Brazilians Robinho and Elano had too much flair for Blackburn
Manchester City coasted to their first home Premier League win over Blackburn since 1993 with three first-half goals.
Defensive errors, both following Elano corners, allowed Felipe Caicedo and Robinho to score - with Belgian Vincent Kompany involved each time.
Then Elano blasted home a penalty following a handball from Gael Givet.
Rovers scored when Shay Given saved El-Hadji Diouf's spot-kick, only for Keith Andrews to follow up, but the visitors were unable to build on that platform.
The result kept Manchester City's bid for a Europa League spot alive, while Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce - who cut an animated figure for much of the match - left knowing his team are not yet certain of avoiding relegation.
This was City's 11th win at Eastlands in their last 12 matches across all competitions, testament to the attacking potential manager Mark Hughes has at his disposal.
Free-flowing Man City hard to beat - Hughes
Initially Blackburn's defensively-minded strategy stifled the home side, with the majority of City's attacks snuffed out before they had a chance to develop sufficiently.
That all changed with Caicedo's 27th-minute strike, a scrappy goal which came from Elano's well-flighted corner that Andre Ooijer failed to clear.
Kompany worked the ball through to Nedum Onuoha, whose shot was deflected to Caicedo, with the Ecuadorian gleefully converting from close range.
It was Caicedo's first Premier League goal since Boxing Day, and he celebrated by removing his top and picking up the obligatory yellow card.
When Elano took another corner, seven minutes later, it was Diouf who was at fault, playing the ball back into the Brazilian's path.
Elano found Kompany at the second time of asking, who did the right thing in seeking out Robinho, who was unmarked towards the back of the area.
Robinho's first-time shot was hit so sweetly with his right foot that Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson was rendered redundant.
Blackburn eventually managed to carve out two opportunities, but Ooijer's shot from outside the box went well wide before Benni McCarthy headed inches over from Diouf's cross.
City notched their third in first-half stoppage time as Robinho, with great pace, surged down the left in his salmon-coloured boots to release Stephen Ireland.
The midfielder's back-heel was stopped in the box by Givet's outstretched arm for an incontestable penalty - and Elano sent Robinson the wrong way with his spot-kick.
After a bright opening, the second half became a muted affair once Blackburn had scored their goal.
Again, there could be few complaints about the penalty, which was awarded by Mike Dean when Onuoha tripped up Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Basic defending let us down - Allardyce
Given saved Diouf's penalty, but the ball eventually broke to Andrews after Diouf had miscued the follow-up - and the former MK Dons midfielder could barely miss.
After Blackburn's goal City were content to hold onto possession - and in any case they became less of a force once Elano was substituted.
Having said that, Blackburn had no McCarthy for the second half following a foot injury picked up early in the match and were unable to worry City unduly as the clock wound down to the final whistle.
Manchester City boss Mark Hughes on the difference between his side's home form and on their travels: "We have produced some very good football in this stadium. We have got a lot of points, scored a lot of goals and entertained people.
"Maybe next season we will try to not entertain quite so much when we are away from home."
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce feels a win against fellow strugglers Portsmouth next week will be enough to keep his side in the Premier League: "We need to control our own destiny by winning, not rushing to the TV hoping other teams have slipped up, as we have done here.
"If we win next week it will be in the bag and we won't have to rely on what other people do."
Man City: Given, Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge, De Jong, Kompany, Ireland, Elano (Petrov 78), Caicedo (Bojinov 62), Robinho Subs Not Used: Hart, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans, Berti
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Morten Gamst Pedersen 7.46 (on 90 minutes) Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.
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