Four For Fourth

January 15th, 2010

A 4-1 demolition of Blackburn, including a delightful Tevez hat-trick, ensured the Blue Moon was shining ever brighter over a freezing Eastlands on Monday night. That the win enabled City to leapfrog Spurs to fourth place in the Premiership was psychologically important.

Such was the intensity of the cold, there were very few fans actually in their seats when the stadium announcer asked for people to put their hands together for new signing Patrick Vieira. He strode on to the pitch in an immcaulate grey suit, finished off bizarrely with a pair of grey plimsolls - presumably, the comedic look was unintentional.

City started with a very attacking shape, with a midfield of Petrov, Barry, De Jong and Bellamy plus Benjani and Tevez up front. Richards partnered Kompany at centre-half with Zabaleta taking the right-back berth. A strong bench included the recovering Wright-Phillips and Santa Cruz plus Robinho and a nod to youth in Boyata and Ibrahim. City began at a high tempo forcing a couple of early corners. From the second of these, after six minutes, Robinson was unable to get past the giant Samba and only punched to Benjani who guided a shot towards goal with Tevez netting off his thigh and Blackburn claiming hand-ball. Shorly after, Petrov had a dangerous cross cleared and Blackburn soon switched formation to try and thwart the City onslaught. This was effective until, on the half-hour, a Petrov free-kick went narrowly over. Five minutes before half-time came the moment of the match. Richards, on a “going day” obviously trying to convince Mancini and probably Capello of his abilities, collected the ball deep in his own half and set off on one of his customary “charges” down the centre of the pitch. Unlike the usual outcome, he muscled past four players and, finding himself close to the Blackburn box, gave a sweet pass to Benjani who turned and shot against a post. The ball fell back to Richards, who had continued the run, and the defender slotted in an excellent goal from close range.

The second half began as the first had ended and, after only three minutes, Benjani robbed a defender and crossed for Tevez to strike the third past Robinson. City fans, sensing a slaughter, started to bait the poor Blackburn contingent huddled together for warmth, looking like a postage stamp stuck on the away stand, with “You’ve got Sam Allardyce”. Just before the hour, three nearly became four as Tevez headed wide from a great Zabaleta cross. With twenty minutes to go, Robinho replaced Bellamy and Blackburn duly scored. A mis-control by Kompany on the edge of the City box was collected by Pedersen (their best player) who curled a shot past Given’s right hand. Blackburn took up the momentum and City looked slightly nervous as the away side attacked now with more purpose. Robinho looked bright on the counter-attack and had a good shot saved and a goal disallowed for what looked like a marginal offside. Santa Cruz replaced Benjani ten minutes from time and, looking desperate to score against his previous employers, shot high and wide from an angle with three City players better placed in the box. Blackburn kept coming and Mancini opted for safety first by bringing on defender Boyata for Petrov at the death. As injury time started, Zabaleta intercepted a Blackburn throw-in and passed to Tevez who stopped and curled in an exquisite fourth from the edge of the box, signalling a chorus or three of “Fergie, Fergie, sign him up”.

City: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Garrido, Petrov (Boyata 87), Barry, De Jong, Bellamy (Robinho 69), Benjani (Santa Cruz 81), Tevez. Unused subs: Taylor, Sylvinho, Ibrahim, Wright-Phillips

Attendance: 40,292

Rod

Entry Filed under: Match Reports