Mario Balotelli grabbed his chance wipe out the memory
of Manchester City's Munich misery as Roberto Mancini's
men eased to victory at ailing Blackburn.
• Under-fire Kean vows to battle on
Balotelli drilled home City's second just before the
hour and ran the home defence ragged in what was City's
perfect riposte to the midweek controversy involving
Carlos Tevez.
Adam Johnson's wonder-goal and late strikes from Samir
Nasri and Stefan Savic wrapped up City's second half
master-class leading furious Rovers fans to chant for
the dismissal of boss Steve Kean.
Despite accepting Edin Dzeko's apology for his outburst
at being substituted in midweek, Mancini had dropped
the Bosnian to the bench and opted to give Balotelli
his chance.
It was an inspired decision with Balotelli looking
by far the liveliest of City's attacking options, particularly
when Sergio Aguero limped off injured on the half-hour.
Rovers had started solidly enough but it quickly became
apparent they would have to guard against City's speed
and sharpness, with Chris Samba cutting out a dangerous
Vincent Kompany cross.
The visitors had their first real chance in the 10th
minute when David Silva cut into the box from the left
and his cross was parried by Paul Robinson into the
path of Balotelli, who blazed over.
Rovers responded two minutes later with a swinging
cross from Morten Gamst Pedersen on the left, which
was aimed for the head of Samba before being cut out
by Joleon Lescott.
Junior Hoilett's pace troubled the City rearguard in
the 16th minute as he scampered over the half-way line
and sent Yakubu on the left, but he was denied by a
fine challenge by Milner.
For all their neat possession, Mancini's men were struggling
to unduly threaten the Rovers defence, with Silva guilty
of spooning a 25th minute half-chance high over the
bar.
City's striking options, already diminished by the
suspension of Tevez, were further hit when Aguero limped
off with an apparent groin strain.
Nasri came on to replace Aguero, and his first act
was to screw a low shot towards the Rovers goal which
was deflected out for a corner by David Goodwillie.
City's inability to find the cutting final ball surfaced
again in the 35th minute when a fine move involving
Milner and Nasri petered out when Samba beat Balotelli
to a clearance in the box.
Balotelli stepped up his game towards the end of the
first half, flashing a curling 37th minute effort wide
then zipping in front of Samba to shoot into the side-netting.
City looked sharper at the start of the second half,
with Silva shooting across the face of goal moments
after the restart, then Balotelli driving a right-foot
shot against the post.
City finally broke the deadlock in the 56th minute
when Johnson picked up a half-cleared Kolarov corner
on the edge of the box and swung a superb left-foot
shot into the top corner.
And City extended their lead three minutes later when
Balotelli got the goal his performance deserved, stealing
in front of Steven Nzonzi to prod home a cross from
the left by Nasri.
Nasri swept home City's third in the 74th minute after
good work from Silva in the box, sparking a furious
reaction from sections of the home fans who chanted
for Kean's dismissal.
Substitute Mauro Formica forced the first real save
out of Joe Hart with 15 minutes left on the clock then
Yakubu blazed high over the bar but it was all in vain.
City scored their fourth three minutes from time when
Nasri sent in a corner from the left and substitute
Stefan Savic bundled the ball home through a crowded
box.
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