John Eustace admitted relegation-threatened Blackburn had let their travelling fans down by gifting Bristol City all five goals at Ashton Gate.
Tommy Conway capitalised on a bad error by Dominic Hyam to shoot City ahead in the 24th minute and doubled the advantage with a first-half penalty after the defender had brought down Mark Sykes.
Anis Mehmeti fired the third in the 73rd minute after another Hyam slip and two late Nahki Wells goals, the first another penalty, awarded for handball against Kyle McFadzean, completed mid-table City’s biggest Championship win of the season.
The result left Rovers just three points above the drop zone with four games left and head coach Eustace, who made four half-time substitutions, admitted: “I could have taken the whole team off.
“Tonight was so unlike how we have been recently. There wasn’t the fight we have been displaying and we gifted them all their goals.
“We have let our fans down. I said there would be highs and lows when I took the job and tonight is very much a low.
“I am very disappointed, but I know I have a good group of lads and we will go again against Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday.
“I expect a response from the players in that game and it’s important the supporters stay with us. We are all in this together and before tonight there have been a lot of positives.
“I don’t think the result will affect confidence. Individual errors have cost us, the first ones just as we seemed to be taking control of the game.
“All games are tough in the Championship and we will continue to take each one as it comes.”
City head coach Liam Manning was understandably buzzing.
“I’m delighted,” he said. “The togetherness and willingness to run, while staying focused and in control, was tremendous.
“Tactically, a lot clicked. We felt we could hurt them down the sides and that’s how it proved.
“The balls forward were good and our forward players were prepared to chase lost causes.
“Our front players need to be our first defenders. Two or three of Tommy Conway’s goals this season have come from being exactly that.
“The international break was hugely important for me in terms of working with the players on grass and we have seen the benefits in the matches since.
“Nahki Wells’ goals took him to 100 in Championship football, so it’s a proud night for him and his family.”
