City will start the 26 fixture of this Premier League season on Saturday, at 17:30, playing home against Blackburn Rovers. Beside our home game, this fixture will host some interesting games like Arsenal – Tottenham, Chelsea – Bolton and our rivals away trip at Norwich, a team that looks great and that need only 7 points from the remaining fixtures to be almost clear of the relegation zone, after a great season.
So, City will face home on Etihad Stadium/ City of Manchester, Blackburn Rovers, a team that needs points to stay another year in the Premiership. The match officials will be those from below and the league table for the two teams:
We have again Mr Jones, the one that sent of Barry in the match between us and Liverpool, in january and a Mr. Jones who had some awful games lately. A major factor will be that we are playing home and even if we will have again some poor decisions, we can manage to get over it and win the game. So, this next two fixtures can be very important for City because we will play two home games against Rovers and Bolton, while our town rivals have two away games, at Norwich and Spurs. It’s basically the same situation that was on Boxing Day and New Year, when we played two away games, at Wba and Sunderland, while our rivals had some easy games, with Wigan and Rovers, but still managed to lose three important points. At the moment, City is 2 points ahead in the top table and if we manage to extend our difference, we can make a huge step for the title.
Let’s look a little at the past games between us and Rovers, games that were on our ground.
So, Rovers managed to win at our ground the last time in 20. 01. 2007, after a game where the scored 3 times with us (Pedersen 2, Derbyshire). Our manager that time was Stuart Pearce and our first eleven was this : Nicky Weaver – Trabelsi, Distin, Dunnie, Jordan – Micah, Dabo, Superman, Sinclair – Vassell, Corradi. This lineup is a pure example of how we grown as a club and since that day, Rovers didn’t manage to win not even a game with us.
The last game we played home with Rovers was on 11. 09.2010, o a beautiful autumn day. City were facing Rovers, after our late defeat at Sunderland, where Darren Bent scored after a penalty and after Tevez had the miss of the season. Bob sent this formation on the field : Hart – Micah, Vinnie, Kolo, Lesco – Swp, Milner, Yaya, Aj, Paddy – Tevez. Our morale was shaking at the team managed at that time by Fat Sam, scored after a huge mistake by Kolo and Joe Hart.
That was the moment when many of us were looking at the bench, after Shay Given who had been superb since he came here from Newcastle and didn’t understand why Bob wasen’t using him. City did scored eventually, after a simple goal by Paddy, but still we had the same problems like we used to have when a team park their bus in front of their goal. Jo had some incredible goal situations, but the game ended with 1-1. Beside the goals, the major news about the game was the dispute that Diouf had with City’s fans, after a horrible tackle at Aj, the fans and the player had some huge verbal conflict and after the game, a bottle was thrown strait to Diouf, who threw it back in the stand and then went to celebrate with the Rovers fans like he won the league.
In the second leg, at the end of april, City had a huge game at Rovers, where Marriner had some awkward against us, but still we managed to win the game after a pass with a precision of a quarterback by Dave and Dzeko scored his first City goal, in the League.
This year we won with 4-0 at Ewood Park, after a first half where we had problems scoring, but then Aj with a screamer, Balo, Nasri and Savic lead us to win the game.
Let’s look at the “+” and “–“ of the teams:
City +
- for the first time in ages, we have absolutely every player available to start, fully fit and ready to go.
- We play the game on our home ground where we haven’t lost a point since last February, after an 1-1 with Fulham. Our goal record this season is this : 37 – 6 in 12 games.
- Rovers haven’t won here since 2007.
City –
- It had been almost 2 weeks since our last premiership game
- We can have a little over-confidence problem looking at our home form.
Rovers +
- They manage to play well with big teams this season
- Yakubu
- They are in a desperate situation and they must fight for every ball to stay in the League
- The win at Swamp arena can be a morale boost for them
Rovers –
- Kean
- Somehow in the league the teams are starting to suffer from the “City syndrome”. They come to our ground hopeing they will keep a low score and don’t embarasse themselves.
- Our home scores.
- Players morale, squad value, etc.
Fun Facts: The first game between us and Rovers was played on 14 december 1902 and ended 1-1. If City win it will be our 5th consecutive win in all competitions.
Possible starting lineups :
City :
Rovers :
Robinson - Dann, Samba, Givet, Olsson - Dunn, N'Zonzi, Pedersen, Petrović, Fomica - Yakubu
Best odds :
Manchester City 1.20
draw 8.79
Blackburn Rovers 18.41
So, City has two games at home with two almost bottom teams and we can perform quite well and maybe get a larger lead in front of Scum. Rovers are a odd team, that can lose with 1-7 with Arsenal, but can win on Swamp arena and we must stay alert. I trust Bobby he can figure them out easy so I expect a 2-0, 3-0 win. I hope the team will cope with this news about the return of the Jackal in squad and will make the same type of game we saw the last year at home.
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