Blackburn v MAN CITY: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
30 Sep
Fancy a flutter? Mario Balotelli to score the first goal and City to win 2-0 is very tempting at 26/1, whilst a 5-0 City victory, very much possible against Blackburn, has the fantastic odds of 67/1. Feel confident that you can predict the outcome? Got an instinct who will score first? Click HERE to bet on the game.
With all due to respect to Blackburn, this is the perfect fixture. Coming so soon after the Bayern Munich and Carlos Tévez debacle, Roberto Mancini would have wanted a simple match in which to try to restore confidence to the squad. And although Rovers are capable of causing problems, we should defeat them. Comfortably.
In recent years we have a decent record at Ewood Park. Last season saw Edin Dzeko score the winner in the last ten minutes to secure a valuable three points, whilst the year before that heralded the signing of Emmanuel Adebayor, who opened his City account after just three minutes on debut. Blackburn are struggling this year and Steve Kean is under a huge amount of pressure, not helped of course by the Venky’s, the naive and quite amusing owners.
With regards to team selection, I’d be surprised if Mancini didn’t make quite a few changes. Both fullbacks could feasibly be replaced, with Pablo Zabaleta and Aleks Kolarov pushing for starts. Nigel De Jong and Owen Hargreaves could occupy the holding midfield roles if the manager decides to give Gareth Barry a rest. Yaya Touré deserves to be dropped.
Mancini stated immediately after the game on Tuesday that Dzeko will start on the bench following his petulant reaction to being substituted against Bayern Munich, so expect to see Mario Balotelli line up alongside Sergio Aguero. However, as expected, the Bosnian apologised a couple of days ago and could start. James Milner could also come into the side in place of Samir Nasri.
Here is the side I expect Mancini to select:
Although Blackburn are in the relegation zone and we should win comfortably, they do have a couple of players capable of winning the game in an instant. Junior Hoilett has impressed this season his pace and ability to run with the ball. Chris Samba, whose middle name of Veijeany is still the best in the Premier League, can be unstoppable at the back, but defender Martin Olsson is suspended.
Referee: Phil Dowd - This will be our ninth domestic game this season and Dowd has already officiated us twice, in the Community Shield and then against Spurs. Booked a couple of players too many in my liking for those games, but he’s generally fine.
Prediction: Blackburn 0 – 2 MAN CITY - The first few minutes might be quite tense as we try to find our feet, but our extra quality should show in the end. Goals to be scored by Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero.
Fancy a flutter? Mario Balotelli to score the first goal and City to win 2-0 is very tempting at 25/1, whilst a 5-0 City victory, very much possible against Blackburn, has the fantastic odds of 67/1. Feel confident that you can predict the outcome? Got an instinct who will score first? Click HERE to bet on the game.
Savic is a decent player who is seems to be comfortable on the ball. I do not see why he does not get chance in starting XI. As for Yaya, if he is not playing in his advanced role as you have shown above, then he should be benched.
Mancini should warn the team against complacency in this fixture. Otherwise, players are for a big surprise much like Arsenal.
I might be wrong but I thought City won at Ewood last year with a late Dzeko goal?
You are right, we won last year in Ewood.