Saturday February 25, 2012 Day 26 Finished Etihad Stadium

Manchester City 3 - 0 Blackburn Rovers

  • Balotelli 30’
  • Agüero 52’
  • Dzeko 81’

158 comments | Write your comment

  1. Man City cruise past Blackburn

    Man City cruise past Blackburn

    Manchester City extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a straightforward 3-0 win over Blackburn. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Manchester City
    • Blackburn Rovers
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+3' FULL-TIME. An easy 3-0 win for City and Blackburn never posed a threat. Mancini's side now have a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
    • 90+2' For the record, that was Joe Hart's first save of the match, what a way to spend your 150th Premier League appearance.
    • 90+1' Blackburn have a shot! Yakubu does very well cutting inside Kompany before forcing Hart into a comfortable save.
    • 90' Three minutes added time given.
    • 89' Blackburn lose the ball again and City come forward with Aguero who finds Silva. The former Valencia man takes his time before hitting a shot straight at Robinson.
    • 88' Kolarov gets the Man City man of the match in the Etihad as he hits a shot way wide.
    • 87' Lovely play between Silva, Pizarro and de Jong as they turn on the style and pass their way around a couple of Blackburn midfielders.
    • 86' Despite having a three-goal lead, City are continuing to attack.
    • 85' Toure's return is certainly a key factor behind City's performance tonight, he'll be a vital cog in the title run-in.
    • 84' Yaya Toure takes another knock and despite getting back on his feet, he's replaced by James Milner.
    • 83' Much to Kean's anger on the sidelines, Rochina gives the ball away with a wayward pass. The Scot does not look happy.
    • 82' Well, that's game over, isn't it? That was a soft goal to give away from a Blackburn perspective and Steve Kean will not be happy.
    • 81' Dzeko had been on the pitch for one minute and twenty-one seconds before he headed home Kolarov's cross, making an instant impact.
    • 80' GOAL! 3-0 Man City. Aguero spreads the ball out left to Kolarov who whips in a perfect cross for Dzeko to get in between Hanley and Dann and head past Robinson.
    • 79' Down the other end, Kompany clears Robinson's long ball but only as far as Pedersen whose volley deflects off the Belgian for a corner. it's another poor delivery from the set-piece and City break forward once again.
    • 78' Mario Balotelli is coming off and the City fans give him a standing ovation. Edin Dzeko replaces him.
    • 77' Silva takes the corner and Orr clears.
    • 76' Balotelli is down injured after taking a knock to the face in that challenge.
    • 75' Silva picks up the ball and slips it out wide to Zabaleta who puts in a cross. Balotelli runs on to it but Orr does well and clears for a corner.
    • 74' Blackburn win the ball in defence, hit a long ball towards Yakubu, Kompany wins it and gives it to Hart. That's pretty much been the story of Blackburns attack today.
    • 73' Balotelli chips a neat pass over the top of Orr to Aguero, but Dann is there to clear.
    • 72' Orr climbs on the back of Balotelli and concedes a free-kick. City decide to keep the ball and pass it back to Hart who lumps it back forward and out of play.
    • 71' Hoilett comes forward, but Lescott does well and shields the ball out of play for a goal kick.
    • 70' Adam Johnson comes off to a standing ovation and David Pizarro comes off the bench.
    • 69' Pedersen takes the free-kick, ten yards into the Man City half but Lescott climbs above everyone else and heads clear.
    • 68' Petrovic comes off for Nzonzi and Formica is replaced by Ruben Rochina.
    • 67' Balotelli loses possession and Blackburn break only for Hoilett to be fouled by Zabaleta.
    • 66' Blackburn get forward and Hoilett has a shot at goal only to see his shot hit Formica on the back and bounce away to safety.
    • 65' Blackburn play nine or ten passes in a row and look to be building from the back before Orr thwacks a long ball out of play while Steven Nzonzi gets ready to come on.
    • 64' To add insult to injury, the home side have had 14 shots on goal, Blackburn haven't had a single effort.
    • 63' Man City's dominance is ever-increasing with their possession stats now up to 88%.
    • 62' Johnson and Zabaleta break on the right, but Johnson over-hits his through-ball as it goes out for a goal-kick.
    • 61' Confusion in the City ranks as Zabaleta and Aguero waste a good chance through indecision.
    • 60' Toure is holding his lower back as he hobbles back on to the pitch. Aguero has picked up a knock as well, but like his team mate, he runs it off and returns to the action.
