Todd Cantwell's goal gave Blackburn Rovers' survival hopes a huge boost with victory at Birmingham City.

Cantwell latched onto a through pass into the box from Ryoya Morishita, sweeping it past Blues keeper James Beadle.

The result secured a fourth win in Michael O'Neill's nine games in charge, taking Rovers six points clear of the relegation places.

Birmingham's best chance was when Ibrahim Osman hit the post from a Patrick Roberts cross in the first half. Blues also forced two great saves from Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth who kept the visitors in the game.

Birmingham have now lost five of their past eight matches under Chris Davies, with home fans booing on the final whistle.

The results leaves the Blues 14th in the table, 11 points adrift of the play-off places, and although its still just two home defeats in the league all season, their first campaign back in the Championship is threatening to peter out.

The visitors had been outplayed in the opening 10 minutes before finding their long-range passing and rhythm.

Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle was called on to make an outstanding double save after 28 minutes.

Toth's long kick found Rover's Japanese striker Yuki Ohashi who drove into the box with a mazy run.

His passed to Cantwell on the penalty spot was blocked by Beadle. It fell to Harry Pickering three yards out, only for Beadle to block it again and turn it behind.

Rovers right-back Tom Atcheson also nearly capped a special week after making his Northern Irealand debut, heading just wide.

Beadle's opposite number in the Rovers goal then made two fine saves at the other end.

A Tommy Doyle in-swinging corner almost crept under Toth's cross-bar. He also tipped over a Seung-ho Paik driving shot 25 yards out.

Blues fans were disappointed to see 10-goal Jay Stansfield taken off after 78 minutes. However, his replacement August Priske nearly provided an equaliser, with a pass to Tommy Doyle forcing a close-range save from Toth again.

Blackburn now face a huge home clash with relegation rivals West Brom on Easter Monday while Birmingham travel to fourth-placed Ipswich Town.

Blackburn Rovers manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I'm exhausted a little bit to be honest. It was one of those games, especially with seven additional minutes, where we put everything into the game.

"We had said to the players, we had to show that we wanted it more than the opposition, given the league position of the two teams.

We had to frustrate them at times, which we did well. We also had to carry a threat as well, and we did that well.

"I thought we had the better chances in the game, our goalkeeper made a couple of big saves when we needed him to, as did theirs.

"But obviously its a real moment of quality from Todd to win the game, and its a massive three points for us."

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies told BBC WM:

"A very disappointing result for us obviously. We can't say we did enough to win it. You can see the confidence isn't there.

"Everything that I want from our play - the intensity, the tempo - we don't have enough of that attacking players really firing right now, where they have been earlier in the season.

"What I will say is I don't think its for want of trying. The players are running and working, and giving everything they can which ois fundamental, but we're lacking that fundamental confidence.

"After being in such good form after Christmas, we've really hit a period where we're suffering right now, and its up to me to find the answers for it."