Manchester City enhanced their own Champions League aspirations at the possible expense of Blackburn's place in the top flight with a 1-0 win at Ewood Park. Manchester City moved five points clear of fifth placed Tottenham thanks to substitute Edin Dzeko's first Premier League goal, leaving Rovers just one point above the drop zone with four games remaining.
With no win in ten games the host's are in freefall and City nearly took an early lead when David Silva hit a post, but Steve Kean's team hit back and Chris Samba headed over then Jason Roberts missed a close range header.
But with 15 minutes remaining Dzeko, who had only just joined the fray, when Silva's cross deflected kindly into the Bosnian's path who blasted the ball home giving City their first away win in the league of 2011.
Referee: Andre Marriner
Venue: Ewood Park Attendance: 23,529
Blackburn scorers: Man City scorers: Dzeko 75
BLACKBURN 01 Robinson 03 Olsson 04 Samba 05 Givet (Diouf 85) 27 Salgado 28 P Jones 02 J Jones (yellow card) 07 Emerton (yellow card) 08 Dunn (Rochina 63) 21 Mwaruwari (Kalinic 71) 30 Roberts
Substitutes 13 Bunn, 31 Hanley, 10 Formica , 12 Pedersen, 09 Kalinic, 20 Rochina, 41 Diouf
MAN CITY 25 Hart 04 Kompany 05 Zabaleta 13 Kolarov 19 Lescott 11 Johnson (Dzeko 72) 18 Barry (yellow card) 21 Silva (Boyata 90) 34 De Jong (yellow card) 42 Y Toure 45 Balotelli (yellow card) (Vieira 83)
Substitutes 12 Taylor, 38 Boyata, 07 Milner, 08 Wright-Phillips, 24 Vieira, 10 Dzeko, 27 Jo
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City.
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