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Saturday August 15, 2009 Finished Ewood Park

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Blackburn Rovers

Manchester City

  • Adebayor 2’
  • Ireland 90’

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  1. Adebayor ignites City charge

    Adebayor ignites City charge

    Emmanuel Adebayor scored less than three minutes into his debut to help Manchester City to a 2-0 Premier League win away to Blackburn. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Blackburn Rovers
    • Manchester City
    • - Click the link for all today's scores and scorers, and remember you can follow Everton v Arsenal at 17:30 UK time. Thanks for joining us! Premier League scores and scorers
    • 90+4' There's the final whistle, and City are off to a winning start! Mark Hughes slips over as he goes to shake Sam Allardyce's hand, but that cannot wipe the smile off his face!
    • 90+3' Blackburn know the game is up. They are hardly even trying.
    • 90+1' GOAL!!! Stephen Ireland puts the result beyond doubt, running on to a Wirhgt-Phillips through ball, executing a feint that leaves Paul Robinson on his backside, and eventually side-footing coolly into the bottom-right corner!
    • 90' Four minutes of stoppage time to be played..
    • 90' Wild tackle by Gallagher on Tevez, sliding in behind and rightly picking up a yellow card!
    • 89' Tevez is doing a good job of holding the ball up and denying Rovers possession here.
    • 87' Uncompromising stuff from Dunne, taking out McCarthy and the ball in one lunging tackle. Referee Dean sees nothing wrong with it.
    • 86' Young David Hoilett comes on for El-Hadji Diouf with five minutes left.
    • 85' Tenacious play from Wright-Phillips, who eventually evades Pedersen to cross the ball from the right... it comes to Bellamy who volleys high over the bar.
    • 84' Richards comes back on and play resumes - McCarthy was booked, we think.
    • 83' McCarthy and Warnock double-team Richards with a joint lunge from behind. Referee Dean has a yellow card in his hand, but who will be the recipient?
    • 81' Tevez! He bashes the ball goalwards from the edge of the box, but Robinson is equal to it.
    • 80' McCARTHY!!! He absolutely smashes the free-kick but it whistles a couple of feet over Shay Given's crossbar.
    • 79' Yellow card Micah Richards for a late tackle on Pedersen, and it is a free-kick on the left 30 yards out.
    • 77' This is frustrating stuff for Blackburn. They just seem to lack the poise and technique to play the ball around effectively in the final third.
    • 75' Offside against McCarthy in the City box... and a change here as Paul Gallagher replaces Keith Andrews.
    • 74' Wright-Phillips crosses from the right towards the six-yard box.. Adebayor trips over as he attacks it and ends up on his face...
    • 73' Bellamy carries the ball away on the break... on to Adebayor then Ireland, who blazes a left-foot shot over!
    • 72' Diouf delivers another corner for Blackburn - and it is a poor one. Adebayor heads easily away.
    • 71' A through-ball is played for Tevez, who is denied by the long leg of Samba hooking the ball to safety.
    • 70' Weather watch: It's now raining fairly hard.
    • 69' And now it is Robinho who will come off! Tevez gets his first taste of competitive action for City.
    • 68' Play continues as Mark Hughes barks furiously on the sidelines. What is going on?
    • 67' Carlos Tevez will come on for Craig Bellamy! The Welshman does not look at all happy... and play continues before the change can be made!
    • 65' The teenager Di Santo comes on for Roberts, who will feel he should have scored today.
    • 64' On loan Chelsea man Franco Di Santo is preparing to come on for Blackburn with just over a quarter of the game to go.
    • 62' ROBINHO!!! Drills a low, left-footed shot from the edge of the box that Robinson does really well to tip behind, diving full-stretch to his right.
    • 61' Good header clear by Dunne from Pedersen's left-sided throw.
    • 60' Long ball... over the top for McCarthy to chase. He does not have enough pace to get there.
    • 59' ROBERTS!!! Jacobsen finds him unmarked from the right flank, but his header lacks power and is saved by Given.
    • 58' City still have the ball, and the visiting fans reel off a rather pleasant rendition of 'Blue Moon'.
    • 57' The rather vindictive ArsenalWinger writes: "Ade, thank you for punishing that @#$% Diouf. At least­ if it's because Diouf almost finished Almunia's­ career last year and only got a yellow card­ (!). You're not our player anymore, but as long as­ Arsenal stays ahead of City, good luck!" It's nice to know somebody from Arsenal is wishing him well, eh?
    • 56' Crossed towards Adebayor in the Rovers but, but Givet heads it clear. Good spell of possession for City here.
    • 55' The second throw finds Samba, but his poor first touch allows City to boot the ball clear.
    • 54' Blackburn win a throw on the left side, midway inside the City half. Pedersen launches it long, but Wright-Phillips heads out for another throw.
