Birmingham 4-0 Blackburn

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Birmingham gained revenge for a 4-0 Premiership thrashing by Rovers as they reversed that score in the cup.

A 35-minute delay caused by electrical problems was quickly forgotten as Clinton Morrison coolly slotted home after sub Bryan Hughes set him up.

Stephen Clemence drilled home a second after a surging run by David Dunn.

Mikael Forssell caught Rovers on the break to strike a fine third before Morrison set up Hughes late on.

That was no more than Birmingham deserved after they totally dominated, despite first-half injuries to defenders Matthew Upson and Stan Lazaridis.

Steve Bruce's side looked determined to make up for lost time after the frustrating delay to the kick-off.

Former Rovers midfielder Dunn saw a shot deflect wide in the second minute and then set up Robbie Savage for a header that was cleared off the line by Andy Todd.

But the home side were forced into a reshuffle after only 12 minutes when England defender Upson was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.

KEY MOMENTS 12 mins: Birmingham centre back Upson stretchered off 23 mins: Morrison slots Birmingham in front 36 mins: Forssell sets Clemence up for drilled finish 78 mins: Forssell rounds Friedel to net third 84 mins: Sub Hughes slots home after Morrison sets him up

Without a central defender on the bench, Birmingham were forced to move Jeff Kenna to the heart of their defence, with substitute Hughes coming on to the right wing.

And Hughes had an immediate impact, hitting a fierce right-foot shot against the far post midway through the first half.

If that was a warning to Blackburn, Graeme Souness's side did not take heed.

Within a minute, Hughes played in Morrison and the striker kept his cool to slip a shot past Brad Friedel in the Rovers goal.

Hughes was the architect again as Birmingham came within a whisker of doubling their lead on 34 minutes, his pass setting up Forssell for a shot on the turn that scraped the outside of a post.

Once again though, a warning shot was quickly followed up with a goal.

A clearly fired-up Dunn set off on a dazzling run to create the opening, finding Forssell who held the ball up well and teed up Clemence for a crisp right-foot finish.

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The lively Forssell was denied a third when his shot on the turn smacked against a post in the second half.

But the Finnish striker was not to be denied and put the game out of Blackburn's reach with a well-taken third.

Rovers, who saw substitute Dino Baggio fire against the crossbar, were pushing forward when Forssell struck on the break, rounding Friedel before slotting into an empty net.

And more good work by Forssell allowed Morrison to spot the run of Hughes and lay on the fourth for rampant Birmingham.

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Birmingham: Taylor, Kenna, Cunningham, Upson (Hughes 13), Lazaridis (Carter 45), Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Dunn (Kirovski 76), Morrison, Forssell.
Subs Not Used: Bennett, John.

Blackburn: Friedel, Babbel, Todd, Short (Martin Taylor 52), Gresko, Neill, Flitcroft, Tugay, Mahon (Baggio 45), Cole, Gallagher (Yorke 59).
Subs Not Used: Yelldell, Jansen.

Booked: Tugay.

Attendance: 18,688.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).