derby County post after being put through on goal by Nathaniel Chalobah while Darren Bent – on loan from Aston Villa – drew a great save from Federici with his close range effort before the half-hour mark.

Derby was edging proceedings with Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingaard drawing another save from Federici but McLaren’s side soon found themselves a man down just before the break as debutant Stephen Warnock received his second booking.

Things went from bad to worse for Derby as Hal Robson-Kanu finally broke the deadlock for Reading off a cutback from Cox 10 minutes into the second half.

Bent however got Derby right back in the game when a Lingaard shot going wide deflected off him and past Federici for the equaliser moments later.

But Reading sealed passage to the last eight of thr oldest Cup competition when Robson-Kanu put Aiyegbeni through on goal, with the Nigerian striking low to score his first goal in English football in just under three years.