    • 52' Without wanting to get all Michael Fish on you, the weather has changed markedly, The sun is in, and mist is rolling off the hills into the ground.
    • 51' Diouf is hauled to the deck by Bridge, and somehow the free-kick goes City's way. Poor old Dioufy isn't having rhe best afternoon.
    • 49' A low, diagonal pass is dragged across the floor of the City box, but it rolls harmlessly away from goal.
    • 48' More photos dropped in over half-time. Why not have a gander? Blackburn v Man City photos
    • 47' Bellamy looks for Adebayor from the left, but this time Givet nicks in front of the Togolese to intercept.
    • 46' The second half is under way, with no personnel changes from either side.
    • - We're back in 15 minutes. For the rest of the scores and scorers from around the division click the link. Premier League: LIVE
    • 45+2' That's half-time, and City lead. But an enjoyable, competitive game at Ewood Park.
    • 45+1' Two minutes of stoppage time to be played.
    • 45' The ball gets away from Adebayor, who jumps into a tackle with studs showing and Diouf stays down! The replay does not look pretty - Adebayor's studs went straight into Diouf's ankle and he was lucky there was no lasting damage.
    • 44' Andrews smashes a shot into a wall of bodies and Rovers want a penalty for handball against Dunne! Referee Dean says it is accidental, and he is right to do so.
    • 43' Given shaky again! He comes for a punch but doesn't quite make it. McCarthy cannot hook the ball goalwards and City survive.
    • 42' Robinho! He has a half-chance as the ball drops to him at the far post, but he scuffs his shot well wide.
    • 41' Photographic evidence of Adebayor's goal, which caused one Arsenal-supporter in the office to quip that he ran further in the celebration than he did during the whole of last season for Arsenal. Picture: Adebayor celebrates
    • 39' Given is a little shaky as he comes for a high ball and spills it. But no harm done as he claims it at the second attempt.
    • 38' Robinho has a crack from the left edge of the box... Robinson makes sure and tips it over for a City corner.
    • 37' Roberts cuts inside from the right and skins Bridge... he cuts the ball back and it finds McCARTHY!! Hits his shot straight at GIVEN!
    • 35' It has all gone a little quiet on this sunny afternoon in Lancashire. Even Sam Allardyce is having a laugh down on the touchline. Come on chaps, this isn't pre-season.
    • 34' Want to read a description of a superb Hugo Rodallega goal? Click here. Aston Villa v Wigan
    • 33' City still lead despite having been undwer the cosh for much of the game. They just have that bit of extra quality going forward and it could be decisive.
    • 31' Ireland clips a superb ball into the Blackburn box that Wright-Phillips races on to. He tries to get a left-foot shot away but it is smothered by Givet.
    • 30' A rare attack for the visitors. Bridge crosses from the left but there is no striker attacking the penalty box.
    • 28' McCarthy in the six yard box. He cannot sort his feet out and sends the ball high over the bar! City clinging on!
    • 28' GREAT SAVE SHAY GIVEN!! He dives low to his left to keep out a header from Samba from a corner!
    • 27' Pedersen leaves it for McCarthy, who hitsa powerful shot on target, but it is close to Given who catches easily.
    • 26' It's another Blackburn free-kick, just to the left of centre about 28 yards from goal. Pedersen appears to have claimed this one.
    • 25' Awful free-kick delivery from Diouf... headed easily away by the visitors.
    • 24' Obvious handball by Robinho, who has the gall to dispute it. Rovers free-kick 40 yards out.
    • 23' Toure hacks the ball out for a Blackburn throw. City under a bit of pressure here.
    • 22' Given comes out of goal and collides with Dunne, but manages to scramble accross to smother the ball.
    • 20' Ryan writes: "Aren't writing commentator's supposed to be­ impartial? Obviously not." Well, there's a difference between being biased and having an opinion. And if it's a reference to Tevez being on the bench... well, don't you think it's funny?
    • 19' Bellamy strays just offside again... he berates somebody. It scarcely matters whom...
    • 18' ROBERTS! The ball drops for him eight yards out, but he takes it on the half-volley and sidefoots it over.
    • 17' Pedersen flings in another long throw from the Blackburn left. Half-cleared by Toure, then hacked out for another throw by Wright-Phillips.
    • 15' And here's a picture of Carlos Tevez in worryingly familar garb. Tevez in training kit
    • 14' It's rarer than rocking horse poo - it's a goal by Bobby Zamora, albeit a very lucky one. Click the link for more details. Portsmouth v Fulham
    • 13' So Emmanuel Adebayor has now scored nine goals against Paul Robinson in the Premier League. That's five more than the next goalkeeper, who happens to be Manchester City's Shay Given.
    • 12' Bellamy is offside as he runs on to a through ball anyway, and puts his attempted lob of a shot wide anyway.
