Blackburn v MAN CITY – PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
24 Apr
It’s time to come down from the Wembley high. That’s the effect that a trip to Ewood Park has on you. The elation that followed the sensational FA Cup semi-final victory must be replaced by a determined focus on the trip to Blackburn, the necessity to attain Champions League football now our main priority.
Spurs gave us a boost on Saturday by only managing a draw against West Brom and the onus is now on City to stretch our lead over them. We should travel to Ewood Park full of confidence, having avoided defeat against Blackburn in the past six meetings. Rovers haven’t won a Premier League match in nine attempts, but we have struggled in our recent away fixtures.
With regards to team selection, Micah Richards is still out, as are Carlos Tévez and Jérome Boateng, so Mancini could name the same side as the one that started in the semi-final. However, I’d expect there to be one change, with Adam Johnson the man to miss out. In his place could come any one of James Milner, SWP or Edin Dzeko, depending on how adventurous the manager intends to be.
Here is the team I’d expect Mancini to select:
Roque Santa Cruz, on loan from City to Rovers, is ineligible, although we could face Benjani, with the Zimbabwean striker having joined Blackburn in the summer. They are a physical side, with the likes of Chris Samba and Steven N’Zonzi posing a threat, although they have a certain amount of quality in their ranks, including Morten Gamst Pedersen and Junior Hoilett.
Referee: Andre Marriner - We should be in safe hands with him. Highly regarded by the Premier League, I too rate Marriner highly. Controlled, calm and gets the majority of the big calls correct.
Prediction: Blackburn 0 – 2 MAN CITY - The home side are on such a poor run of form that I can’t see any result other than a City win. Goals to be scored by Mario Balotelli and Yaya Touré.
After Spurs draw against West Brom on Saturday , a great oppurtunity is presented to City on a Silver plate that would see us 4 points ahead of Spurs. Knowing that Spurs will meet Chelsea next, There is a great chance for us to increase our lead by 7 which go along way in ensuring our Champions League spot before our congested schedule starts next month.
I sitll do not understand why Boyata is on the bench. His performance has been nothing short of other players in the recent games when he has been called namely Lescott and Kolarov.
Mancini should take a page from Kenny Danglish and Wenger in promoting outstanding Youth talents like Boyata to the first team. It pays off big time!
We really must get a grip on our away form, and after the euphoria of Wembley we have a good chance of doing that at Blackburn. Their form has been woeful of late but we must go there and be as ruthless and efficient as we were in games at Newcastle, West Ham and Fulham. I’m hoping we can get off to a fast start like we did in those games and make Blackburn chase the game which
would give us plenty of oppurtunities to score. I would really like to see Edin get involved tonight and like Torres get that monkey called the media off his back and notch 1 or 2. 3-1 to City.
Yep, but is against without Dzeko in first eleven.I am not sure that is really good ideas from Mancini.City cannt win all Match with one goal.