VETERAN midfielder Craig Hignett stepped up his comeback from injury last night but his presence failed to inspire as Rovers crashed to another comprehensive defeat at St Andrews.

Hignett made his second successive start after recovering from a broken leg but he was powerless to prevent a hungry Birmingham side from cruising to victory courtesy of three second half goals.

Paul Gallagher went close for Rovers with a stinging shot which drew a fine save from the Blues' keeper.

But it was the home side who eventually broke the deadlock when Kirovski found the net with a curling 20-yard free-kick early in the second half.

Polish international Piotr Swierczewski then doubled the Blues' advantage after seizing onto a pass from Ferdinand Coly before scoring at the second attempt.

And Kirovski completed Rovers' misery with his side's third in the dying minutes.

BIRMINGHAM: Davies, Coly, Capaldi, Luntala, Gilbert, Purse, M.Johnson, Carter, Swierczewski, Fagan, Kirovski. Subs: Doyle, Luckett, Barrowman, Motteram.

ROVERS: Renton, Bruce, Pelzer, Danns, Fitzgerald, McEveley, Watt, Donnelly, Gallagher, Hignett, Morgan. Subs: Whelan (for Bruce,60), Harkins (for Watt, 75), Taylor (for Pelzer, 75) Not used: Johnson, Drench,

BIRMINGHAM RES ...3 ROVERS RES ...0