    • 59' City playing keep-ball with 10-men here, but what better time for Blackburn to get back into this game when they have a numerical advantage?
    • 58' Yaya Toure is sprawled on the pitch behind Paul Robinson's goal injured. Mancini looks very worried.
    • 57' Pedersen's corner doesn't beat the first man and City can clear. A very poor delivery from the Norwegian there, Steve Kean's side need to make more of those opportunities against teams like this.
    • 56' A great interception from Hanley stopes Aguero getting the ball in a very dangerous postition. He plays the ball to Yakubu who runs at Lescott and wins a corner.
    • 55' De Jong sets Silva free but the Spaniard is crowded out and the away side clear.
    • 54' Blackburn back defending in numbers. Do they have anyone on the bench who can change this game, or is it a lost cause now?
    • 53' Robinson has kept Blackburn in this game until that point, an unfortunate mistake in a strong performance by the former England keeper.
    • 52' GOAL! 2-0 City thanks to Sergio Aguero. Robinson flaps at Johnson's corner and the forward smashes a half-volley into the unguarded net.
    • 51' Bradley Orr gets booked for a foul on Balotelli earlier in that play.
    • 50' A lovely one-two between Toure and Aguero before the Ivorian sets up Johnson whose shot is deflected out for a corner.
    • 49' Yakubu looks incredibly bored. He can't get near the ball and any time Blackburn try to find him, he's marked by two defenders.
    • 48' Blackburn try to attack but Marcus Olsson is easily dispossesed by Zabaleta and City can regroup.
    • 47' City attack down the left and they're blocked so they switch it to the right and try there instead. Blackburn doing well in the opening minutes of the second half to repell these attacks.
    • 46' Oh, Balotelli didn't mean that. He steps over the ball, intending it to be a dummy for Kolarov, but the ball trickles out for a throw-in.
    • 45' The second half kicks off. Can Blackburn find a way back into this?
    • 18:33 Wow, Man City had 83% of the possession in that first half. Astonishing.
    • 45' HALF-TIME. City take a 1-0 lead into half time and they look very comfortable. Blackburn have defended well, but they need to push further up the pitch in the second half if they stand a chance of coming back into this game.
    • 45+2 Aguero breaks free of Dann and Orr before shooting across the face of goal as it just misses.
    • 45+1 City attack again and after switching the ball from side-to-side, Balotelli crosses to Toure who fires inches wide.
    • 44' Two minutes added time given as Aguero races on to a cross from Balotelli but Robinson saves.
    • 43' A lovely bit of skill by Balotelli as he chips the ball over Petrovic but the midfielder gets back and tackles him. Mario didn't look happy about that.
    • 42' Martin Olsson clears for a corner and Adam Johnson lines up another delivery. The initial cross is cleared but it only goes as far as Aguero who fires way over the bar.
    • 41' Another City attack is repelled as they take the ball from attack to defence and then back again.
    • 40' Into the final five minutes of the first half and it's been very comfortable for City against a side that look content to sit behind the ball and rely on set pieces.
    • 39' Silva tries to cross but he gets his feet tied up and trips over the ball. I've never seen him do that before.
    • 38' Blackburn have defended well, it must be said, but a lot of that is down to the sheer number of bodies they've got back.
    • 37' To be fair to Toure, the ball did come to him very quickly, in a very crowded penalty area, but the midfielder should have done better with that chance.
    • 35' Kolarov hits a sweet cross and it's knocked on by Kompany. Toure leaps on to the ball but misses the target from just six yards out. That was a great chance for City.
    • 34' The Olssons link-up on the left but can't do much with it and after an over-hit pass from Martin, the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
    • 33' Another cross from Kolarov who fires in a ball to Silva who, with a delicious first touch, controls the ball before smashing a shot off Robinson's legs.
    • 32' Blackburn attack again, but Pedersen's cross is gobbled up by Hart who looked very happy to actually touch the ball.
    • 31' Pedersen goes down in the area after a tackle from, you've guessed it, de Jong. The Dutchman wins the ball but takes the man as well. No penalty, and replays suggest that was the correct decision.
    • 30' That was a long time coming, let's be honest. Blackburn have to be careful not to get caught on the break as they search for this equaliser. If they do search for one, that is.
