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.

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

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

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

Santa Cruz comes off for Matt Derbyshire for the home side

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

Deiberson Geovanni comes on for Johnson

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

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

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

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

Ireland comes off to be replaced by Nedum Onuoha for City

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

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

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

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

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

Pedersen's shot is weak and off target

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emerton's cross is met by Petrov as City clear

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another Petrov is blocked by Dunn

McCarthy handles and City get a free-kick

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

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

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

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

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

McCarthy hauls down Micah Richards and that will be a foul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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