Blackburn Rovers 0 vs 1 Manchester City

Williamson completely overhits a pass out wide, but Fernandinho clatters into him and Blackburn have a free kick in the middle of the pitch nearly 40 yards out, but Cairney's delivery is headed away by Dzeko.

 

46′

We're back underway as Man City kick off the second half. No changes so far.

 

 

Just a few minutes left until the restart at Ewood Park. Will we see Jordan Rhodes at any point? He already has 16 goals this season and will certainly make things difficult for the City defence.

 

 

The positive signs are there for Gary Bowyer's men, though. Cairney and Marshall have been impressive on the wings and Taylor has been making a real nuisance of himself in the middle. Rovers will definitely feel they can get back in this.

 

 

The goal aside, City actually had very few chances. Silva had the best one, firing over from 12 yards, but overall Blackburn have stifled the visitors well. Just a momentary lapse on 45 minutes and they're behind.

 

 

That's HALF TIME at Ewood Park and the visitors go in behind. Hanley and Taylor are furious and start shoving each other!! You can understand the frustration, there, as they've fallen behind with practically the last kick of the half.

 

45′ +1

That's so, so harsh on Blackburn. There's even a hint of offside, too. Gary Bowyer will be devastated after his side have put in an excellent performance so far.

 

45′

Goal Negredo
NEGREDO BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!! It's a bitter blow for the hosts as City win a corner, and Dzeko flicks it on from the penalty spot, giving the simplest chance for Negredo to tap it in at the far post.

 

44′

Negredo and Boyata pop up on the right-hand side, but Marshall tracks back well to see it out for a throw before the hosts get it back and come forward themselves. The winger goes up against Boyata and hits the ground as the defender comes across, but the referee gives nothing and it's a goal kick.

 

42′

Silva is caught in midfield and the visitors have a free kick, which he takes quickly and he's quickly involved again, setting Fernandinho through the middle, but the midfielder can't quite get it under control and Blackburn clear.

 

41′

Robinson scuffs a clearance but it almost pays off and goes through for Gestede, but the striker can't get to it and City have the ball back. Can someone break the deadlock before half time?

 

40′

CLOSE FOR BLACKBURN!! Marshall is set free on the left and plays in his best cross of the match, but it evades both Gestede and Cairney by inches. Moments later, Williamson squares to Taylor who fires over from the edge of the box.

 

39′

Silva looks for Clichy on the left-hand side with a lofted pass, and Henley comes across to clear but slices it out for a throw. The hosts eventually do well to win possession, though, and have a chance to relieve the pressure and come forward themselves.

 

37′

Negredo is still unhappy about that decision. Spurr had his arm on the striker but it probably wasn't enough of a tug back to make a strong man like Negredo fall over.

 

36′

Danger for Blackburn as Milner swings in a right-footed ball, and Negredo tries to flick it on towards goal but goes down under a challenge from Spurr. He wants a penalty but nothing is given and Robinson has the ball.

 

35′

SILVA BLAZES OVER!! That's a poor effort from the Spaniard. Milner whips in a cross from the left and it's half-cleared, but Fernandinho gets to the by-line and pulls back to Silva, who is in acres of space in the box but skies his effort high into the stand.

 

34′

City are camping in Blackburn's half, now. The pressure is really on and the hosts will be desperate to hold on until half time.

 

33′

The last couple of minutes have just swung things in City's favour, but overall Blackburn will be very happy with the game so far. They've restricted the visitors' chances and have got forward well themselves, but will be disappointed with the quality of the final ball.

 

32′

Fernandinho takes the ball from Williamson and finds Silva, who moves towards the right-hand edge of the box. He lays back to Boyata before making a run into the area, but the defender's return pass is poor and goes out for a goal kick.

 

30′

ALMOST FOR NEGREDO!! That's a wonderful piece of skill from the striker as he receives a pass from Dzeko on the edge of the box before flicking the ball over the defender's head, but he can't quite get on the end of it before Robinson collects. Amazing skill, though, reminiscent of the famous Dennis Bergkamp goal against Newcastle some years ago.

 

29′

Cairney fires a delightful ball across the pitch for Marshall on the left-hand side. The winger's delivery isn't up to scratch, though, and it goes out for a goal kick.