    • 11' Pedersen aims a diagonal header towards goal but it is an easy catch for Given.
    • 10' Blackburn have certainly got back into the game, albeit in their standard direct fashion. Plenty of long throws and high balls forward. No sign of, as David Dunn suggested, City getting lumps kicked out of them.
    • 9' The set-piece is cleared. /// On the message board below, iamtopgearstig says: "Tevez, Tevez give us a wave, The 25 million pound bench­ warmer, Look at that line up looks more like the usual­ suspects than the next Premier League champs."
    • 8' Samba is forward for a long throw and his mere presence in the six-yard box wins Blackburn a corner.
    • 6' Sam Allardyce looks on, complete with his standard earpiece and chewing gum. He's clearly no impressed with the defending that left Adebayor enough space to hit that first-time shot.
    • 5' Few people genuinely believe City can compete for the title, but they have certainly started in the right way.
    • 4' Blackburn attempt to respond with a long throw into the City box... cleared via a combination of heads and Shay Given's gloves.
    • 3' GOAL!!! WHAT A START FOR CITY!!! Emmanuel Adebayor thumps the ball past Robinson after Wright-Phillips centres low from the right. Low into the right corner, no chance goalkeeper!
    • 2' Micah Richards with an early throw for City. You imagine his future lies at right-back, given the arrival of Kolo Toure and the possible addition of Joleon Lescott.
    • 1' Off we go!! Manchester City kick off the 2009/10 season, playing from right to left in all black. Rovers are in their standard white and blue halves.
    • 14:59 A minute's applause for Sir Bobby Robson. It really is remarkable how popular he was throughout football. A heartwarming moment.
    • 14:56 The teams come out to a rousing ovation at Ewood Park - high hopes that Rovers can at least avoid a relegation battle.
    • 14:30 So, Craig Bellamy starts for Manchester City and Carlos Tevez does not! Excuse me if I have a little chuckle about that. Welcome to Manchester indeed...
    • - TEAMS - BLACKBURN: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba, Givet, Warnock, Diouf, Andrews, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Roberts, McCarthy... Subs: Brown, Grella, Khizanishvili, Gallagher, Olsson, Hoilett, Di Santo... MAN CITY: Given, Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Barry, Robinho, Adebayor, Bellamy... Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Petrov, Tevez, De Jong, Weiss... Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
    • - HEAD TO HEAD STATS: Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City have met 106 times in the league. Blackburn Rovers have won 45, Manchester City 35 and there have been 26 draws.
    • - > They have met 22 times in the Premier League. Blackburn Rovers have won four, Manchester City ten and there have been eight draws.
    • - > Manchester City are unbeaten in their last three PL matches against Blackburn, since losing 1-0 at Ewood Park in Sept 2007.
    • - > Blackburn are unbeaten in their last five PL home matches against Manchester City, since losing 3-2 in Aug 2003.
    • - BLACKBURN ROVERS STATS: > The club only picked up ten points from their 12 PL matches in North-west derbies last season – only Bolton (6) picked up fewer points. Their only PL derby wins were 3-2 at Everton on the opening day (Aug 2008) and 2-0 at home against Wigan (Apr 26).
    • - > Not conceded in their last three PL matches at Ewood Park, since a 2-1 win against Tottenham on Apr 6. If they keep a clean sheet today it will be their longest run without conceding a home goal in over six years since a PL club record five-match run from Feb to April 2003.
    • - > Have only lost one of their 11 PL home matches since Sam Allardyce became manager in Dec 2008, and are unbeaten in last six PL matches at Ewood Park since a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Feb 7.
    • - > Benni McCarthy has scored in each of the club's last three PL home matches against Manchester City.
    • - MANCHESTER CITY STATS: Not kept a clean sheet in their last 17 PL away matches - a PL club record. Their only ever PL clean sheet away from home under Mark Hughes came in a 3-0 victory at Sunderland, Aug 31, 2008.
    • - > Manager Mark Hughes won 58, drew 39 and lost 50 of his 147 PL matches in charge of Blackburn from 2004 to 2008. This was the seventh-best record in the division over this period behind the Big Four clubs, Everton and Tottenham.
    • - > Their next defeat will be their 200th in Premier League history. Only seven other teams have lost 200 matches in the division.
    • - > Emmanuel Adebayor has scored eight goals in six PL matches against Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson – more than against any other keeper in the division. In total, his eight goals against him have come in 537 minutes of PL football – an average of one goal every 67 minutes – and scored a 45-minute hat trick past Robinson in Arsenal's 4-0 PL win at Ewood Park in Sep 2008.

