Scott Dann's second-half equaliser earned Blackburn Rovers an FA Cup third round replay against 10-man
Manchester City as Saturday's Ewood Park encounter finished 1-1.
Rovers captain Dann earned his side a deserved draw, albeit courtesy of a mistake from Costel Pantilimon, after City had gone ahead through Alvaro Negredo
on the stroke of half-time. The Citizens made seven changes from
the team that beat Swansea last time out, but it was still a very strong line-up against a Blackburn side who had top scorer Jordan Rhodes starting on the bench.
The game struggled to entertain as a spectacle in the opening stages, with City's first real attempt coming when Fernandinho fired straight at Paul Robinson from outside the area.
On 35 minutes, David Silva managed to scoop a good chance over the bar from close range as neither goalkeeper was truly tested during the opening 45 minutes.
However, with 60 seconds of two first-half stoppage minutes gone City took the lead just when a corner from Silva was glanced
on by Edin Dzeko, and Negredo was awake at the far post to turn the ball in to give the Premier League side the lead. However, the visitors weren't in front for long as just 10 minutes into the second
half Blackburn got their equaliser, with Rudy Gestede's header from a corner going straight to Pantilimon, although the keeper inexplicably dropped the ball straight to Dann who would make no mistake to tap home from close range.
City should have re-taken the lead eight minutes later when Robinson palmed Dzeko's curling effort into the path of Negredo, but the striker could only head the rebound wide with the goal at his
mercy. Blackburn managed to cope reasonably well with everything City threw at them, though, while also causing the Premier League giants a few problems of their
own. However, the visitors were still creating opportunities and stepped things up as the game entered the closing stages.
Dzeko and Jesus Navas both tested
Robinson with fierce long-range drives, while substitute Yaya Toure blasted a volley narrowly over the bar from inside the area.
Manuel Pellegrini continued to throw men forward and Navas wasted a good chance when he dragged a shot wide of the
target, but as City continued their
barrage, gaps began to open at the back, although DJ Campbell, having come on as a substitute along with Rhodes, was unable to take advantage of a quick counter attack as he headed wide from
his fellow forward's pin-point delivery.
As the match entered a frantic ending, Boyata was sent off for a second yellow card for a completely unnecessary challenge, while Tom Cairney almost took
advantage of the numbers but could only curl a fantastic effort wide of the target.
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