Edin Dzeko’s first Premier League goal earned Manchester City a 1-0 win over Blackburn on Monday, which strengthened his team’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
City were heading for a disappointing draw when substitute Dzeko, who had only been on the pitch three minutes, finished well after the Rovers defense failed to clear a dangerous ball by David Silva in the 75th minute.
It sent City four points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham in the race for the Champions League and increased Rovers’ relegation fears.
Photo: EPA
“I’m very happy that this goal helped my team to win the game,” Dzeko said. “Sometimes it’s difficult, I’m not the first who didn’t make the best start, but I’m happy because I scored today and helped the team.”
Rovers have now won just three times in 17 league attempts under manager Steve Kean who, nevertheless, insists his team can avoid relegation.
“We feel as a group if we play like that against Bolton on Saturday we can get a win, never mind a draw,” he said. “We’re gutted we didn’t get anything tonight, but if we play like that, we’ve got a great chance.”
Photo: Reuters
Blackburn almost found themselves behind as early as the third minute when Silva let fly with a sweetly-struck left-foot volley, which crashed against the post with ’keeper Paul Robinson beaten.
Robinson was almost embarrassed by Aleksandar Kolarov in the 10th minute, the Serbian’s 35m effort dipping narrowly wide.
With their 10-season stay in the top-tier in jeopardy, Blackburn, who recalled former City striker Benjani Mwaruwari to the side, needed to seize the initiative.
However, despite claims for a penalty after Vincent Kompany’s challenge on Jason Roberts, they lacked the cutting edge to seriously trouble City ’keeper Joe Hart. His biggest test in a first half of few chances came from David Dunn’s 31st minute free-kick, which posed few problems for Hart.
However, City survived a major 41st minute scare when Blackburn defender Chris Samba outjumped both Kolarov and Gareth Barry to connect with Michel Salgado’s cross to power a header just wide. Whatever Mancini said to his players at half-time appeared to have an impact as the visitors came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening minute of the second half.
Silva clipped in a cross for Yaya Toure, whose header was tipped over the bar by Robinson.
Blackburn’s poor start was a distant memory when Martin Olsson volleyed into the side-netting after Brett Emerton’s cross flashed off the head of Jason Roberts into the path of the advancing Swede. However, a game lacking in real quality was settled 15 minutes from time when Dzeko, making his 10th league appearance since leaving Wolfsburg in January, let fly from 10m after Silva’s shot was cleared into his path.
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