Manchester City 2 Blackburn 2

Well the home league record had to go some time but it was the nature of the equalizer that really riled City supporters and has caused a great deal of discussion. The active/inactive nature of the offside law is a farce sometimes .and this is the second time in a few weeks that City have suffered from it. I wonder how much pressure was put on FIFA by TV companies to change the law to make the game " more watchable" . Having spent time both on the line and in the middle I know the difficulties. Its bad enough trying to decide in a fast flowing game where a player is at the exact moment of the ball being played without the additional task of deciding when and how and why a player is active or inactive. Is he supposed to be a mind reader as well! Enough -before I get really upset!
It was a good open game with a good crowd considering it was live on TV. I thought the changes Sven made were interesting. Elano had not been playing well recently so his absence was not a complete shock and the iinclusion of Corluka in the Hamann role worked well. He is so cool that lad. Ball defended better than Garrido and earned his place while Onuoha did well . I am still not 100% confident of Joe Hart. I think we need a more experienced keeper. The January sales are approaching and I am sure Sven will bring in 2 or 3 more to boost the squad for the second half of the season. A good class striker must be high on the list

The customary minutes silence to remember those players,officials and supporters who had passed away during the year was kept well. There was even applause for Alan Ball when his name was mentioned. Well it is Christmas.

The big surprise for home supporters was that both Elano and Hamann were on the bench. Corluka had moved to midfield in the Hamann role Onuoha taking his full back place. Bianchi remained up front.

There was some action for both keepers in the opening minutes and it looked like being an open game with plenty of action

After 20 minutes Blackburn had a chance as a corner was missed by Hart and it went to Khazanishvili (number 13) who sent it over the bar

A minute later City missed an absolute sitter. It was the miss of the season.by Bianchi who some how failed to push home a cross by Petrov put through by Ireland. Incredible!

Both defences were kept busy and I felt it would not be too long before a goal would be scored.

In the 26th minute City did go ahead. Petrov put through by Corluka dashed down the line , cut in and lifted a cross to a waiting Darius Vassell who headed home .

It was a good goal but hardly had the cheers died down when referee Webb gave a dubious free kick near the touch line it didn't seem too dangerous,but Bentley lashed in a strong free kick and somehow Santa Cruz (far left) flicked a header that beat Hart at the near post . 1-1.

After 29 minutes Petrov - what a first half he was having - burst down the left leaving Samba in his wake and cut in once again to cause havoc in the Blackburn defence. His cross..............

.......... to his waiting City colleagues was met by defender Nelson who put it into his own net to thwart Bianchi eager to get on the score sheet after his earlier miss.

Petrov fully deserved the crowds acclaim but shortly after following another burst was seen taking a breather after all his efforts.

Vedran Corluka was a revelation in his midfield role in front of the back 4 and he was clearly enjoying his new task

As we expected Santa Cruz was proving a difficult opponent and here Dunne has to clear a dangerous situation

The referee failed to notice the arm in Bianchi's back by Samba

Freidel foils a City attack

After 40 minutes Ireland takes the ball cleanly away from an opponent from behind but gets penalized and an explanation from a referee who prefers the letter of the law to common sense (what did happen to that) The resulting free kick is saved by Joe Hart

A crafty handball by Santa Cruz

Petrov helps Ball to mark danger man Bentley

As Emerton is watched by three City defenders the excellent first half ends at 2-1 to City

Three minutes into the second half and a half chance is wasted by City.

A minutes later and Berner gets booked for a foul on Vassell but Petrov's free kick hits the wall

Both side were trying to win and the defences of both sides were kept busy

Though Richards came away with the ball he was booked for the tackle

Onuoha blocks a shot from Pedersen

An effort from Vassell is foiled by Nelson after a good ball from Elano ( on for Bianchi)

Some one should tell David Dunn -ITS BEHIND YOU !

Elano is first brought down by Dunn and then Samba within a few minutes

Brad Friedel has to make a good save under pressure at a City corner

Dunne heads clear from Santa Cruz

With just 6 minutes to go Blackburn had a corner on the right. They took a short one quickly and a Bentley cross ( why couldn't he have stayed home opening Christmas presents!) was headed in from a narrow angle (again) by Santa Cruz (why couldn't we have signed him ages ago!)

To Blackburn's dismay the linesman had his flag raised so we all breathed a sigh of relief - not for long though- because when referee Webb went over to the linesman the man with the flag changed his decision ( was there a whisper in his ear from Armstrong and Miller of Kill Him ! I wonder?) and the final result was a goal - apparently Dunne was deemed offside but as he missed his header he became inactive.
Whoever thought up this stupid change of offside law wants to be locked up - for ever!

With the game now very stretched in the final moments both sides tried to get the winner but Blackburn were fortunate to get a point and on another day their equalizing goal would not have counted. Supposedly one of our best referees Mr Webb did not have the best of days