Felix Nmecha led the charge for Gareth Taylor’s side, claiming an impressive hat-trick with Rabbi Matondo and Ryan Corrigan also on target in what was a fine all-round display.
Blackburn proved tough opponents in a tightly-contested first half, but City always carried an extra cutting edge in attack.
And the final margin of victory could have been even greater but for some excellent individual saves from Rovers keeper Benjamin Winterbottom.
Matondo was the architect of most of City’s best work in the opening 45 minutes and he broke the deadlock on 17 minutes, producing a brilliant right wing run that bamboozled the Rovers defence before finishing with a crisp shot.
However, the visitors hit back to level the scores just seven minutes later, striker Brad Lynch guiding Louis Khoury’s cross from the right past City keeper Pawel Sokol.
City were back in front though on the half-hour thanks to the first of Nmecha’s treble. He produced a deft chip from the penalty spot after referee Dale Haines awarded a spot kick after a handball in the Rovers box following a corner.
And two minutes from the break, City extended their lead through defender Ryan Corrigan who ran from deep at the Rovers defence before showing his composure to beat Winterbottom with a cool finish.
The Blues stepped up the pace after the break, and Henri Ogunby was denied by two goalline clearances by Rovers skipper Hayden Carter inside six minutes.
But City were not to be denied and Nmecha then completed his hat-trick by bagging two goals in as many minutes.
First he dispatched a fine cross by Ogunby on 77 minutes to make his 4-1 and then rounded off a fine afternoon’s work when Nabil Touaizi capitalised on a poor goal kick to feed Nmecha who sealed a hugely impressive win.
