Lee Clark was left fuming after another poor performance from Birmingham [GETTY]Gestede's goals ensured Blackburn remain in the chase for a play-off place, but Birmingham are only out of the bottom three on goal difference from Blackpool.
The home fans took out their frustration on manager Lee Clark in the first half with chants of "You don't know what you're doing" after a nightmare opening 45 minutes for their rookie defence which saw them go four goals behind.
Clark's team are now 16 matches without a home win and the bad news for them is their next two games come at St Andrew's - against Leeds and Wigan - before a trip to Bolton on the last day.
Relegation would represent the latest sobering chapter in what has been a miserable time for Blues ever since stunning Arsenal in the League Cup final in 2011.
They were subsequently relegated from the Premier League that season and, after suffering play-off heartache the following year, have been on a downward spiral on and off the pitch ever since, with the cash-strapped club's owner Carson Yeung recently jailed after being found guilty of money laundering in Hong Kong and a takeover yet to materialise.
Clark said: "I always knew with each game it was getting a bit tighter but it's still in our own hands.
"We have to show the mentality we have had in many second half's through this wretched run. It seems like a domino effect when we concede one.
"Our young back four had a tough half an hour. I'm confident in my players still. I'm not asking them to do things they can't.
"It is hard to tell what we need (to stay up) but if we win our home games we also have our goal difference."
Rovers, meanwhile, are now 10 games unbeaten and still dreaming of the play-offs, two points adrift of sixth with two matches remaining.
Gary Bowyer felt his side deserved the win [GETTY]I'm confident in my players still. I'm not asking them to do things they can't
Manager Gary Bowyer said: "I thought we were terrific first half. The big man was unplayable he took his goals ever so well.
"The more games he has played the better he has got and there's still more to come. All we do is concentrate on our own side of the bargain. The quality of the squad shone through."
The warning signs were there for the home side as early as the sixth minute when Josh King picked out the unmarked Gestede at the back post only for him to horribly fluff his lines.
Yet four minutes later he had atoned when he stole in at the back post to meet King's pinpoint delivery.
It was all too easy for the towering striker as he bagged a second after rising highest to nod in Craig Conway's free-kick.
By the 24th minute it was three as King's centre was only cleared as far as Todd Kane, whose 25-yard drive trickled past the wrong-footed Darren Randolph with the aid of a wicked deflection.
Blues fans' mood darkened further still on the stroke of half-time when Gestede notched his third with a free header from another Conway delivery to take his tally to six goals in his last seven matches for Rovers.
Sub Nikola Zigic led the fightback when he headed in from Callum Reilly's cross after 63 minutes.
But Clark's side suffered a further setback when they were forced to finish the game with 10 men after Emyr Huws suffered a head injury.
They at least continued to fight and pulled another one back six minutes from the end when substitute Demarai Gray slotted a low shot beyond Paul Robinson's reach, however it was all too little, too late.
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