Match Report


Manchester CityManchester City     Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers
Liam RollingsLiam Rollings Steve Bullock Steve Bullock
Terry StoneT. Stone45
G
captain1
G
69Jonas BierhoffJ. Bierhoff
Chris DavisC. Davis62
D
2
D
68Abel NevesA. Neves
Dave ThatcherD. Thatcher56
D
3captain
D
51Edgar PostigaE. Postiga
Ben BrownB. Brown56
D
4
D
66Ricardo AndresR. Andres
Neil KeaneN. Keane60
D
5
D
65Oliver SpenglerO. Spengler
Alan PlowrightA. Plowright64
M
6
M
72Arturo RamirezA. Ramirez
Brian Lua-LuaB. Lua-Lua67
M
7
M
68Mark TalanM. Talan
Noel ParkerN. Parker58
M
8
M
68Gerald DialloG. Diallo
Morris GascoigneM. Gascoigne63
A
9
A
69Artur LopesA. Lopes
Matthew KirklandM. Kirkland68
A
10
A
65Wouter Van MolW. Van Mol
Jan SchröderJ. Schröder52
A
11
A
63Julian LeonJ. Leon
 
Marc DrydenM. Dryden58
D
12
D
63Brenny StroeveB. Stroeve
Martin DichioM. Dichio56
M
13
M
67Carlton BarmbyC. Barmby
Mick LoweM. Lowe57
A
14
A
73Alassan DaboA. Dabo

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Match Report
A few clouds cover the sky here at The Etihad Stadium where Manchester City play host to Blackburn Rovers. A crowd of 9,019 fill this 10,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Manchester City are playing in a 4-3-2-1 formation while Blackburn Rovers appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Dave Scholes.


0.00
The first half starts with Blackburn Rovers kicking off!
4.41
Arturo Ramirez knocks the ball to his team mate, Mark Talan. Mark Talan kicks a strong pass forward to Artur Lopes but the referee indicates it's offside!
10.56
Edgar Postiga makes a probing pass to Gerald Diallo. Gerald Diallo changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Gerald Diallo plays a one-two with Wouter Van Mol and rushes in on goal... Gerald Diallo shows great control and tries a shot on goal. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
15.47
Mark Talan barges into Brian Lua-Lua. The referee warns Mark Talan to calm down! Brian Lua-Lua runs off the knock.
21.41
Morris Gascoigne barges into Julian Leon. Morris Gascoigne is shown the yellow card! Julian Leon runs off the knock.
24.42
Alan Plowright deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Matthew Kirkland. Matthew Kirkland whips in a cross ball towards Morris Gascoigne. Morris Gascoigne makes a deft header. Jonas Bierhoff easily picks it out of the air!
33.43
Edgar Postiga flicks a high pass forward. Wouter Van Mol controls it well on his chest. Wouter Van Mol plays a one-two with Artur Lopes and rushes in on goal... Wouter Van Mol takes a shot at goal but somehow Terry Stone manages to keep it out.
39.01
Ricardo Andres hits a low pass to Arturo Ramirez. Arturo Ramirez knocks the ball forward to Gerald Diallo. Gerald Diallo makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Artur Lopes but he's offside!
42.50
Noel Parker knocks the ball forward to Matthew Kirkland. Matthew Kirkland lofts in a cross ball towards Brian Lua-Lua. Brian Lua-Lua powers a header at goal. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
44.30
Brian Lua-Lua kicks a strong pass forward to Jan Schröder. Jan Schröder knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Oliver Spengler.
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half

