Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Manchester City: Supersub Dzeko scores within three minutes to open four-point gap above Spurs

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A goal drought not quite on the same level as Fernando Torres ended at Ewood Park on Monday evening as Edin Dzeko notched his first Premier League goal to hand Manchester City victory over Blackburn Rovers.

It was the Bosnian’s 10th league outing since his £27 million arrival from Wolfsburg and much like Torres, his control and finish resembled that of an accomplished finisher, rather than a striker starved of goals and confidence.

The importance of the strike is huge in terms of City securing Champions League football next season. Roberto Mancini’s side open up a four-point gap ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, while Blackburn, who are without a win in 10 games, teeter just one point above the drop zone.

City started the match very much on the front foot, attacking from the off with David Silva smashing a lovely volley against the post in just the 4^th minute.

Pablo Zabaleta charged up the right wing and crossed, with Gareth Barry in-turn teeing the ball up nicely for the Spaniard who let rip from the edge of the box, but Paul Robinson’s right-post kept the score-line goalless.

Although there wasn’t much goalmouth action during the first 15 minutes, Silva was beginning to dictate the tempo, teasing the Blackburn defence and midfield with his exquisite ball control, but Blackburn were holding strong.

The home side did eventually adventure into the City box in the 20^th minute and something very nearly came of it after Jason Roberts went tumbling following a clip on the foot from Vincent Kompany, but the referee gave a goal-kick, despite replays showing blatant contact on the Grenada international.

After the penalty-shout, the match entered a period of transition where both teams were involved in some scrappy play, including a series of strong challenges, but the hosts were definitely posing more of a threat than in the early stages with Benjani having several headed opportunities, but all came to nothing.

It was defender Chris Samba who ended up going closest for Blackburn in the 38^th minute and the Congolese man towered above the City defence at the back from and headed back across goal only to see it sail just past the post.

After a good 15 minutes from Rovers, City finished the first half on the attack with Adam Johnson causing trouble down the left by putting in some tantalising crosses, but Robinson had the measure of them.

Two minutes from the end of the half, Mario Balotelli must’ve thought he was about to get a golden chance after Silva headed a cross from the left back across goal towards the Italian, but the former Inter man slipped over just as he looked to get into the vital area.

After the break, it didn’t take long before City had another chance, this time Yaya Toure’s back-post header was tipped over by Robinson, a start to the half that showed intent, but seemed to spur on Blackburn.

The hosts really should have taken the lead in the 50^th minute as they had two good chances in seconds after a Brett Emerton cross found Roberts, but the former Wigan man’s header was tame and ended up floating on to Martin Olsson who lashed the ball into the side-netting from eight yards, but to be fair to the Swede, he had to adjust himself quickly as Roberts’ header diverted the ball.

Blackburn continued to be the better team in the second half with Barcelona youth-product Ruben Rochina coming on off the bench and providing some exciting touches, but all too often the ball was falling to the wrong person in and around the box with Gael Givet a prime example.

However, David Silva did go relatively close after he created space well for himself on the right flank before cutting inside and attempting to curl a show round Robinson in the Blackburn goal, and although he had the ‘keeper scrambling across his line, it went wide by a couple of feet.

Although Blackburn were arguably the better side for the majority of the second half, it was City who eventually took the lead in the 75^th minute through Edin Dzeko.

On a match-week that saw Franco Di Santo and Fernando Torres both end goal-droughts, it was almost seemed inevitable that the Bosnian would grab his goal if he got on and he did so in composed fashion. After good work down the left by Barry, the Englishman found Silva inside the box who shot, but the attempt ended up at the feet of Dzeko who smashed home from nine yards.

TV replays did however show that Mario Balotelli was standing in an offside position directly in front of Robinson, therefore surely interfering with play, but the officials failed to flag it up.

Blackburn had a good chance to get back on terms in the 86^th minute when Phil Jones headed over a left-wing Rochina free-kick. He was visibily annoyed at his effort as he probably should’ve hit the target.

Blackburn continued to press in injury-time, also having a penalty shout turned down after a slight nudge by Silva on Nikola Kalinic, but it would have been a very harsh decision.

City held on for the last few minutes and appear to almost have that 4th place cemented.