Source: SKY_Sports
Man City v Blackburn live!
90+4 The full-time whistle goes and it's a victory for Manchester City over Blackburn. Stay tuned for post-match reaction from both managers, We hope you've enjoyed this afternoon's match coverage.[LNB]90+3 Petrov's cross is collected by Robinson with Ireland lurking.[LNB]90+3 The full-time whistle will go any second now.[LNB]90 Four minutes of injury time will be played.[LNB]90 City are content in playing a bit of keep ball at the moment. It's been a deserved three points.[LNB]88 Robinho's near post effort is blocked by Robinson. Some good work from Ireland set up the chance.[LNB]85 Into the closing stages now and it's nearly last-chance saloon for the visitors.[LNB]81 We're into the closing stages here. City lead 3-1 and you'd fancy them to finish the job on home soil.[LNB]78 Petrov has replaced Elano for City. Petrov will surely go on the left wing with Robinho filling in for Elano on the right. Elano has had a good game for the home side.[LNB]77 Rovers are controlling the play at the moment. Another goal back for them and they would have real belief of salvaging a point that looked an impossibility at half time.[LNB]76 Robinson's long punt up the field is collected by Given under pressure from Ooijer.[LNB]75 Martin Petrov looks set to come on for City.[LNB]71 A trademark barn-storming run there by Richards, but his cross is collected by Robinson at his near post. The Rovers keeper, to be fair, has not had a lot to do in the second half.[LNB]69 It's end to end stuff here. I wouldn't bet against there being more goals. Cracking game.[LNB]66 Rovers have pulled a goal back. Given saved Diouf's penalty, but Andrews, who has only just come onto the field, was there to net the rebound. Game on![LNB]65 Rovers have a penalty! Pedersen has won a spot-kick after being hauled down by Onuoha.[LNB]64 Tugay is not happy at something and lashes out at possibly a water bottle after leaving the field.[LNB]63 Blackburn are eventually making their changes with Samba and Tugay being replaced by Andrews and Doran.[LNB]63 City make their first change with Bojinov replacing Caicedo up front.[LNB]61 Villanueva's deflected free-kick floats just over Given's crossbar for a corner for the visitors, which comes to nothing.[LNB]60 De Jong is now booked for a late challenge on Warnock. Good chance for Rovers to play something into City's penalty area.[LNB]59q Samba's low drive is well blocked by De Jong.[LNB]58 Allardyce is getting ready to make a double switch with Andrews and Doran set to come on.[LNB]55 Rovers have weathered City's storm, but they are offering little in attack at the moment. Mark Hughes will be quite happy with the way this one is panning out.[LNB]52 City are back on top again. This time Robinho sends a curler just wide after good work through the middle from Ireland and Caicedo.[LNB]51 Elano's free-kick after Elano was fouled was poor and strikes Rovers' wall. I thought he might do better there. He's had a good day so far.[LNB]49 Villanueva's deflected shot is easily collected by Given. Half a chance there for the visitors. It could have been interesting had a City player not taken the sting out of that effort.[LNB]48 Warnock's cross is collected by Given. City have been a little slow out of the blocks in the second half.[LNB]47 Rovers, as they did in the first half, have started the half positively.[LNB]46 City get the second half underway.[LNB] Rovers have made a change at half time with Villanueva coming on for McCarthy, who didn't have much of an impact in the first 45 minutes.[LNB] The teams are back out into the pitch. It'll be interesting to see if City keep attacking and how adventurous Rovers are in trying to get something out of this contest.[LNB]45+2 Allardyce does not look a happy man on the sidelines. The half-time whistle goes and City lead are three-up courtesy of goals from Caicedo, Robinho and Elano (pen).[LNB]45+1 Elano sends Robinson the wrong way. It's 3-0 to City, who are now in full control of the game. Rovers will do well to get anything out of this contest.[LNB]45 Three Rovers players have been booked for dissent for contesting the decision. It was Nelsen, Ooijer and Grella.[LNB]45 Penalty! City have won a penalty after Givet handles Ireland's effort.[LNB]44 A lovely move by City ends with Richards playing a low cross into the box, but no one is on the end for the home side to test Robinson.[LNB]42 Half a chance for Rovers there. Diouf plays in a deep cross from the touchline and Samba is unlucky to see his header float just over.[LNB]40 Five minutes until half time and City are deservedly leading 2-0. Allardyce will have his work cut out at half-time to turn this one around.[LNB]38 A long range effort from Rovers. This time Ooijer's driven effort floats wide of Given's right-hand upright.[LNB]36 Superb play again there by City. Robinho plays a one-two with Elano and very nearly latches onto his compatriot's through-ball. City are putting Rovers under immense pressure at the moment.