    • 29' Hoilett loses the ball and Silva breaks down the left. He plays in the over-lapping Kolarov who puts in a pefect cross to the front post where Balotelli taps the ball beyond Robinson with a beautiful touch.
    • 28' Petrovic is down injured, clutching his shoulder. Eventually, the midfielder gets up and slowly trots off to get some treatment. Not sure what's wrong with him though, it looked fairly innocuous. Buying some time, perhaps?
    • 27' Aguero fouls Petrovic on the edge of the penalty area, this should give Blackburn a chance to push out and regroup.
    • 26' Balotelli takes it and curls it over the wall but Robinson saves well. Blackburn try and clear but City keep ouring the ball foward.
    • 25' Hoilett fouls Silva and City have a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left of the penalty area, about 21 yards out.
    • 24' Blackburn have got ten players in their own penalty area as City attack. Johnson is finding a lot of space against the Olsson twins on the right, they need to get tighter on the Englishman.
    • 23' Silva finds Johnson in space on the right, the winger cuts inside and take a shot at goal which is spilled by Robinson.
    • 22' De Jong takes a short free-kick and City build from the back.
    • 21' Grant Hanley gets books for a late tackle on Balotelli on the half-way line.
    • 20' Another foul by Petrovic and another needless one. Toure hits it quick out left to Kolarov who crosses to Balotelli who just can't reach the ball.
    • 19' Yakubu with a terrible pass from the half-way line back to his own defenders. The ball goes to Aguero who lays off Balotelli. The Italian's shot rockets off Dann's back and goes out for a throw-in.
    • 18' HOOF! Scott Dann gets rid, but City come right back at them.
    • 17' Blackburn can't get the ball clear as they've got no outlet apart from the marked-by-three-defenders Yakubu.
    • 16' This is one of those games where City are perfectly happy to take their own sweet time, passing the ball around safe in the knowledge that they'll score soon.
    • 15' City are, predictably, dominating possession, but Steve Kean doesn't seem to mind one little bit. He's come to stop Mancini's side scoring.
    • 14' Balotelli is flagged offside and Robinson wellies the ball long into the Man City penalty area. You get a feeling Blackburn will do this a lot tonight.
    • 13' Toure finds Johnson again with another great pass switching the ball from left to right. The winger crosses but Bradley Orr clears for a corner.
    • 12' It's a poor delivery from the Spaniard and Blackburn easily clear the ball.
    • 11' Petrovic fouls Balotelli needlessly and now Silva has a free-kick on the right flank.
    • 10' Toure tries a shot from about 40 yards out which goes about 40 yards wide. It's a throw-in to Blackburn.
    • 9' To make matters even more confusing, the two Olsson's are both playing on the left and are both M. Olsson. Bear with me on this.
    • 8' Great tackle from de Jong, and it's not often we can say that! The Dutch midfielder races back and tackles Marcus Olsson well.
    • 7' Balotelli lays off Johnson in the Blackburn penalty area, the winger tries to play in the over-lapping Zabaleta but it's a poor pass and it's a goal-kick to Blackburn.
    • 6' Toure is seeing a lot of the ball early on, picking off passes well in the middle of the pitch.
    • 5' Grant Hanley finds the ball in the area and hits a shot at goal only for it to be deflected off Lescott for a corner.
    • 4' Aguero gives the ball away on the attack and Blackburn break with Marcus Olsson. The midfielder tries to turn Zabaleta in the centre circle and is fouled. An early chance for Blackburn to get the ball forward.
    • 3' Blackburn are playing very, very deep already. Only Yakubu is in the Man City half.
    • 2' Toure with a super pass from left to right to Johnson who crosses early to Balotelli. The striker hits a first-time shot and Paul Robinson saves very well as it goes out of play. Great save from the 'keeper there.
    • 1' Man City kick off and lump the ball forward right away.
    • 17:28 In a contrasting tale of goalkeepers today, Joe Hart has the best saves to shots ratio of any regular goalkeeper this season, saving 79% of shots on target faced while Paul Robinson has the worst, preventing just 52% of accurate attempts from beating him.
    • 17:27 Blackburn have failed to win in their last four PL matches at the Etihad Stadium, since a 3-0 victory in January 2007 when Morten Gamst Pedersen (2) and Matt Derbyshire scored the goals.
    • 17:25 It's a family affair for the away side as the Olsson brothers start for Blackburn, another snap for the family album.
