Rovers' FA Cup dreams were brought to a crashing halt as they were dumped out of the competition by Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.

The first half was a lively open affair, Jason Roberts, Carlos Villanueva and Keith Treacy all went close for Rovers, whilst Clinton Morrison missed a golden opportunity at the other end.

But after the goalless first half it was Chris Coleman's Coventry City who broke the deadlock when just past the hour mark when an unmarked Leon Best headed the home side in front.

Rovers rarely threatened to get back on level terms, Coventry looking much the more likely side to grab the second goal. But the longer they failed to do so there was always a chance, and that chance came in added time but this time Chris Samba couldn't repeat his feat from the match at Ewood Park when he headed wide of goal and with it Rovers' chance of progressing in the cup was extinguished.

Sam Allardyce made eleven changes from the side that faced Manchester United last time out. Jason Brown was given a chance to impress the Rovers boss for the first time, making his first appearance since October.

Chris Samba captained the side that featured Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy up front, and it was Roberts who fashioned the first chance of the game just 90 seconds in. A defensive error from Ben Turner was pounced upon by the burley striker, he fed Carlos Villanueva, but his clipped right-foot effort was beaten away by Keiren Westwood.

Both sides enjoyed periods of possession in the opening exchanges, although referee Mike Riley did his best to interrupt the flow of the game, needlessly blowing up for fouls when play could have continued.

The home side wasted a good opportunity to take the lead on twenty minutes when Danny Fox's corner from the right found Elliott Ward unmarked at the back post, but he headed wide of goal.

The two sides traded chances as the half drew to a close, Tugay narrowly over, Roberts narrowly wide, were followed by a howling miss from Clinton Morrison after Khizanishvili and Brown got in each others way. The former Palace and Birmingham striker finding the side-netting when it was perhaps easier to score.

A minute later and Jason Brown redeemed himself coming out quickly to claim the ball at the feet of Henderson as the on-loan winger bore down on goal, whilst at the other end Carlos Villanueva fired inches wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Jason Roberts and Keith Treacy impressed in the first half and the two combined to almost fashion a goal, Treacy's ball over the top was held up by Roberts before returning the ball to the Irishman, but his near post shot was well saved by Westwood.

Rovers were slow out of the blocks at the start and were made to pay the penalty. Freddie Eastwood had already caught Carlos Villanueva napping, but Mokoena spared his team-mate's blushes by blocking the shot.

But on the hour mark careless defending took it's toll as Chris Coleman's side took the lead, slack marking from Rovers allowed Aron Gunnarsson to centre from the right and even slacker marking allowed Leon Best to steal in to head home unchallenged.

Unimpressed with Rovers' showing, Allardyce made a double substitution, replacing the wide men Keith Treacy and Carlos Villanueva with Stephen Warnock and Roque Santa Cruz.

But it was the home side who continued to carve out the better chances, Danny Simpson did well to block a shot from Clinton Morrison, whilst Jason Brown saved a Leon Best header at the near post.

Then Gunnarsson, who scored in the match at Ewood, was urged to shoot from distance by the Ricoh Arena crowd, the Icelander firing an effort than fizzed just over the bar.

Rovers huffed and puffed but couldn't find a way back into the game, a centre from Olsson found the head of Roque Santa Cruz, but despite juggling with the ball above his head, Westwood eventually gained full control of the ball.

Clinton Morrison should have doubled City's lead but fired straight at Brown, but as the seconds counted down it was Chris Samba who should have repeated his last minute heroics from the match nine days ago, but the Rovers defender, who was captain on the night, headed agonisingly wide from six yards.

Keiren Westwood was booked for time wasting but it made little difference as referee Mike Riley blew to signal that it would be Coventry City and not Blackburn Rovers who would face Chelsea in the last eight of the FA Cup.

COVENTRY: Westwood, Wright, Fox, Ward, Doyle, Best, Eastwood (sub Simpson 87 mins), Gunnarsson, Henderson, Morrison (c), Turner.

Subs not used: Marshall (GK), Hall, Beuzelin, Osbourne, Thornton, Cain.

ROVERS: Brown, Simpson, Samba, Khizanishvili (sub Givet 81 mins), Olsson, Villanueva (sub Santa Cruz 68 mins), Tugay, Mokoena, Treacy (sub Warnock 68 mins), Roberts, McCarthy.

Subs not used: Robinson (GK), Nelsen, Pedersen, Doran.

Booked: Gunnarsson, Ward, Westwood (Coventry), Brown (Rovers).

Attendance: 22,793