• Date: Sun 02 September 2007
  • Venue: Ewood Park
  • Ref: Dean, M
  • Attendance: 26,881

Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester City

Team Lineups

Blackburn Rovers

Brad Friedel
Christopher Samba
Ryan Nelsen
Stephen Warnock
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Brett Emerton
David Bentley
David Dunn
Robbie Savage (Kerimoglu Tugay, 17)
Benni McCarthy (Andre Ooijer, 63)
Roque Santa Cruz (Matt Derbyshire, 86)

Manchester City

Kasper Schmeichel
Javier Garrido
Richard Dunne
Micah Richards
Vedran Corluka
Dietmar Hamann
Michael Johnson, M (Emile Lokonda Mpenza, 32)
Martin Petrov (Deiberson Geovanni, 76)
Blumer Elano
Stephen Ireland (Nedum Onuoha, 70)
Rolando Bianchi


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

McCarthy's goal proves to be enough for Rovers to claim the win, as both sides end with 10 men - Tugay off for Rovers and Dunne for City.

90

Geovanni's cross is met by Samba as Rovers cling on with the game entering stoppage time

89

City are going for it now, but it seems a little late

87

Ooijer fouls Elano and City earn a free-kick but they need a goal - and quick

85
Substitution
 

Santa Cruz comes off for Matt Derbyshire for the home side

82

Emerton calls Schemichel into action again but it's easy for the City keeper

78
Substitution
 

Deiberson Geovanni comes on for Johnson

78
Yellow Card
 

Samba's booked for a foul on Richards, the eighth booking in total this afternoon

75

With time now ticking for City, they're not really offering much going forward

73

Pedersen tries to chip the City keeper but the blonde-haired youngster gathers it

72

Dunn's effort from distance is well executed but easy for Schmeichel in the end

70
Substitution
 

Ireland comes off to be replaced by Nedum Onuoha for City

67

It's all happening at Ewood with two sent off, however City want a goal

66

It's 10 v 10 now and all to play for with over 20 minutes left

65
Red Card
 

Dunne brings down Santa Cruz and is shown a second yellow, so he's off too

63
Substitution
 

McCarthy is replaced Andre Ooijer as Mark Hughes looks to defend the lead

62

Just past the hour mark now and Blackburn still hold the lead

59

Pedersen's shot is weak and off target

57
Yellow Card
 

Bentley is booked too, Rovers will need to watch they don't end up with nine men

57

City will sense they have a chance now, with Blackburn down to 10 men

55
Yellow Card
 

Pedersen is booked in the melee as well as tempers flare now

55

The Turkish star will feel hard done by, especially as Hamann tried to stop the referee sending him off

54
Red Card
 

Tugay gets a second yellow in the space of three minutes and is sent off after a foul on Dietmar Hamann

51
Yellow Card
 

Tugay is booked now for a tug on Mpenza's shirt

50

McCarthy finds Santa Cruz, who does well but Schmeichel comes out to deny him, great link-up play from the front two though

48
Yellow Card
 

Dunn is the second player to be booked after a foul on Stephen Ireland

47

Emerton's cross is met by Petrov as City clear

Second half
 

The second period gets underway after what has been a lively opening 45 minutes

Half time
 

McCarthy's goal after 13 minutes from close range deservedly gives Rovers the edge at the break

44

Pedersen's free-kick hits the wall and City survive again

42

Closing in on half-time and it's Rovers who are deservedly in front at Ewood

38

Javier Garrido's cross for City is blasted away by Nelsen

36

Brett Emerton fouls Mpenza but the resulting free kick taken by Elano is straight at the wall

34

McCarthy is offside again, but City are struggling at the moment

32
Substitution
 

City make a first-half change now with Michael Johnson replaced by Emile Mpenza

30

City haven't really done enough going forward so far and Blackburn are looking fairly comfortable at 1-0

29

From the corner, the ball cannons first off the post and then the bar as City eventually scramble the ball clear

28

Stephen Warnock's cross is met by the head of Santa Cruz, but Schmeichel saves to give Rovers a corner

27

Another Petrov is blocked by Dunn

26

McCarthy handles and City get a free-kick

24

After an initial bright opening from the visitors, it's Rovers, with the early goal, in charge at the minute

21

It's been an action-packed half so far, with both sides looking to attack when possible

19

David Dunn should have made it 2-0, but his header from Bentley's cross flies over

18
Yellow Card
 

Richard Dunne is shown the yellow card for a foul on Roque Santa Cruz

17
Substitution
 

Rovers need to make an early change, with Tugay coming on for Robbie Savage, who has picked up a knock

16

McCarthy hauls down Micah Richards and that will be a foul

14

City failed to deal with the corner and Samba's header was well saved by Schmeichel but poacher McCarthy was on hand to score

13
Goal
 

Chris Samba's header is saved by Kasper Schmeichel but Benni McCarthy is on hand to tap the ball home to put Rovers in front

12

David Bentley does well out wide for Rovers and David Dunn lashes a shot wide - it's been a bright start to the game

11

City have been on the front foot so far, backed by a really vocal following from Manchester

9

Martin Petrov tries his luck from distance for the visitors but Brad Friedel saves

7

Vedran Corluka is adjudged to be offside as City begin to settle well into the game

6

Martin Petrov gets a decent-looking cross in for City but Ryan Nelsen defends well and can clear

5

It's been a lively start but no early chances so far

3

There's a great atmosphere at Ewood with City fans packing into the away end

1

Morten Gamst Pedersen breaks forward early on but City do well to shackle him

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway as Rovers look to continue their good UEFA Cup form from midweek

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Rovers go with Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz up front while City have summer signing Rolando Bianchi in attack at Ewood Park