    • 17:24 As far as head-to-head records goes, Manchester City have lost none of their last eight Premier League games against Blackburn (W5 D3 L0), winning four of the last five.
    • 17:23 Man City have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League matches while Blackburn have won just two of their last 21 Premier League away games (W2 D8 L11).
    • 17:22 Of course Blackburn have already won in Manchester this year in that dramatic 3-2 win at Old Trafford on New Years' Eve.
    • 17:20 If Blackburn get an unlikely win they'd climb out of the relegation zone and plunge QPR into the bottom three.
    • 17:19 Man City could end the day five points ahead of city rivals United at the top of the Premier League before Sir Alex Ferguson's side take on Norwich tomorrow.
    • 17:10 Some interesting comments predicting a pretty heavy defeat for Blackburn today. Jords532 reckons City will win 7-0!
    • 17:08 Steve Kean meanwhile drops Nzonzi to the bench and brings in Marcus Olsson and Radosav Petrovic into his midfield in Blackburn's first game following Christopher Samba's move to Russia.
    • 17:07 Roberto Mancini makes four changes from the side that beat Porto on Wednesday evening. Yaya Toure makes his first Premier League start since early January today after his return from the African Nations Cup. Gareth Barry is rested after he picked up an injury against Porto and Mario Balotelli returns from suspension.
    • 16:50 MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Lescott, Kolarov, de Jong, Yaya, Johnson, Balotelli, Silva, Aguero... Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Clichy, Milner, Nasri, Pizarro, Dzeko. /// BLACKBURN: Robinson; Orr, Hanley, Dann, Mart Olsson; Petrovic, Marcus Olsson; Pedersen, Formica, Hoillet; Yakubu... Subs: Bunn, Modeste, Nzonzi, Rochina, Goodwillie, Vukcevic, Henley.
    • 16:45 Welcome to LIVE coverage of Manchester City versus Blackburn Rovers from the Etihad Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 80' GOAL! 3-0 Man City. Aguero spreads the ball out left to Kolarov who whips in a perfect cross for Dzeko to get in between Hanley and Dann and head past Robinson.
    • 75' Silva picks up the ball and slips it out wide to Zabaleta who puts in a cross. Balotelli runs on to it but Orr does well and clears for a corner.
    • 52' GOAL! 2-0 City thanks to Sergio Aguero. Robinson flaps at Johnson's corner and the forward smashes a half-volley into the unguarded net.
    • 45+2 Aguero breaks free of Dann and Orr before shooting across the face of goal as it just misses.
    • 35' Kolarov hits a sweet cross and it's knocked on by Kompany. Toure leaps on to the ball but misses the target from just six yards out. That was a great chance for City.
    • 33' Another cross from Kolarov who fires in a ball to Silva who, with a delicious first touch, controls the ball before smashing a shot off Robinson's legs.
    • 29' Hoilett loses the ball and Silva breaks down the left. He plays in the over-lapping Kolarov who puts in a pefect cross to the front post where Balotelli taps the ball beyond Robinson with a beautiful touch.
    • 23' Silva finds Johnson in space on the right, the winger cuts inside and take a shot at goal which is spilled by Robinson.
    • 2' Toure with a super pass from left to right to Johnson who crosses early to Balotelli. The striker hits a first-time shot and Paul Robinson saves very well as it goes out of play. Great save from the 'keeper there.
    • 16:50 MAN CITY: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Lescott, Kolarov, de Jong, Yaya, Johnson, Balotelli, Silva, Aguero... Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Clichy, Milner, Nasri, Pizarro, Dzeko. /// BLACKBURN: Robinson; Orr, Hanley, Dann, Mart Olsson; Petrovic, Marcus Olsson; Pedersen, Formica, Hoillet; Yakubu... Subs: Bunn, Modeste, Nzonzi, Rochina, Goodwillie, Vukcevic, Henley.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.6 6
      Defenders
      5.8 7
      6.4 6
      6.1 6
      6.8 9
      Midfielders
      5.7 6
      Substitution Out86′ 6.9 8
      Substitution Out71′ 6 7
      Goal 7.3 7
      7.6 8
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out79′ 6.9 7
      Subs
      Substitution In71′ 5.9 5
      Substitution In86′ 6.4 7
      Substitution In79′ Goal 7.7 8
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.3 5
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 4.4 5
      4.6 6
      Yellow Card 4.3 6
      4.6 5
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out70′ 4.9 5
      5.1 5
      4.6 5
      Substitution Out70′ 4.8 3
      4.6 4
      Strikers
      5.7 5
      Subs
      Substitution In70′ 4.8 5
      Substitution In70′ 3.6 5

