Pre match news
Mark Hughes makes just the one change to his side following the 5-1 thrashing of Hull City on Boxing Day, out goes Micah Richards to the bench, presumably due to his slight knock picked up on Friday with Nedum Onuoha taking his place.
Felipe Caicedo has recovered from his knock to start upfront for the Blues as Mark Hughes returns to Ewood Park for the first time since leaving Blackburn in the summer.
The match
Blackburn kicked off having just learnt West Brom’s 2-0 win over Spurs had left them bottom of the table while City were looking to build on the 5-1 hammering of Hull City and continue moving up the table.
On two minutes it was Mark Hughes’ City side with the first sniff of goal as Vincent Kompany won a header from a right wing corner and Felipe Caicedo, at full stretch, could only help the ball over.
Rovers’ first threat was from a fifth minute free-kick that had the hosts appealing for a penalty as Emerton’s effort ricocheted through a brace of City players.
In the ninth minute City were denied a blatant penalty as Robinho was taken down in the box by Ooijer but referee Webb and his assistant were the only men inside the Ewood Park who didn’t think it was a spot-kick.
A minute later Robinho should have made it 1-0 after a fine flowing move by City. Elano found Caicedo who raced clear down the left wing and produced a fantastic cross for Robinho who somehow managed to head wide from six-yards out.
Both sides were playing good football without creating chances but on 25 minutes Richard Dunne needed to make a crucial last ditch block on the rampaging Roberts who had muscled his way into the City area and got his shot off.
Tugay’s age caught up with him as his became the first name taken by the referee for a late sliding tackle on Robinho after 33 minutes and he was lucky to remain on the pitch moments after as he clashed with Ireland and disagreed with Mr Webb’s decision.
After a quiet end to the half Benni McCarthy came to life and fired Rovers in front on the stroke of half time as he placed the ball to Hart’s left from 10-yards after it had broken to him in the area.
HALF TIME: Rovers 1-0 City
No changes at half time by either manager as City hoped to come out fighting as they did at the start of the game, but it was Allardyce’s team with the better of the early second half exchanges, Ooijer and Emerton not troubling Hart when well placed.
City then shook themselves into action and created two chances in the space of 30 seconds. Firstly, Wright-Phillips hit the post with a deft header, then Robinho set up Ireland who curled a right footed effort agonisingly wide.
The Irish midfielder then picked up a booking for a late challenge on Warnock - a fifth league yellow of the season for him and a one game suspension to come.
On 64 minutes Nedum Onuoha looked to be in some discomfort as he was replaced by Micah Richards, hopefully not another serious injury for both player and Manager to have to deal with.
Mark Hughes made a signal of intent on 71 minutes as he brought on both Darius Vassell and Danny Sturridge in place of Elano and Caicedo in a bid to get something out of the game.
The double substitution gave City that shot in the arm they needed as they put Blackburn under severe pressure and Chris Samba almost scored an emphatic own goal from the edge of his own box but it flew over for a corner.
Micah Richards then went close after a flurry of City corners but as we entered the final 10 minutes time was ticking away from the Blues.
But as is often the way when a team chases the game, the other one scores, and so it proved on 84 minutes. A long free kick from deep was flicked on for Jason Roberts to head high over Joe Hart into the goal to surely seal the points for Rovers.
Although with two minutes left City clawed their way back into the game as Danny Sturridge fired a low volley home following good skill by Robinho...game on?
Deep into stoppage time it certainly was game on as Sturridge’s good play saw him slide Robinho in on goal and after one touch to control his second was a crisp finish beyond Robinson to cue unbelievable scenes in the Darwen End and down on the touchline as Hughes and his backroom staff celebrated...Kevin Hitchcock even running on to the pitch.
The final whistle went soon after with City fans and players continuing their celebrations as Blackburn continued the season of goodwill to all men...and former employees.
FULL TIME: Rovers 2-2 City
