BBC Sport
Skip to main contentAccess keys helpA-Z index

| Help

---------------
---------------
CHOOSE A SPORT
RELATED BBC SITES
Last Updated: Saturday, 23 April, 2005, 15:52 GMT 16:52 UK
Blackburn 0-0 Man City
Blackburn's Steven Reid (r) challenges Claudio Reyna
Manchester City extended their unbeaten run to five games with a drab draw against a battling Blackburn side.

Chances were few and far between for both teams, with Blackburn's best early effort a 25-yard strike from Jonathan Stead that flew narrowly wide.

City had loud appeals for a penalty turned down when Shaun Wright-Phillips tangled with Dominic Matteo, but for the most part were toothless up front.

David James kept out another late Stead effort but had little else to do.

It takes Stuart Pearce's haul as City boss to nine points from five games, and they have not lost since his first match in charge against Tottenham.

This was by far the least impressive City display of his time in charge, although that had much to do with Blackburn's approach.

A scrappy start saw both sides struggle to string a pass together, and there were no clear-cut chances in the first half-hour.

But City were at least trying to create some opportunities, but Blackburn seemed content just to frustrate the visitors.

However Rovers had the first effort of note when Stead let fly with a delicious left-foot strike that had James beaten but flashed the wrong side of the post.

At the other end City felt they should have had a penalty when Wright-Phillips was up-ended in the box by Matteo as he ran on to Nedum Onuoha's through-ball, but referee Chris Foy waved play on.

City's best attacking move came when Kiki Musampa nodded Barton's free-kick back across goal but Richard Dunne could only head on to the roof of the net.

Blackburn upped the ante at the start of the second-half, and bombarded James' goal with a succession of high balls from corners and free-kicks.

City weathered the storm for the most part, although not without some anxious moments for the City goalkeeper.

He was almost found out when he could only parry a deflected snapshot from Matteo, but recovered in time to stop Stead finding the target with the follow-up.

City had another penalty shout when Antoine Sibierski felt he was hauled down in the box, but seemed to have run out of ideas in attack.

Blackburn were hardly pouring forward themselves, but did go closest to breaking the deadlock in the closing stages of the game.

Stead swivelled on the edge of the box and smashed in a powerful shot but James reacted well and just managed to keep the ball out.


  • Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:
    :"It was a bit of a struggle for both teams. The conditions did not lend themselves to flowing football.

    "We never looked in any danger of losing. We felt we had the better of the chances and play but couldn't get the breakthrough we deserved.

    "City were well organised. They kept their shape and got men behind the ball and made things difficult for us."

  • Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce:
    "It was one of those games where it was a scrap. Sometimes you have to do that in the Premiership.

    "Both sides cancelled themselves out - they had one lone striker with 10 players behind the ball.

    "It wasn't pretty at times but we have come away from home and kept a clean sheet so I am happy with that."


    Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo, Mokoena, Emerton, Savage (Thompson 69), Reid, Pedersen (Gallagher 76), Stead.
    Subs Not Used: Flitcroft, Tugay, Enckelman.

    Man City: James, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Reyna, Barton, Musampa (Croft 77), Fowler (Bradley Wright-Phillips 86), Sibierski.
    Subs Not Used: Thatcher, Weaver, Mills.

    Att: 24,646

    Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).




  • WATCH AND LISTEN
    Interview: Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce


    Interview: Blackburn boss Mark Hughes




    E-mail services | Sport on mobiles/PDAs


    Back to top

    Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability sport | Olympics 2012 | Sport Relief | Other sport...

    BBC Sport Academy >> | BBC News >> | BBC Weather >>
    About the BBC | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | Contact us
    banner watch listen bbc sport