[LNB]34 Kompany's short pass finds Robinho and he curls home a delightful shot past Robinson into the far corner at the net. Superb finish from the Brazilian.[LNB] City have moved two-up! Robinho is the goal scorer.[LNB]33 Robinho's well-struck shot is blocked out for a corner by Nelsen. The Brazilian hit that ball with some anger.[LNB]32 Although City are in front I think they are missing a trick by not getting Robinho involved in the game a little more. He's not had many touches.[LNB]29 Elano heads the ball off City's line from Pedersen's inswinging corner, however, the referee's whistle had already gone for a foul on Given.[LNB]27 Ooijer's clearance from Elano's corner is poor allowing Kompany to stab the ball goal wards. His effort isn't great, but arrives at Caicedo's feet and he stabs home from close range. Caicedo is booked for taking his shirt off in the goal celebrations.[LNB]27 It's in! City have scored through Caicedo.[LNB]25 Good chance there for Tugay, but his right-footed effort is poor and bounces harmlessly wide of Given's goal.[LNB]24 Caicedo is just looking a bit isolated for City at the moment. Robinho is staying quite wide left, leaving the Ecuadorian leading the line virtually on his own,[LNB]21 Rovers felt they should have won a penalty when McCarthy's shot was blocked by De Jong's arm, but nothing was given. Seconds later Tugay is lucky to escape a booking for hauling down Ireland.[LNB]19 Elano's corner is woeful and goes into the side-netting in Robinson's goal. Rovers are coping with City's set-pieces so far.[LNB]18 Grella is lucky to escape a booking for a late tackle on Ireland.[LNB]17 I saw City play a few weeks ago against Fulham and they are performing much better than they did in that outing. They are looking confident and positive. However, Rovers are defending stoutly and looking dangerous on the break.[LNB]15 Both managers are on the sidelines issuing instructions to their respective teams.[LNB]14 It's been an end-to-end match so far, but no goals.[LNB]11 Ireland's shot at one end is blocked. Rovers break, but Tugay's through-ball for Pedersen is way off target allowing City to breathe a sigh of relief.[LNB]10 Grella's curler fails to trouble Given. He twice got the better of a City defender before getting his shot away. First attempt of the match.[LNB]9 Samba is definitely playing up front alongside McCarthy with Diouf out wide right. Can City cope with Samba's aerial presence?[LNB]8 It looks like McCarthy is carrying on, but I don't know how long he will last. He seems in a bit of discomfort.[LNB]6 McCarthy is currently down for Rovers. It looks like he picked up a foot injury after Bridge closed down his shot moments earlier.[LNB]6 City break through Elano. His cross-field pass picks out Ireland who in turn finds Caicedo, but he is unable to get any purchase on his shot. Good response from the home side.[LNB]5 Elano's clever through ball nearly sets Caicedo away, but the striker is deemed offside. The visitors will be thankful the linesman's flag went up there.[LNB]3 Nelson's side-footed effort is blocked after good work by Diouf. It's been a positive start from Rovers.[LNB]2 It looks like Chris Samba has adopted an attacking role early on in the contest. That tactic didn't work at Liverpool, but he does have support from McCarthy and Diouf.[LNB]1 Blackburn get this afternoon's contest underway![LNB] Rovers are playing from right to left as I'm sat, meaning they will be playing towards the away end in the second half.[LNB] The team are out on the pitch. Let's hope it's a cracker here in Manchester.[LNB] Just ten minutes until kick-off now. You can get odds of 5/1 for Robinho to open the scoring while in-form Benni McCarthy is Rovers' shortest price at 7/1.[LNB] Elsewhere, Man United have moved six points clear at the summit of the table following a 2-0 win over lowly Boro.[LNB] The stadium is filling up nicely. It's not far to Blackburn so Rovers' fans will have travelled in their numbers making for a cracking atmosphere. Blackburn will be hoping to ease their relegation worries while City will be looking to maintain their charge for a Europa League spot.[LNB] If you fancy a flutter on today's match here are skybet's latest match result odds: Man. City 10/11 Draw 9/4 Blackburn 10/3.[LNB] Elsewhere, it looks like Manchester United are taking another step towards another Premier League title as they lead 2-0 at relegation-threatened Boro late on.[LNB] The teams are out warming up on the pitch here at the City of Manchester Stadium. It's a nice dry day in Manchester with sunny spells. The pitch looks in perfect condition.[LNB] The teams for this afternoon's clash are in![LNB]Manchester City: Given, Richards, Dunne, Onuoha, Bridge, , Ireland, De Jong, Kompany, Elano, Robinho, Caicedo. Subs: Hart, Garrido, Gelson, Bojinov, Petrov, Berti, Evans[LNB]Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Givet, Grella, Tugay, Pedersen, Diouf, McCarthy. Subs: Bunn, Khizanishvili, Mokoena, Andrews, Villanueva, Olsson, Doran.[LNB]Referee: Mike Dean