 

28′

The hosts come forward again, and again Cairney and Taylor are involved before Spurr receives it on the left. He crosses to the far post looking for Gestede but Pantilimon claims. City immediately break forward and Milner squares to Fernandinho, who fires a low shot from 20 yards straight at Robinson.

 

26′

The visitors eventually win the ball back and Milner comes forward along the left flank, but his cross doesn't find a City player with forward committed forward, before he receives it again and his next attempt is claimed by Robinson.

 

25′

Blackburn are bossing things in midfield at the moment. Taylor in particular has been hassling the City players, while Cairney has been very impressive on the flank. City have their work cut out here.

 

24′

Milner is caught offside and Blackburn come forward with a Robinson kick. Marshall has the ball 25 yards out and fires in a shot which hits Lescott on the arm, but nothing is given.

 

23′

City come forward and it's Silva who picks it up on the right-hand side, before cutting on to his left and drilling in a cross, but Hanley is there first to clear convincingly.

 

22′

Dann wins the header again, this time at the far post, but it loops up high and Pantilimon plucks it out of the air, giving him a chance to alleviate some of the pressure. A great spell for the hosts.

 

21′

Yellow Card Matija Nastasic

 

21′

That's vital from Lescott!! Cairney swings the ball in left-footed and the City centre-back flicks the ball behind for a corner with a Blackburn man coming in for it right behind him.

 

20′

Good skill from Cairney to skip a challenge and spread wide to Marshall, who runs past Milner before firing in a cross which Pantilimon claims. The hosts come straight back, though, as Gestede is taken out by Nastasic just outside the box. Danger here...

 

19′

DANN HEADS AT GOAL!! The defender rises high in the area to meet the corner and powers a header straight at Pantilimon. If it was a couple of feet either side of the City shot-stopper he may have been in trouble.

 

18′

We have a shot!! Taylor outmuscles Garcia and drives forward before firing an effort at goal from 25 yards, but it deflects off two men and goes behind for a corner.

 

17′

Negredo is nearly in as Silva lofts a diagonal ball over the defence and into the box, but it just skips off the surface and goes straight into Robinson's arms.

 

16′

Taylor does really well to skip past Fernandinho in midfield, but doesn't have as much joy getting past Garcia, and City have the ball back under their control.

 

15′

Negredo tries to power into the area but runs it straight out of play for a goal kick. It's not coming off for the visitors at the moment, and they look a little narrow.

 

14′

Good work by Spurr on the wing as Milner tries to get past him, but the full-back manages to dispossess the City man and win a throw for his side as well.

 

13′

Garcia doesn't mess with a long Robinson ball forward, volleying it out of play for a throw. This game hasn't quite got going just yet.

 

11′

Williamson fires in a good ball looking for Taylor, but Pantilimon is out well to claim it before setting his side away on the attack. Milner gets towards the box and has Fernandinho on an overlap, but overhits the pass and the hosts have a goal kick.

 

10′

A pretty even opening 10 minutes, then, but the visitors are just starting to string together some possession. Blackburn are resorting to long balls already, and Gestede could have a lot of running to do this afternoon.

 

8′

Taylor chases a ball hard down the right and lets Clichy know he's there by sliding in to try and keep the ball in play, not managing it, but sending the City defender into the advertising boards.

 

7′

Dzeko drops back to collect the ball before spreading it wide to Milner, who wins a corner off Spurr, but Hanley does well to hack away the delivery.

 

6′

Gestede receives a long ball forward from Dann and charges into the box. Lescott gets across to battle with the striker and in the end the Blackburn man concedes a free kick.

 

5′

Boyata puts Pantilimon under a bit of pressure with a bouning pass back, and the goalkeeper doesn't connect with his clearance fully, but Blackburn can't make the most of the opportunity as the ball is played out too hard to Cairney and it goes out for a throw.

 

4′

Silva collects the ball in an advanced position and is clipped by Lowe, giving them a chance to fire in a free kick, but the Spaniard's floated ball evades everyone and goes behind for a goal kick.

 

3′

Now it's City's turn to see some of the ball which, incidentally, is a very fetching shade of pink. The visitors are in no rush to push forward and the back four are passing amongst themselves.

 

2′

It's a bright start from the hosts, and Marshall advances down the left flank before pulling a cross back to the edge of the box, but Lescott hammers it clear.

 

1′

We're underway in the FA Cup third round as Blackburn get the game started.