Blackburn Rovers 2 - 2 Manchester City: Robinho rescues City from further embarrassment

Published on Sunday 28 December 2008 21:37

ROBINHO'S injury-time leveller spared Manchester City another humiliating defeat at Blackburn.

After losing to one basement dweller West Brom a week ago, City looked to be heading for defeat against the team who replaced them at the bottom as Blackburn led by two goals just three minutes from the end. But Daniel Sturridge gave City hope before Robinho gleefully beat Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson to earn the visitors an unlikely share of the spoils.

It was the least City deserved as they dominated throughout. But Benni McCarthy, whose Ewood Park future is in doubt, and Jason Roberts combined to put Blackburn in sight of a priceless win.

Felipe Caicedo's failure to snaffle a close-range opportunity as he lunged at a Vincent Kompany knock-down was slightly worrying – before Robinho's miss. Even 32.5million cannot guarantee avoiding embarrassment, it seems.

It appeared that all the Brazilian had to do was get his head to Caicedo's inswinging cross as he strode forward, entirely unmarked six yards out. However, he glanced his effort wide.

It was the best chance City created during the entire opening period, even if Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland and Elano all had pot-shots from long-range with little success.

For their part, Rovers existed on scraps, with Brett Emerton's deep crosses looking like their best route to goal.

It bore fruit in first-half stoppage-time as City's sloppyness in possession offered Emerton the chance to drive the ball into the visitors' box. Jason Roberts dug it out and McCarthy did the rest, presenting Hughes with a sinking feeling as he delivered his interval team-talk.

There was no immediate response from the visitors as Emerton and Andre Ooijer tested Joe Hart but Shaun Wright-Phillips then went close to levelling when his back header to Elano's deep cross bounced to safety off a post.

That Hughes then turned to Darius Vassell and Sturridge to salvage the game 20 minutes from time was a damning assessment of 19million former record signing Jo's ability to turn a game.

With the pattern set, Blackburn dug themselves in and prepared to counter anything City could hit them with.

By the time Sturridge breached the Rovers goal, Roberts had scored at the other end, capitalising on the uncertainty Christopher Samba's massive presence had caused to beat Hart with a fine header.

It seemed another defeat was certain. But Robinho put the smile back on City faces with his 12th goal of the season.

Blackburn: Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Kerimoglu (Mokoena 73), Andrews, Pedersen, McCarthy (Derbyshire 85), Roberts. Subs Not Used: Brown, Khizanishvili, Vogel, Treacy, Olsson. Booked: Kerimoglu, Nelsen.

Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Onuoha (Richards 64), Dunne, Ball, Ireland, Kompany, Elano (Vassell 71), Wright-Phillips, Caicedo (Sturridge 71), Robinho. Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Jo, Garrido, Fernandes. Booked: Ireland.

Referee: H Webb. Attendance: 25,200.