Birmingham City were relegated from the Premier League despite defeating Blackburn Rovers 4-1 at St Andrews.

Their result was not enough, as Reading and Fulham both won to ensure Alex McLeish's side ended the season on 35 points, second from bottom.

City took the lead through David Murphy on 32 minutes. The left-back was not closed down as he advanced and let fly from 35 yards, the ball skipping close to Brad Friedel's body but somewow scooting past the American.

That sparked scenes of celebration in the stands but early in the second half Blackburn drew level when Morten Gamst Pedersen scored from close range and Reading's second and third goals at Pride Park ended any hopes of survival.

Cameron Jerome appeared as a substitute and missed an open goal with perhaps his first touch before slamming a volley into the bottom corner to give the supporters something to cheer as their top-flight status slipped away.

Jerome finished another with two minutes left and Fabrice Muamba added a fourth with his head in injury-time.

Birmingham were deprived of the attacking nous of Scotland front man James McFadden when he aggravated a knee injury in the warm-up. His replacement Mauro Zarate almost opened the scoring in only the fourth minute, playing a clever one-two with Olivier Kapo and smashing the ball across goal, just past the far-post top corner.

Three minutes later play swung quickly to the other end, Pedersen intercepting a loose pass and playing in Roque Santa Cruz. The striker tried to square from the corner of the six-yard box, only for City goalkeeper Maik Taylor to come out and deny Blackburn.

City captain Damien Johnson was shown a yellow card for a cynical challenge that prevented the athletic Jason Roberts from leading a very promising counter-attack, then Brett Emerton coasted past Taylor on the wing and sent a low cross to the near post, where full-back Stephen Kelly did brilliantly to slide back and clear at the base of the upright with Roberts about to pounce.

After Kelly's surprise strike and the half-time break, it was Johnson that gifted Rovers the opportunity to level: he stumbled and lost the ball in midfield, allowing Roberts to advance into the area and hit two shots at goal, both saved by the brave Taylor.

The ball dropped at the feet of Santa Cruz, who passed sideways for Norway international Pedersen - and he smacked it home.

Shortly after, Paraguayan Santa Cruz did not endear himself to the vocal home support when he took a dive in the box.

Jerome came on for Mikael Forssell and less than three minutes later scuffed the ball over the crossbar from three yards out with Friedel stranded and the visiting defence nowhere near him.

He made amends with a clever finish from the right-hand side of the box and by rolling the ball home when sent clear in the 88th minute, while Muamba lobbed Friedel from 12 yards with his head in the dying embers of City's Premier League season.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport