Blackburn 3-0 Birmingham: Kingson neck scare as Rovers run riot

Blackburn defender Chris Samba, who was carried off unconscious after catching Andriy Shevchenko's flailing boot full in the face at Stamford Bridge a week last Saturday, was the one looking on anxiously this time after challenging Kingson for a David Bentley free kick and seeing the 29-year-old smash into the far post as he followed the flight of the ball out of play.

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Kingson was left flat on his back, inside his goal, but appeared to have recovered as he was being helped to his feet by Birmingham's physio.

But worried medical staff dashed from the dugout after he suddenly collapsed, and he needed lengthy treatment before eventually being taken off.

Kingson was taken to hospital for tests, though Birmingham officials later said it was a precautionary measure.

After squandering more chances, Blackburn finally went ahead with an unstoppable 25-yard drive from Bentley in the 66th minute.

Then Matt Derbyshire was hauled down by Rafael Schmitz in the box and converted the spot-kick, and victory was sealed with a 90th-minute header from Roque Santa Cruz.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce had changed his entire starting XI following Saturday's goalless draw at Anfield, and soon saw his makeshift side put under intense pressure by a far more recognisable Blackburn line-up.

Kingson had already seen a David Bentley free-kick curl just wide when he was bailed out by a goalline clearance by former Blackburn favourite Damien Johnson from Derbyshire's fifth-minute header.

Birmingham hardly helped themselves with a shambolic piece of defending that almost handed Blackburn a breakthrough.

Radhi Jaidi made a complete hash of a low cross from Derbyshire, swinging his boot wildly at it and slicing it behind him, where it struck Jason Roberts on the chest and flew towards the top corner.

It took a spectacular reflex stop from Kingson to save Jaidi's embarrassment.

Kingson was the one owing a debt of gratitude in the 14th minute after Brett Emerton's through ball sent Derbyshire scampering clear down the right.

The England Under 21 striker lifted an angled shot over the advancing Ghana keeper, only for Stuart Parnaby to pop up with a saving header on the line.

Birmingham finally fashioned an opening in the 29th minute as Gary O'Connor took the ball off Mikael Forssell's toes, after darting run by the former Chelsea striker, and hit a low shot that forced a full-length save from Brad Friedel.