Blackburn Battering, But City Win

BRFC Reserves 0 – 1 MCFC Reserves

Manchester City were very fortunate to return to winning ways and keep their title ambitions alive all thanks to a Man of the Match display for Filip Mentel in City’s goal. City’s goal came from a corner right on the stroke of half time with a header from Daniel Sturridge that was debateable whether it had crossed the line, but the referee’s assistant was on the right side of the goal to get a decent view and he raised his flag straight away.
City’s performance very much mirrored last week’s against Bolton, but the defence worked slightly harder for this game. It was still a real get out of jail card but with two away trips to play and a deciding game at Middlesbrough in two weeks time the team badly need Ashley Grimes and Ched Evans back in the team as both players hold the ball up really well and add that cutting edge that is required and playing Garry Breen at centre half instead of the liability that is Matthew Mills as he never got anywhere near his markers all night and the only time he started winning headers was when Blackburn played the much smaller Alan Judge up front.
Apart from the goal City only had one real effort to speak about when Daniel Sturridge returned to the pitch after being held on the sidelines by the referee because he was wearing his football illegal bling and on his return he received the ball and created space for himself around the defenders and lashed a good shot towards the top corner, but the keeper was able to save.
So City travel to Saltergate next week to play Sheffield United knowing that a win will all but guarantee the title.


Blackburn: Fielding(GK), Nolan, Olsson, Woods(Capt.), Winnard, Taylor, Judge, Griffiths, Barker(Haworth 62), De Vita, Treacy.

Subs: Arestidou(GK), King, Pezzoni, O’Keefe.


City: Mentel(GK), Logan, Williamson, D’Laryea, M Mills(Capt.), Marshall, Clayton(Obeng 46), Laird, Sturridge(Ball 71), Miller, Moore(Williams 74).

Subs: Matthewson(GK), Breen.

Att: 347

MotM: Mentel – An outstanding full reserve debut for the young