• Story of the match 

The contest began with instant pressure from the hosts, as Adam Armstrong rattled the bar with a curling effort from distance. 

Chances were limited in the next 20 minutes, but Blues took the lead with their first shot of the game on 22 minutes, as Kristian Pedersen collected the ball from a set-piece, finding the bottom right corner from close range for his second goal of the season.

Four minutes later, Blackburn were awarded a penalty after full-back Amari’i Bell darted into the box, losing Jonathan Leko who pushed Bell in the back, leaving referee Keith Stroud with no choice but to award a penalty. Adam Armstrong stepped up and converted, sending Birmingham keeper Connal Trueman the wrong way for his 27th goal of the season.

Ben Brereton put Blackburn in the lead on the stroke of half-time, with Sam Gallagher threading an excellent through ball into the path of Brereton who made no mistake with the finish.

The second half commenced and Birmingham hit back through substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz on 50 minutes, heading in from an inviting Steve Seddon cross for his sixth goal since the arrival of Lee Bowyer.

Blackburn then proceeded to apply all the pressure, as Harvey Elliott, Gallagher and Armstrong all came close to finding the net.

Armstrong was the man to restore Blackburn’s lead, with substitute Stewart Downing teeing up the striker for his 28th goal of the season.

Elliott then joined in on the act, converting past Trueman to put the game beyond doubt.

Armstrong then completed his hat-trick to cap off a five star performance for Rovers, with Corry Evans setting up the striker to seal victory for Tony Mowbray’s men.

Man of the match - Adam Armstrong 

Armstrong has been in fine form all season, scoring 29 goals in a season which has been flat for his club, but excellent for himself. A hat-trick today caps off an excellent season for the striker, who may even eye up a move to Premier League football in the summer.