 Michel Salgado scored his first goal for Rovers since arriving in August |
Blackburn shrugged off a swine flu scare to ease past 10-man Peterborough.
The hosts took the lead through a Morten Gamst Pedersen free-kick before Chris Whelpdale headed an equaliser.
The visitors had goalkeeper Joe Lewis sent off for a foul on Pedersen, with Steven Reid scoring the resulting penalty before George Boyd levelled.
But close-range goals from Michel Salgado and Benni McCarthy and a late penalty from Nicola Kalinic saw Rovers ease through to the quarter-finals.
After a build-up to the game dominated by an outbreak of swine flu in the Blackburn camp, Rovers were able to get back to winning ways with a strong finish to the game.
The hosts are in the last eight for the third season running but Peterborough's hopes of following up their victory over Newcastle in the previous round, and putting their league struggles to one side, are over.
Allardyce had opted to make seven changes from the side that lost to Chelsea, but the most telling omission was for the visitors who were forced to do without injured star striker Craig Mackail-Smith.
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That came as a severe blow to Darren Ferguson's side, who fell behind after only four minutes.
David Hoilett was brought down just outside the box, with Pedersen calmly stepping up to rifle the free-kick over Lewis and into the roof of the net.
Peterborough were not disheartened though, and after Boyd had issued a warning with a dangerous free-kick, the visitors drew level with 17 minutes on the clock - Tommy Rowe crossing for Whelpdale to head back across the stranded Brown and in.
Posh drew huge confidence from the equaliser and looked set to go in level at half-time, only to suffer the hammer blow of England Under-21 star Lewis' dismissal after 43 minutes.
The keeper came out to meet Pedersen after a poor defensive header, and brought down the Norwegian striker.
Lewis was shown a straight red card and Reid put the resulting penalty past substitute keeper James McKeown, despite comically slipping as he kicked the ball.
It seemed a straightforward task for Blackburn from there, yet within five minutes of the restart Peterborough had levelled again.
Whelpdale was involved once more, surging forward and squaring the ball to Boyd, who had the time and space to lash a ferocious strike past Brown with his left foot.
Despite the numerical advantage, Posh looked every bit as likely to score again, but their hopes were dashed when Salgado latched onto a sublime pass from Brett Emerton in the 57th minute and slammed home.
Blackburn scored their fourth with just under 20 minutes remaining when Kalinic capitalised on an error to play in McCarthy for an easy finish.
And Kalinic then bagged his first goal in English football to put the gloss on a battling display, converting confidently from the spot after Martin Olsson's cross was handled.
Blackburn assistant manager Neil McDonald:
"We played some really good stuff all throughout the game and long may that continue.
"It got tight at one stage but when we got in front we started to pass the ball with purpose and create chances.
"Our home form has been fantastic and we are scoring for fun, it's nice to see lots of people getting goals."
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