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Manchester City swept aside Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at Eastlands to leave Sam Allardyce's team still very much embroiled in the Premier League relegation scrap.

Felipe Caicedo tapped home from close range to put City ahead on 26 minutes, and Robinho doubled their advantage with a sumptuous finish from 18 yards soon after.

Elano made it 3-0 from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time, but substitute Keith Andrews grabbed a consolation for Rovers on 66 minutes - hooking in the rebound after El-Hadji Diouf had a penalty saved by Shay Given.

The defeat leaves Blackburn in 15th - six points clear of the relegation zone - and the teams directly below them, Newcastle, Hull and Sunderland, all have a game in hand.

City, meanwhile, climbed above Fulham and into eighth - just a point off West Ham in the final qualifying position for the Europa League.

The match got off to a scrappy start, with both sides intent on dominating a packed midfield and plenty of bite in the tackle.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Blackburn just three minutes in. Diouf was the creator, making space on the left and teeing up Ryan Nelsen, but the Rovers skipper saw his shot blocked.

Allardyce's team looked up for the fight and determined to take the game to City. On 21 minutes Rovers appealed for a penalty, when a prone Nigel de Jong blocked Benni McCarthy's shot, but the referee ruled against a handball decision.

City, meanwhile, enjoyed plenty of possession in the early exchanges, but failed to create a genuine chance before Caicedo put them ahead midway through the first half.

The goal arrived after Elano's right-wing corner created havoc in the Rovers penalty area. De Jong was among those involved, but it was Caicedo who controlled and poked past Paul Robinson to put City ahead.

Mark Hughes's men doubled their lead on 33 minutes, when once again Blackburn were punished for their inability to clear their lines. This time it was Robinho who profited, curling a low shot home from just inside the box after Elano's cross was only half cleared.

City made it 3-0 in first-half injury time, after Gael Givet was adjudged to have handled Stephen Ireland's return pass to Robinho.

Elano stepped up and calmly sent Robinson the wrong way, but Rovers were so incensed at the award of the penalty that Vince Grella, Andre Ooijer and Nelsen all earned themselves yellow cards for protesting to Mike Dean.

The second half began with Rovers in defiant mood, but for all their tireless work, the visitors lacked quality in the final third and struggled to create chances.

But Rovers were handed an opportunity to pull a goal back when Nedum Onuoha was penalised for a tug on Morten Gamst Pederson on 66 minutes.

Diouf took the spot-kick, but Given guessed right and made a fine save. Diouf was first to the rebound, and although Given saved again, substitute Andrews had the simple task of turning the ball in for what was his first touch of the match.

But the goal failed to impact the match at all, and City played out the remaining 25 minutes in relative comfort.

There was still time for Robinson to make a fine save to deny Robinho, but Rovers' inspiration was not forthcoming.

Will Tidey / Eurosport