Birmingham City captain Paul Robinson netted his first goal in five years to help his side avoid an FA Cup upset against League Two side Bristol Rovers.
Chris Burke also netted two goals as Lee Clark’s side produced an impressive display at St Andrew’s to set up a Fourth Round home tie against Swansea City.
It was a night to remember for Robinson who last got his name on the scoresheet back in 2009 when he scored for West Bromwich Albion, also in The FA Cup.
Birmingham City 3-0 Bristol Rovers
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Third Round Proper
Tuesday 14 January
St Andrews
Winners receive £67,500
Blues had been forced to wait to play this Third Round tie following Bristol Rovers delayed replay win over Crawley Town in the last round.
But it did not affect their performance one bit and the Championship side showed they are determined to have a good run in the competition this season.
It could have been a different story if Rovers had taken the lead after just three minutes.
Elliott Richard was clean through on goal but he could only fire the ball straight at Birmingham keeper Colin Doyle.
Birmingham also had chances early in the game to open the scoring, but Rovers keeper Steve Mildenhall pulled off an amazing triple save to deny Paul Caddis and Lee Novak.
Watch highlights of the tie at St. Andrews.
The deadlock was finally broken on 35 minutes when Shane Ferguson’s deep corner eventually fell to Robinson who struck home from a narrow angle for his first goal of the season.
Robinson could have added his second of the game after the break when he went on a long run into the Rovers half but saw his shot produce a fine save from Mildenhall.
Birmingham finally put the game beyond the visitors on 85 minutes when Burke got his first goal of the game after racing onto a through ball from Nikola Zigic. He kept his composure to fire the ball beyond Mildenhall.
Burke added his second and Birmingham’s third on 87 minutes when he struck a left foot shot into the corner of the net to line up a home tie against Premier League opposition in the next round.
Birmingham City
13 Colin Doyle; 31 Paul Caddis, 8 Hayden Mullins, 4 Paul Robinson (C), 18 Mitch Hancox; 7 Christopher Burke, 20 Olly Lee (34 Adams 89mins), 29 Reece Brown (15 Elliott 73mins), 27 Shane Ferguson (33 Gray 89mins); 12 Lee Novak, 19 Nikola Zigic
Subs not used: 30 Townsend, 14 Packwood, 17 Reilly, 22 Shinnie
Bristol Rovers
1 Steve Mildenhall, 2 Michael Smith, 6 Tom Parkes, 29 Mark McChrystal, 4 Lee Brown, 15 Oliver Norburn (7 David Clarkson 76mins), 24 Ollie Clarke (4 Danny Woodards 76mins), 10 Eliot Richards, 32 John-Joe O'Toole, 17 Ellis Harrison (19 Chris Beardsley 63mins), 9 Matt Harrold
Substitutes not used: 18 Mitch Harding, 20 Conor Gough, 30 Tom Lockyer, 34 Pat Keary
Referee Tony Harrington
Attendance 9,914
