NEW signing Martin Andresen marked his Rovers debut with a well taken goal and showed some fine touches in this one-sided encounter.

Birmingham were first to press when Alan Morgan lost possession to Andrew Barrowman near to the left hand touchline. The young striker sprinted into the area but his shot lacked penetration and was easily held by Peter Enckelman.

On nine minutes good work by Ciaran Donnelly found Jemal Johnson in a good position however, he was quickly closed down and saw his effort deflected for a corner.

Johnson was again denied shortly afterwards after Matt Jansen's trickery got the better of two opposition defenders.

Rovers continued to press, this time Andresen picking out the hard working Johnson, who was just unable to profit from the through ball.

Blackburn took a deserved lead on 22 minutes when Johnson's penalty sent Ian Bennett the wrong way.

The spot kick was awarded after Johnson was felled in the area by the last defender Marcus Painter, the incident was a double blow for the Blues as Painter was shown a straight red.

Poor defending by Rovers should have resulted in an equaliser however, young striker Dean Curtis missed the target from six yards while completely unmarked.

Number two came just before the interval. A Jerome Watt free-kick near to the touchline was hit fiercely into the penalty box, with home keeper Bennett in two minds whether to stay on his line or attempt to collect, Nils Eric Johansson intervened with a powerful header that was perfectly executed.

Rovers started the second half looking to add to their host's misery and within four minutes number three was obtained with Neil Danns sliding in and scoring from close range after Donnelly's cross had panicked the home defence.

Andresen made it four on 54 minutes. John Fitzgerald played a lovely through ball to the Norwegian some 30 yards from goal, still with plenty to do he held off the attentions of an overworked defender before picking his spot past the despairing dive of Bennett.

Ten minutes later Andresen was replaced by Gary Harkins.

Danns tried his luck from long range which was comfortably colleted by Bennett.

With 11 minutes to go Donnelly should have done better with a header after Keith Barker's flick found him with the goal at his mercy.

Jansen's diving header near the end was not far wide from a Donnelly cross.

Birmingham: Bennett, Courtney, Grainger, Carter, Upson (Arrowsmith 61), Painter, Till (Hall 56), Clapham, Barrowman, Curtis, Motteram. Subs not used: Birley, Hamilton, Doyle.

Blackburn: Enckleman, Peers (Taylor 45), Morgan, Andresen, (Harkins 64), Fitzgerald, Johansson, Watt, Danns, Johnson (Barker 68), Jansen, Donnelly. Subs not used: Corvino, Yelldell.

Referee: P Canadine (Rotherham)

Birmingham City Reserves 0

Blackburn Reserves 4

Andresen, Johnson (pen), Johansson, Danns