ROVERS made it four wins in a row with a hard fought victory over a stubborn Birmingham City side at Ewood Park.

Memories of Thursday's exit from the UEFA Cup at the hands of Larissa were quickly erased when David Bentley opened the scoring for the home side on the quarter hour, firing home from close-range after good work from Dunn.

The score was doubled just after the break when half-time substitute Benni McCarthy converted from the spot after Santa Cruz had been felled by Djourou just inside the area.

The game was far from comfortable for Mark Hughes' side, and the final minutes were certainly nervy and made all the more so when Cameron Jerome fired Birmingham back into the game on 68 minutes.

Olivier Kapo almost levelled in added time but his header from a corner was brilliantly tipped over by Brad Friedel to ensure that Rovers go into the international break in good heart.

Mark Hughes restored Robbie Savage and Morten Gamst Pedersen to the starting line-up, Aaron Mokoena and Matt Derbyshire having to settle for a place on the bench. But it was one of Rovers' ever-presents who almost opened the scoring from the off, David Bentley firing five yards wide moments after the opening whistle.

On ten minutes Bentley, celebrating another England call-up, went closer still, a free-kick from Pedersen arrives at his feet, Bentley strikes the ball well but it whistles just the wrong side of the upright.

His efforts were getting closer, and on fifteen minutes his goal duly arrived. David Dunn did well down the right, his centre was controlled well by Bentley in the area before firing through the legs of Ridgewell and into the back of the net at the near post with Taylor caught flat-footed.

But whilst Rovers were making the most of the opportunities presented to them, Birmingham, who had showed their Premier League credentials with impressive performances against Liverpool and Manchester United in previous matches, did trouble the Lancashire side's back line. A flowing move just before the half hour showed that Steve Bruce's were a danger, Medhi Nafti teeing up Cameron Jerome, but the former Cardiff City man fluffed his lines and fired wide with Friedel to beat.

36 minutes saw a flowing move started and finished by Christopher Samba, the Congolese defender strode majestically out of his own half into the opposition, including a step-over on the way, out wide to Dunn who returned it back to the giant defender who curled an effort goalwards but Taylor made the save as Rovers ended the first half as they started.

The home side were forced into making a change at the break, David Dunn limped off with a calf strain, but his replacement Benni McCarthy had almost a sensational impact when straight from the off the South African ran at the back-tracking defence, he found Bentley but he somehow couldn't add to his tally, Queudrue blocking on the line.

The game then turned in the space of twenty second half seconds. Gary McSheffrey having a goal ruled out for offside, moments later the play was switched to the other end and Roque Santa Cruz was brought down by Djourou just inside the area.

Benni McCarthy took the responsibility and made no mistake, stroking the ball into the bottom left corner of the goals, with Maik Taylor diving hard in the opposite direction. Moments later the South African saw a header cleared off the line from a Bentley corner.

Rovers then had to make two further substitutions through injury, Robbie Savage went off with a knock to his leg to be replaced by Aaron Mokoena, whilst Tugay, who was a doubt ahead of the game, took his time before being replaced by Matt Derbyshire.

Whether it was those changes, or their exerts in the UEFA Cup in midweek, but it was the visitors who ended the game strongly. Their game was boosted by a goal pulled back by Cameron Jerome, blasting home on 68 minutes after the Rovers defence failed to clear their lines.

McCarthy then showed great skill to beat Kelly down the left before setting up Santa Cruz, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.

But that was a rare moment of excitement from Rovers as the visitors pressed them back for the remaining minutes of the game, former Rover Neil Danns looking lively after being introduced. Despite that pressure Brad Friedel didn't have too many saves to actually make, but at the death the American earned his stripes with a sensational save. A corner to the back post was headed goalwards by Olivier Kapo, but the Rovers number one somehow turned the ball over the bar.

There were no further scares as the home fans chanted the team home for another welcome three points, and points that see Rovers rise up into a top-six position.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Tugay (sub Derbyshire 56 mins), Savage (sub Mokoena 56 mins), Dunn (sub McCarthy 46 mins), Pedersen, Santa Cruz.

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Khizanishvili.

BIRMINGHAM: Taylor, Kelly, Ridgewell, Larsson, Jerome, Muamba (sub Palacios 62 mins), Nafti (sub Danns 72 mins), Kapo, McSheffrey (sub O'Connor 62 mins), Djourou, Queudrue.

Subs not used: Kingson (GK), Schmitz.

Booked: Tugay, Warnock, Bentley (Rovers), Jerome (Birmingham).

Attendance: 19,316