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Rovers cruised to victory with second-half goals from David Bentley, Matt Derbyshire and substitute Roque Santa Cruz.

But Bruce was understandably more concerned with the condition of Kingson after the Ghana international suffered a sickening head injury shortly before half-time.

Blackburn defender Chris Samba contested a deep free-kick from Bentley but he accidentally shoved Kingson face first into a post.

After five minutes of treatment the Ghanaian was stretchered off and taken to hospital, leaving Bruce with an anxious wait.

"We don't know just yet how he is; he's gone to hospital and I would be wrong to speculate," said Bruce.

"It's obviously a head injury and anybody with a head injury we have got to take the necessary precautions with.

"He is conscious and I believe he is okay in that respect, but obviously with a head injury you need to take as many precautions as possible.

"He's in the right place and while it would be wrong for me to speculate, we think he's okay."

Rovers boss Mark Hughes rightly insisted Samba's role in the incident which inadvertently left Kingson hospitalised was totally accidental.

"You don't want to see guys taken off on a stretcher and we've had situations ourselves this season when that has happened with Benni McCarthy," said Hughes.

"It can have a detrimental effect on you but there was no blame whatsoever and I think the guy hit the post.

"There is obviously concern when he goes off on a stretcher but hopefully he's okay.

"In fairness to Chris, he didn't allow that to affect him.

"He was outstanding tonight, along with many others."

Jason Roberts picked up a thigh injury which Hughes fears could sideline him for a number of weeks, but that was Blackburn's only negative.

Hughes, who won the League Cup as a player with Manchester United and Blackburn in 1992 and 2002 as a player and manager respectively, was pleased with his side's performance .

Bentley enhanced his England credentials with a brilliant 66th-minute strike to put Rovers on their way.

The 23-year-old, widely jeered when he made his senior international debut against Israel earlier this month, produced a delightful effort from 25 yards which flew into the top corner.

Derbyshire added the second from the penalty spot and Santa Cruz netted with a last-minute header to finally end the spirited resistance of what was effectively Birmingham's reserve side.

That only 9,205 were present at Ewood Park to witness the victory was the only disappointment for Hughes as he plots his side's route to Wembley.

He added: "We have negotiated a tough home tie against Premiership opposition, so that's pleasing."

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