Manchester City vs Blackburn Rovers 11th September 3pm
So here we are – fourth game in with a hard battled draw against Spurs, a majestic win against Liverpool and a predictable loss against Sunderland in the last run out.
Now we face Blackburn who we convincingly did the double over last season beating them by two goals to nil at their manor, Adebayour scoring 3 minutes into his debut, with the now departed Superman also getting on the score sheet; then running out comfortable winners in the home leg 4-1 earlier this year with our very own ‘El Apache’ firing in a hat-trick and walking away with the matchball.
Big Sam has been relatively quiet in this summer’s transfer window, only splashing out on relatively underwhelming defender Hugo Fernandez from Spanish side Union Deportiva Cornella for a nominal fee, who coincidentally we signed youngsters Alex Pla and Jorge Guinovart from back in 2008.
Most of the gossip at Blackburn towards the end of the balmy months of UK summertime surrounded a prospective takeover from an Indian businessman named Ahsan Ali Syed who was reported to be tabling a 300 million offer for the club along with a significant transfer war chest, but he, like the red knights of Citys’ neighbours, seemed to fade into the morning mist destined for failure, much to the chagrin of the Blackburn faithful. Hindsight however is a wonderful leveller, after it was revealed that Mr Syed would be more suited to Watchdog rather than Watchfootball when a chain of UK debts as long as Jacob Marleys was exposed.
As far as City are concerned, there was hope that the new kid on the block ‘Super Mario’ was ready for his debut. But an unfortunate knock in Romania means that it is his knee that will be sliced open for a six week layoff, rather than the Blackburn defence. I’m sure big Ade will relish the chance to seize a regular spot alongside ‘Fergie’s Fave’. Boateng could start at right back at the expense of Richards, but I’m sure, that aside, it will be the usual England squad that line up on the day. All will be buoyed by the impressive performance against Switzerland midweek and i’m sure Adam Johnson must be pinching himself at his mercurial rise from the relative obscurity of the North Eastern wastes to the apple of Capello’s eye.
All said and done, I think City will be too strong for Blackburn and will run out comfortable winners on the day.
City 3 Blackburn 1
Thanks go to IanBishopsHaircut of ManCityFans.net for writing this preview