Both teams emerge for the second half. Manchester City appear unchanged since the first half. Blackburn Rovers also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
Manchester City kick off!
48.07
Dave Thatcher decides to run forward with the ball. Dave Thatcher threads a neat ball through to Morris Gascoigne. Morris Gascoigne knocks in a cross ball towards Matthew Kirkland. Matthew Kirkland gets a glancing touch on the cross ball. Matthew Kirkland scores for Manchester City!!
53.28
Noel Parker makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Brian Lua-Lua. With imagination, Brian Lua-Lua laces a weighted ball forward to Morris Gascoigne. Morris Gascoigne lofts in a cross ball towards Matthew Kirkland. Matthew Kirkland connects with a diving header but somehow Jonas Bierhoff manages to keep it out.
60.33
Noel Parker flicks a high pass forward. Jan Schröder controls it well on his chest. Jan Schröder knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
61.25
Gerald Diallo passes the ball forward to Wouter Van Mol. Wouter Van Mol skips past Dave Thatcher! Dave Thatcher catches Wouter Van Mol on the ankles. Wouter Van Mol appeals for a penalty! No!! Unbelievable!!
63.10
Dave Thatcher makes a simple pass to Morris Gascoigne. Morris Gascoigne threads the ball through to Jan Schröder. Jan Schröder shoots from outside the area but somehow Jonas Bierhoff manages to keep it out.
69.24
There is some beautiful football being played out on the pitch today.
71.56
Alan Plowright clumsily knocks into Gerald Diallo. Alan Plowright is shown the yellow card! Gerald Diallo hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
75.38
Ricardo Andres threads a neat ball through to Arturo Ramirez. Arturo Ramirez kicks a strong pass forward to Wouter Van Mol. Wouter Van Mol knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Dave Thatcher.
77.43
Morris Gascoigne hacks Edgar Postiga from behind! Morris Gascoigne is shown his second yellow card!! He leaves the field in disgrace!! Edgar Postiga stretches but gets up unharmed.
78.38
Arturo Ramirez flicks a high pass forward. Mark Talan holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Mark Talan sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it flies just off target!
79.08
Chris Davis makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Brian Lua-Lua. Brian Lua-Lua knocks the ball forward to Matthew Kirkland. Matthew Kirkland skips past Ricardo Andres! Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Matthew Kirkland provides some space. He curls a shot at goal. The ball strikes Abel Neves's outstretched foot and is deflected wide.
80.29
Alan Plowright takes a quick corner, playing it short to Matthew Kirkland. Matthew Kirkland heads the ball, flicking it across the into the box. Julian Leon jumps high to head the ball out to safety!
83.46
Alan Plowright decides to run forward with the ball. Alan Plowright finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball rattles the crossbar bouncing back into play. It's dealt with comprehensively by the defence.
84.28
Edgar Postiga passes the ball forward to Oliver Spengler. Oliver Spengler knocks the ball to his team mate, Artur Lopes. Artur Lopes knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Terry Stone who gathers it comfortably.
85.08
Noel Parker makes a probing pass to Jan Schröder. Jan Schröder shoots from 25 yards but he balloons it over the crossbar!
90.00
Gerald Diallo hits a low pass to Wouter Van Mol. Wouter Van Mol knocks in a cross ball towards Julian Leon. Julian Leon makes a deft header but he balloons it over the crossbar!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Manchester City

Blackburn Rovers
Goals
1
1
Shots on Target
5
2
Shots off Target
3
2
Offsides
0
3
Fouls
3
1
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
1
0

Possession
43.2%
56.8%
Play Area
30.9%
42%
27.2%

Scorers
Matthew Kirkland 48
Gerald Diallo 11

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Gerald Diallo of Blackburn Rovers

Match Ratings
1.Terry Stone (GK)
6
2.Chris Davis (DEF)
6
3.Dave Thatcher (DEF)
6
4.Ben Brown (DEF)
6
5.Neil Keane (DEF)
6
6.Alan Plowright (MID)yellow card
6
7.Brian Lua-Lua (MID)
6
8.Noel Parker (MID)
6
9.Morris Gascoigne (ATT)red card
3
10.Matthew Kirkland (ATT)goal scored
8
11.Jan Schröder (ATT)
6
 
12.Marc Dryden (DEF)
0
13.Martin Dichio (MID)
0
14.Mick Lowe (ATT)
0

1.Jonas Bierhoff (GK)
6
2.Abel Neves (DEF)
6
3.Edgar Postiga (DEF)
6
4.Ricardo Andres (DEF)
6
5.Oliver Spengler (DEF)
6
6.Arturo Ramirez (MID)
6
7.Mark Talan (MID)
6
8.Gerald Diallo (MID)goal scored
8
9.Artur Lopes (ATT)
6
10.Wouter Van Mol (ATT)
7
11.Julian Leon (ATT)
6
 
12.Brenny Stroeve (DEF)
0
13.Carlton Barmby (MID)
0
14.Alassan Dabo (ATT)
0