The home side led when Rovers keeper Brad Friedel allowed David Murphy’s shot to squirm through his hands.

Morten Gamst Pedersen scored from close range to level but Cameron Jerome came off the bench to score twice and Fabrice Muamba headed a fine fourth.

But wins for Reading and Fulham saw Birmingham finish second bottom, while Blackburn’s European hopes were ended.

Brian McBride headed home Jimmy Bullard’s free-kick after 52 minutes to set Fulham on the way to victory.

Radhi Jaidi headed wide from Birmingham’s best chance with five minutes left before Erik Nevland broke clear to add Fulham’s second.

Fulham move out of the bottom three and Birmingham are under huge pressure in their last home game against Blackburn.

The Craven Cottage crowd celebrated wildly at the final whistle, with Roy Hodgson’s side recording their third win in four matches to spark an unlikely revival after they looked relegation certainties.

Mikael Forssell lashed in a shot at the far post to put the Blues ahead, with Sebastian Larsson’s exquisite long range free-kick adding to their lead.

But Peter Crouch guided in a shot to haul the Reds back into the game.

And as Liverpool penned the Blues back, Yossi Benayoun equalised with a deflected header, which all-but secures fourth spot for the Anfield side.

Young’s rasping shot gave Villa the lead and Carew nodded home the winger’s free-kick shortly before the break.

Carew tapped in from close range for Villa’s third and Young beat two players before scoring his second goal.

Mikael Forsell scored a consolation for Birmingham, but there was still time

for Gabriel Agbonlahor to grab a fifth.

Liam Ridgewell volleyed over from six yards before Cameron Jerome headed against the Everton woodwork.

Tim Howard made sensational one-handed saves to deny Radhi Jaidi and James McFadden before Joleon Lescott headed Everton in front from close range.

But Zarate struck a curling equaliser after a handball by Lee Carsley.

With relegation rivals Bolton defeating West Ham, Zarate’s strike could prove to be hugely significant.

Birmingham now sit two points above third-bottom Bolton with four games of the season left to play.

But the result is a major blow for Everton’s fading hopes of snatching fourth place from Liverpool – and with it a place in the Champions League next season.

The 23-year-old lashed Antonio Valencia’s cross past Maik Taylor as the hosts took a richly deserved lead.

Shortly before half-time Birmingham’s Damien Johnson was sent off for a lunge on Kevin Kilbane, who recovered to hit a shot against the post moments later.

After the break Wigan’s Taylor stabbed in from close range to seal the points.

He clipped in Franck Queudrue’s pass on 40 minutes and then rifled home from the edge of the area after the break.

Elano pulled one back with a penalty after Queudrue fouled Benjani and was shown the red card.

But Sun Jihai conceded a penalty to the home side and Gary McSheffrey secured the points from the spot.

With so many of the Premier League’s strugglers bunched up at the bottom it was vital for Blues to get a win, and it would have been a massive injustice had they failed to do so.

The hosts almost took the lead when Stephen Hunt’s drive hit the bar, but they went ahead when Bikey glanced in John Oster’s free-kick on 31 minutes.

After the break, Mikael Forssell did superbly to cross low into the box for Mauro Zarate to slot in an equaliser.

But Reading snatched a crucial victory when Bikey nodded into the bottom corner from Nicky Shorey’s free-kick.

Forssell headed home from close range to open the scoring with Larsson curling a free-kick past Spurs keeper Paul Robinson shortly after the break.

Forssell side-footed in for his second goal, completing his hat-trick when he was through on goal against Robinson.

Jermaine Jenas slotted home for Spurs when the ball deflected to him late on.

The striker suffered a broken leg in the third minute after a tackle by Martin Taylor, who was sent off.

McFadden gave the Blues the lead with a 20-yard free-kick before Theo Walcott poked in his first Premier League goal.

Walcott made it 2-1 with a mazy run and shot before McFadden equalised after Gael Clichy fouled Stuart Parnaby.