Preview
The Rovers return in FA Cup 3rd round replay
Manchester City's Chilean chancellor may have been branded an elderly idiot by one dirty dog this week, but Manuel Pellegrini will be expecting his side to see off the boisterous barking of a Rovers' side salivating for an FA Cup upset this Wednesday.
The blues were unable to see off the Championship side when a maladroit mistake from Costel Pantillimon ruled out Álvaro Negredo's opener at Ewood Park earlier this month. However, the 2011 FA Cup winners' latest home victory renders the possibility of a City-less fourth round inordinately unlikely.
An exquisite Álvaro Negredo hat-trick helped City hammer Sam Allardyce's West Ham United in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final last Wednesday, all but booking the blues on their 200 mile trek to Wembley in March. The 6-0 slaughter marked the fourth time City have scored over five goals in a fixture this season with the Etihad's first Championship visitors of the 2013/2014 campaign still yet to step foot in the fortress.
However, although success still sizzles on the pitch for Manuel Pellegrini's minions, off the field predicaments have threatened to derail City's scintillating season. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's savage swipe on Samir Nasri in Sunday's 2-0 win has ruled the Frenchman out for eight weeks, leaving a considerable mark on the blues' midfield. Yaya Touré and David Silva have also been ruled out of action with minor injuries, but Pellegrini insists recent developments will not change his January transfer policies.
(Samir Nasri took to Twitter on Monday to announce the details of his injury)
The City faithful will be hoping that the absence of their two most influential midfielders is just a precautionary decision and not a complacent one from their South American sergeant.
Nevertheless, the inclusion of a certain striker in Pellegrini's 18-man squad for Wednesday's game is sure to slap smiles back onto the faces of the fans. Sergio Agüero's four-week spell on the sidelines is set to come to an end after the Argentine was named in Manchester City's clan to conquer the Rovers this week. City's joint top scorer may not be risked in the starting line-up, but a small portion of game time may be crucial in helping him back to full fitness.
A wonted Etihad walkover is expected on Wednesday, but Gary Bowyer's men will be keen to build on their 1-0 win over Doncaster on Saturday. With just two points separating themselves and Brighton, the paradisiacal play-off places continue to approach the grasp of the Rovers who are desperate to return to the Premier League. Blackburn have won just once at the Etihad Stadium courtesy of two Morten Gamst Pedersen goals back in 2007 but as they say, the FA Cup is made for upsets.
An appetising fourth round tie against either Bristol City or Watford awaits the victor of Wednesday's tussle, but with or without their tantalising midfield trio, Manchester City should expect nothing less than a win.
Minor injuries to Yaya Touré and David Silva will keep them out of Wednesday's third-round replay whilst Samir Nasri is expected to be out of first team action for eight weeks with an injured knee. Jack Rodwell is also expected to miss the fixture, but Manuel Pellegrini believes injury plagued Stevan Jovetić will be fit within a week. Edin Džeko is also a doubt after sustaining a calf injury against Newcastle at the weekend but Sergio Agüero has been named in the 18-man squad.
(Fit within a week: City fans may finally get to see their new man)
Blackburn Rovers will travel to Manchester with the same squad Gary Bowyer named in the 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.
Possible line-ups
Manchester City: Pantillimon, Zabaleta, Demichelis, Lescott, Clichy, Navas, Garcia, Fernandinho, Milner, Lopes, Negredo
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Spurr, Dann, Hanley, Henley, Williamson, Taylor, Marshall, Cairney, Lowe, Rhodes
Álvaro Negredo
The man in form has netted 5 goals in his last 3 games for the club and has formed an unusually frightening partnership with Edin Džeko in the last few weeks. However, a calf injury has threatened to keep his new strike partner out of Wednesday's clash and the lone role may be placed upon Negredo's shoulders tomorrow night. With goals flowing like Sangria, it's a responsibility that won't faze the 19 goal striker at all.
Scott Dann
With Manchester City scoring goals for fun at the Etihad, the 26 year-old will have to be on top form if his side are to take away anything from Wednesday's clash. The defender, who has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace this month, scored the goal that forced the replay and he'll be hoping for similar heroics tomorrow night.
- Blackburn Rovers have not won at the Etihad Stadium since January 2007
- In 14 Premier League home fixtures against the Rovers, Manchester City have scored 22 goals
- The two teams have met 7 times in the FA Cup (City W3), (Blackburn W2) (Draw 2)
- City's last home win over Blackburn Rovers was in February 2012 when goals from Mario Balotelli, Sergio Agüero and Edin Džeko helped the blues to a 3-0 win
