Chris Sutton showed England just what they might be missing at the World Cup finals when he fired his second hat-trick of the season.

The Blackburn striker demonstrated the sort of firepower Glenn Hoddle could do with in France following the injury to Robbie Fowler and the doubts over Ian Wright.

Sutton, of course, did his own cause no good when he snubbed Hoddle over the B international and it remains to be seen if the pair will kiss and make up.

Sutton's goals, which took his tally for the season to 19, should not mask what was a fine Rovers performance.

But Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson will be less than impressed after his side took their foot off the gas in the final 20 minutes to let the visitors pull back three goals.

Rovers had seen their title challenge fade and been dumped out of the FA Cup in recent weeks after going without a win in their last five games.

They put that poor run behind them against a Leicester side who went into the match unbeaten in the league in 1998 and who have their eyes set on a UEFA Cup spot.

Martin Dahlin, whose season has been blighted by injuries, was given a rare chance to shine in the absence of the suspended Kevin Gallacher and on 10 minutes he gave Rovers the lead.

Dahlin released Damien Duff on the right and the young Irishman's first-time cross was nodded back by Sutton for the Swede to crash the ball into the roof of the net.

It was his fifth goal of the season and his first since September.

Graham Fenton, making his first return to Ewood since his £1million departure in the summer, thought he had scored three minutes later, but the assistant referee's flag was already up for offside.

Blackburn's second goal on 24 minutes was even sweeter than the first.

Twinkle-toes Duff picked up the ball 35 yards out and danced his way past substitute Robert Ullathorne, who had replaced Spencer Prior, before he pulled the ball back from the byline for Sutton to score with a back heel. On 34 minutes Rovers nearly scored again on the break.

Sutton played the ball down for Tim Sherwood and his early pass released Dahlin, who shot past the post.

Flitcroft then had a shot deflected for a corner and from the set-piece Hendry's glancing header from Jason Wilcox's cross was well saved by Kasey Keller, who was back from international duty.

By now Rovers were firing on all cylinders and Wilcox headed wide from Sherwood's measured cross.

The third goal had an air of inevitability about it as Garry Flitcroft found Sutton, who turned in the box to fire home low into the corner a minute before the interval.

Sutton completed his second hat-trick of the season two minutes after the restart to chants of 'Sutton for England' from the home fans.

Robbie Savage could only clear Sherwood's header to Sutton on the left-hand side of the area and he curled the ball home beautifully over the heads of the helpless Savage and Keller.

Leicester knew it was definitely not their day when Hendry scored Rovers' fifth and his first of the season on 62 minutes.

Sherwood's header from Wilcox's corner was cleared off the line by Theo Zagorakis, but only as far as the Scot who fired home.

Substitute Stuart Wilson scored a consolation goal with his first goal of the season for Leicester on 72 minutes when Alan Fettis' clearance rebounded off him and he knocked the ball into the empty net.

Izzet clawed a second goal back for the visitors on 79 minutes with a header from Savage's cross.

Leicester scored again two minutes later to give them a glimpse of what would have been the greatest comeback since Lazarus rose from the dead when Ullathorne netted his first goal for the Foxes with a low, hard shot.

Rovers, though, steadied their ship to deny Leicester boss Martin O'Neill an early present ahead of his 46th birthday tomorrow.

Teams

Blackburn: Fettis, Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Sutton, Dahlin (Bohinen 68), Wilcox, Flitcroft, Croft, Henchoz (Broomes 46), Duff.

Subs Not Used: Andersson, Beattie, Williams.

Booked: Sherwood, Dahlin.

Goals: Dahlin 11, Sutton 25, 45, 47, Hendry 63.

Leicester: Keller, Walsh, Izzet, Lennon, Heskey, Savage, Prior (Ullathorne 21), Elliott, Fenton (Wilson 68), Guppy, Zagorakis.

Subs Not Used: Campbell, Carlstrand, Arphexad.

Booked: Elliott.

Goals: Wilson 68, Izzet 80, Ullathorne 81.

Att: 24,854

Ref: N S Barry (Scunthorpe).