ROVERS were torn apart by City winger Martin Petrov in the first half at Eastlands.

Petrov gave Zurab Khizanishvili a torrid time, and set up City's first for Darius Vassell to nod in at the far post, then his cross was turned into his own goal by Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen.

In between those strikes, Roque Santa Cruz glanced a header in from a free-kick to get his side back into the contest.

Blackburn came into the game on the back of a poor run of just one win in eight.

Bruno Berner replaced the suspended Stephen Warnock, while Chris Samba returned after a ban.