Blues suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park this afternoon, as Rovers repeated their Carling Cup success with a Premier League victory.

Blues fell behind to David Bentley's well-taken goal after a quarter of an hour and trailed at the interval.

Gary McSheffrey had a goal ruled out shortly after half time for offside when he appeared to be level and Blues fell two behind shortly after to a Benni McCarthy penalty.

Cameron Jerome's fine finish reduced the arrears midway through the second half but Blues could just not pull off the comeback their efforts deserved.

Steve Bruce kept an unchanged side from the one which had performed magnificently at home to Champions Manchester United at St Andrews last Saturday as Blues sought to win at Ewood Park for the first time in almost 40 years.

Blackburn included Blues old boys Robbie Savage and David Dunn.

Blues got the game underway, defending the end behind which the small band of Blues fans were seated, although it was Rovers who were quickest out of the blocks as Bentley fired wide from distance.

Blues responded with Jerome forcing a corner, which came to nothing.

Jerome was again in the action shortly after, combining well with Kapo as Blues made their attacking intentions clear.

There was a scare for Blues in the tenth minute as Bentley controlled a long ball before shooting inches wide of Taylor's right hand upright.

Blues were right back on the attack and Jerome delayed his shot inside the Rovers penalty area when put through by Muamba's delightful 40 yard cross field pass.

Blues fell behind just after the quarter hour.

David Dunn found space on the right and whipped the ball in to the near post, where David Bentley controlled the ball well and drilled a left foot shot low inside Maik Taylor's post.

It was rough justice on Blues who had made a promising start.

Rovers were close to making it two soon after as Dunn linked play again to free Pedersen whose left foot drive whistled past Taylor's post.

Blues should have been level just before the half hour, as Nafti's delightful through ball left Jerome bearing down on goal after beating the offside trap with a clever run.

The big forward had plenty of time but powered his shot wide of the post after seemingly doing everything right.

It was a glaring miss and one which Blues could not afford, with chances at a premium.

At the other end, Santa Cruz did similar from a tighter angle after latching onto a Friedel's long kick.

Rovers came close again soon after as Santa Cruz crossed from the left and fullback Warnock appeared in the area for a free header which he directed wide.

Jerome's pace was clearly causing the home side trouble and almost led to Blues being back on level terms in the 37th minute.

Jerome did well to release Larsson, who delivered a wonderful cross, which only needed a touch from Kapo six yards out, but he failed to connect and the opportunity was lost.

It was another promising attack from Blues, who were certainly giving as good as they got in the opening half's exchanges.

Blues were given another opportunity to draw level as the interval approached, as McSheffrey and Kapo earned a free kick on the left. McSheffrey took the kick and it was just too high for Ridgewell and Djourou at the far post.

Half Time: Blackburn Rovers 1 Birmingham City 0

There were no changes for Blues as the sides took the field for the second period, but Rovers brought on McCarthy for David Dunn.

The substitute almost led to Rovers taking a two goal lead inside the first 30 seconds of the half, as he weaved through Blues defence and squared for Bentley who thought he'd scored from six yards out, only for Queudrue to clear off the line as Blues defended desperately.

McCarthy combined with Santa Cruz soon after, as Djourou was forced into conceding a corner.

Tugay became the game's first booking after 53 minutes, as he was cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

Blues thought they were level after 54 minutes, as McSheffrey turned the ball in after Larsson and Jerome had done well inside the Rovers area.

Replays suggested that the forward was in line, but Blues were soon to have even bigger problems.

At the other end, Djourou tangled with Santa Cruz and referee Clattenburg had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Substitute Benni McCarthy stepped up to extend Rovers lead with a cool finish.

Rovers immediately made two substitutions, as Savage and Tugay were replaced by Derbyshire and Mokoena.

Blues responded with a double substitution of their own, as Palacios and O'Connor replaced Muamba and McSheffrey.

Seconds later, Warnock joined Tugay in the book for a crude challenge on Larsson, as Blues sought a way back into the game.

Blues were back in the game after 67 minutes as Blackburn failed to clear a free kick.

After a poor clearing header, Djourou helped the ball back into the area, where captain Ridgewell nodded the ball down to Jerome, who unleashed a powerful drive high into the net beyond Friedel.

With 18 minutes left, Steve Bruce made his final substitution of the game, as former Blackburn player Neil Danns replaced Mehdi Nafti.

It was almost all over for Blues with a quarter of an hour remaining, as Derbyshire nodded cleverly into Bentley's path and the England man hit a drive into the side netting.

Moments later, Samba blazed over as Blues struggled to clear a corner. At the other end, Blues produced a flowing move which ended with Larsson's cross behind hastily cleared by Warnock.

It was end to end stuff now and Neil Danns won Blues a corner with six minutes remaining as he dribbled through a crowded area.

Soon after, Cameron Jerome became Blues first caution of the day for a challenge on Warnock.

There were three minutes of additional time, and in the first of those, Gary O'Connor won Blues a corner on the right. From Larsson's corner, Friedel produced a fine save to deny Kapo.

Full Time: Blackburn Rovers 2 Birmingham City 1

Blues: Taylor, Kelly, Queudrue, Ridgewell, Djourou, Larsson, Nafti (Danns 72), Muamba (Palacios 62), McSheffrey (O'Connor 62), Jerome, Kapo
Subs (not used): Kingson, Schmitz

Bookings: Jerome 84

Goals: Jerome 68

Blackburn Rovers: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Savage (Mokoena 58), Bentley, Dunn (McCarthy 46), Tugay (Derbyshire 58), Pedersen, Santa Cruz.
Subs (not used): Brown, Khizanishvili

Bookings: Tugay 51, Warnock 61, Bentley 90

Goals: Bentley 15, McCarthy (pen) 54

Attendance: 19,316