Cyle Larin and Ryan Manning scored to put Tonda Eckert’s side comfortably ahead at half-time, before Cam Archer got in the act late in the game.

The result means Saints are a remarkable 18 games unbeaten in all competitions, and have won their last six successive Championship matches.

It lifted them to fourth in the table, leapfrogging Middlesbrough on goal difference, eight points clear of seventh with just four games left to play.

With second-place Ipswich Town beaten by Portsmouth at Fratton Park, Saints moved to within just three points of the automatic promotion places.

I didn’t believe Cyle Larin when he suggested Saints could reach the automatic spots in his first club interview.

I’ve changed my mind now. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/uux9NpLHbf

— George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) April 14, 2026

Having made 10 changes across the last two games, Eckert swapped out five players from the weekend’s 2-1 comeback win against Derby County.

Cam Bragg, Shea Charles, Kuryu Matsuki, Cameron Archer and Larin started. There was no Finn Azaz at all, while other key men were on the bench.

It was a Saints reunion pre-match, with Steven Davis amongst the Blackburn staff, Nathan Redmond starting for them, and Shane Long pitchside.

Blackburn came into the game unbeaten in five matches, with Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill installing a disciplined style at Ewood Park.

No team in the Championship has seen fewer goals for or against in their games this season, with a flat back-five system likely contributing to that.

Two of their players had been booked inside seven minutes, both for fouls on Charles, as Saints established their authority over the visitors from the start.

Archer was lively on the left wing, Larin saw a header from a corner saved, and a centrally-deployed Matsuki hit the keeper from outside the area.

Larin opened the scoring after 24 minutes, posting his fifth league goal since signing in January, and third in back-to-back-to-back league starts.

But the beauty was in the creation, with Matsuki’s splitting pass playing Archer into the left channel, to perfectly lay across the six-yard box for Larin.

Manning doubled the lead before half-time, although his seventh of the season will be looked at by the dubious goals panel for a potential own goal.

The Irishman stabbed goalward first time after a Charles cross was cleared in his path, and a deflection from Harry Pickering took it inside the post.

Saints were so comfortable that Blackburn did not even muster a shot in the first-half, and Eckert seized the opportunity to substitute James Bree.

Blackburn managed a couple of attempts after the break, but they were both blocked, and Nathan Wood, on for Bree, superbly cut out another one.

Matsuki blazed into Row Z from inside the area after Larin selflessly laid a chance on for him, and the looks on both of their faces told the full story.

He should have scored, but it did not have any impact on the eventual result, though compatriot Ryoya Morishita thrashed a shot against the woodwork.

Archer netted his first league goal since December in the 87th minute, with a composed drag low into the far corner, to make sure of all three points.

Scienza got the assist after he was unleashed down the right wing by Charles, making a trademark cut inside before rolling the ball to Archer.

Saints remain unbeaten in midweek fixtures under Eckert, and are now looking up at second-place Ipswich ahead of a head-to-head later this month.

The jubilant home supporters cycled through chants before the final whistle, including ‘Tonda’s at the wheel’, and ‘Manchester City, we’re coming for you’.

Saints: Peretz; Bree (Wood, h-t), Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning (Welington, 70); Bragg (Downes, 70), Charles, Fellows, Matsuki (Scienza, 70), Archer (Robinson, 88); Larin.

Unused subs: Long, Jander, Edozie, Stewart.

Booked: N/A.

Blackburn: Tóth; Pickering (Cashin, 77), McLoughlin, Atcheson, Ribeiro, Gardner-Hickman, Baradji (Hedges, 72), Alebiosu (Morishita, h-t), Redmond (Ohashi, h-t), Montgomery, Jørgensen (Afolayan, 72).

Unused subs: Pears, De Neve, O’Riordan, Joseph.

Booked: McLoughlin, Gardner-Hickman.

Referee: Josh Smith.