Comment 139 - 158 of 158

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  1. cmon united becoz ct is on fire LOL

    From Sheik, on Mon 27 Feb 16:34

  2. Dev-Fest

    Try reading something first before making­ ridiculous comments. The blog was about injuries­ sustained and if you bother to check facts testerday­ and today you are the only Club in the Premier League­ with a fully fit squad.

    The fact you have had a few­ suspensions is down to the players concerned and as for­ the Africa Cup you were aware of that when you bought­ the Touree Brothers.

    Injuries happen and as I said you­ have been lucky and have suffered very few certainly­ not long lasting ones.

    I don't like to see players­ out with serious injuries but United at one time had a­ full 11 on the injury list with two players including­ the captain out for the season. However that is­ football and can never be used as an excuse and too be­ honest to actually be 2nd in the league is a brilliant­ achievement. For 18 years Man United have never­ finished outside the top three. Obviously everyone­ wants to win the PL however I do think this will be­ your season. Its now yours to lose

    From Dr Graham J Smith DD, on Sun 26 Feb 20:44

  3. look like 90 pc of the game city and 10 pc blackburn ­ still top come on canaries, and spurs next week

    From Darren, on Sun 26 Feb 12:25

  4. Good win for city I hope yaya toures injury isnt bad­ and hopefully city have a fully fit squad available for­ the next game.

    From Daniel Lenegan, on Sun 26 Feb 11:11

  5. United fans better get their excuses ready now for when­ may comes around :)

    From mrcrocodilemr01, on Sun 26 Feb 4:49

  6. I hope people finally saw the greatness that Kolarov­ is...
    Don't get me wrong, Clichy is a solid player,­ and very fast too... But Kolarov, not only is he very­ good in defence, but he's also efficient in attack,­ crossing and shooting, as well as heading from corners­ (when he's not taking the corner kick). On the­ other hand, Clichy can't even hit the ball­ properly, not to mention dribbling skills compared to­ Kolarov.

    From Pavle, on Sun 26 Feb 4:40
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well done blackburn for a minute their you had abudhabi­ worried especially when you crossed the halfway line­ joke of a league.

    From stevo, on Sun 26 Feb 4:20

  8. @167 I fully agree. City are winning the league playing­ the most dominant football in the clubs history and all­ these dicks can do is go on about Munich. Clearly they­ don't know about history or don't care about­ Frank Swift. Either way, you don't deserve to be­ city fans.

    From steve c, on Sun 26 Feb 4:08
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    George is a scouser

    From dev_fest, on Sun 26 Feb 4:00
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    @159 George - You pathetic t*at! Why the f*ck do you­ lot from the EtiShed always bring up Munich?? You lost­ one of YOUR OWN in that plane crash, you brainless­ turd! City are doing excellant in the Premiership &­ will more than likely win it this year by playing­ winning football so revel in your triump instead of­ talking thru ur a*se!

    From andrew, on Sun 26 Feb 3:50

  11. The gap is growing Rags ,i think you best start making­ excuses up now instead of waiting till May and looking­ silly

    The fake DR guy has already started his excuses­ ,claiming we have had no injury's and no­ suspensions ,yet we had 2 key players lost in the­ African nations cup during the busiest time of the­ season ,with our captain lost in a farcical 4 match ban­ during the same time followed by Ballotelli

    Tevez our­ key player of the last 2 seasons absent the whole­ season,but don't worry they are all back now and­ the goal scoring feats of the early season start shall­ continue

    From dev_fest, on Sun 26 Feb 3:49

  12. Think City will win from here

    From Join in affluentlove.com, on Sun 26 Feb 3:44

  13. we are city, we score when we want, come on norwich­ city stuff the manure.!.

    From johnny, on Sun 26 Feb 3:38

  14. three - nil lol

    From SIMON, on Sun 26 Feb 3:36

  15. PHILIP scouse blue nose and there is MORE years of­ EMPTYNESS for everton to come !!!!!!!!!!! so­ nothing change there than :) :)

    From anthony h, on Sun 26 Feb 3:35

  16. WHERE have all these city fans come from !!!!!!!!! ­ amazing !!!!!!!!!!!

    From anthony h, on Sun 26 Feb 3:32

  17. @ borat 149, be very carefull what you say about­ hillsborough, from a liverpool fan.

    From michael, on Sun 26 Feb 3:31

  18. 122 db
    Man Utd is the fish market area???? What with­ all the prawn sandwich eaters as Roy Keane so wisely­ once said

    From Chris, on Sun 26 Feb 3:28

  19. Kolarov played an amazing game today!

    From Join in affluentlove.com, on Sun 26 Feb 3:28

  20. another win for city hope Norwich city do us a favour

    From double done, on Sun 26 Feb 3:26
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