  • Summary

    • - Click the link for all today's scores and scorers, and remember you can follow Everton v Arsenal at 17:30 UK time. Thanks for joining us! Premier League scores and scorers
    • 90+1' GOAL!!! Stephen Ireland puts the result beyond doubt, running on to a Wirhgt-Phillips through ball, executing a feint that leaves Paul Robinson on his backside, and eventually side-footing coolly into the bottom-right corner!
    • 87' Uncompromising stuff from Dunne, taking out McCarthy and the ball in one lunging tackle. Referee Dean sees nothing wrong with it.
    • 80' McCARTHY!!! He absolutely smashes the free-kick but it whistles a couple of feet over Shay Given's crossbar.
    • 62' ROBINHO!!! Drills a low, left-footed shot from the edge of the box that Robinson does really well to tip behind, diving full-stretch to his right.
    • 59' ROBERTS!!! Jacobsen finds him unmarked from the right flank, but his header lacks power and is saved by Given.
    • 45' The ball gets away from Adebayor, who jumps into a tackle with studs showing and Diouf stays down! The replay does not look pretty - Adebayor's studs went straight into Diouf's ankle and he was lucky there was no lasting damage.
    • 44' Andrews smashes a shot into a wall of bodies and Rovers want a penalty for handball against Dunne! Referee Dean says it is accidental, and he is right to do so.
    • 38' Robinho has a crack from the left edge of the box... Robinson makes sure and tips it over for a City corner.
    • 37' Roberts cuts inside from the right and skins Bridge... he cuts the ball back and it finds McCARTHY!! Hits his shot straight at GIVEN!
    • 28' McCarthy in the six yard box. He cannot sort his feet out and sends the ball high over the bar! City clinging on!
    • 28' GREAT SAVE SHAY GIVEN!! He dives low to his left to keep out a header from Samba from a corner!
    • 18' ROBERTS! The ball drops for him eight yards out, but he takes it on the half-volley and sidefoots it over.
    • 3' GOAL!!! WHAT A START FOR CITY!!! Emmanuel Adebayor thumps the ball past Robinson after Wright-Phillips centres low from the right. Low into the right corner, no chance goalkeeper!
    • - TEAMS - BLACKBURN: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba, Givet, Warnock, Diouf, Andrews, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Roberts, McCarthy... Subs: Brown, Grella, Khizanishvili, Gallagher, Olsson, Hoilett, Di Santo... MAN CITY: Given, Richards, Dunne, Toure, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Barry, Robinho, Adebayor, Bellamy... Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Petrov, Tevez, De Jong, Weiss... Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Team lineup & ratings

  • Lineup

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Blackburn Rovers

      Manager: Sam Allardyce

      Captain: Christopher Samba

      Starting line-up

      • P. Robinson
      • L. Jacobsen
      • C. Samba
      • G. Givet
      • S. Warnock Yellow Card
      • K. Andrews Substitution Out (74′)
      • S. N'Zonzi
      • E. Diouf Substitution Out (85′)
      • M. Gamst Pedersen
      • J. Roberts Substitution Out (64′)
      • B. McCarthy

      Subs

      • P. Gallagher Substitution In74′ Yellow Card
      • Z. Khizanishvili
      • J. Brown
      • M. Olsson
      • D. Hoilett Substitution In85′
      • V. Grella
      • F. Di Santo Substitution In64′

    • Manchester City

      Manager: Mark Hughes

      Captain: Richard Dunne

      Starting line-up

      • S. Given
      • M. Richards Yellow Card
      • R. Dunne
      • K. Touré
      • W. Bridge
      • S. Ireland Goal
      • G. Barry
      • S. Wright-Phillips
      • Robinho Substitution Out (68′)
      • E. Adebayor Goal
      • C. Bellamy

      Subs

      • M. Petrov
      • N. de Jong
      • C. Tévez Substitution In68′
      • N. Onuoha
      • S. Taylor
      • P. Zabaleta
      • V. Weiss

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out74′ - -
      - -
      Substitution Out85′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out64′ - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In74′ Yellow Card - -
      Substitution In85′ - -
      Substitution In64′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Goal - -
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out68′ - -
      Strikers
      Goal - -
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      Subs
      Substitution In68′ - -

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