Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City in the Premier League from Ewood Park.

Silva tries to dart beyond Samba at the edge of the Blackburn box, but that is a fine tackle by the home defender. Got that spot on as he makes a fine tackle.

Mancini takes his seat back in the technical area as his side continue to dominate possession without going anywhere with it.

Remember City are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches, since a 2-1 defeat to Everton on May 1. Look the likelier side early on.

Superb play from Silva! Danced into the visiting box. Shot from an angle saved by Robinson, but Balotelli lifts the rebound well over the bar.

Milner handles the ball which gives Robinson the chance to launch the ball into the City half. This match yet to settle into a rythmn.

Fine run and cross by Goodwillie, but just too much pace on that ball into the middle. City back on the ball.

Kolarov makes an early charge up a flank before he is caught late by Goodwillie, but Blackburn don't hang arouind as they break up the City attack seconds later.

A bit of a slow start to this one. Dzeko can be found sporting a big grin on the City bench.

Blackburn have not enjoyed a clean sheet in their last nine Premier League matches since a 1-0 home win against Bolton on April 30.

Robinson hammers the ball long in the early moments. City pick up the ball and head towards the home goal as Balotelli is fouled by Goodwillie. City back on it at the halfway line.

Blackburn get this match off and running. Big day for all concerned, especially Steve Kean who really needs a result.

City fans with a banner that reads..."Tevez out"....shows the mood among the fans.....

Teams out on the pitch. Lovely day for football it must be said. Blackburn in traditional blue and white, City in their changed tops of red and black.

Roberto Mancini is in no hurry to leave City despite the furore over Tevez's refusal to play in Munich that has overshadowed his week. “I have a contract for this year and another year. I don’t have a problem. I always try to work hard and well if it’s possible," he said. "And when I finish my contract, if the club are happy, we can talk about this. I would like to stay here until we have built the new training facility, because I would like to see it and to work there."

Under-pressure Blackburn boss Steve Keane believes his side can learn a thing or two from the way Bayern overcame Man City in midweek. "I witnessed the game in person, and I've looked at the way that Bayern Munich played against Manchester City. The tactics they employed in the game, they were quite agressive in certain areas of the pitch without the ball. They exploited certain areas and there is no reason why we can't adopt a certain tactic."

Blackburn have not won in their last 15 Premier League matches against Manchester opposition, since a 1-0 home victory against Manchester City in September, 2007. They have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League home matches against these clubs. Manchester City are unbeaten in their opening six top flight matches for the seventh time and the first since 1977-78. On only three previous occasions have they gone unbeaten in their first seven – in 1914-15, 1970-71 and 1977-78.

Manchester City have won each of their last two Premier League visits to Ewood Park without conceding a goal. In total, Manchester City have won seven of their 26 Premier League matches against Blackburn, losing 10 times.

A few facts and figure about this fixture: Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches against Blackburn, since a 1-0 away defeat in September 2007 when Benni McCarthy scored the goal.

Rovers make three changes from the 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United with Morten Gamst Pedersen, Radoslav Petrovic and David Goodwillie all brought back. Martin Olsson is suspended with Michel Salgado injured. Mauro Formica is relegated to the bench.

Manchester City makes six changes from the 2-0 loss at Bayern Munich for this one. City manager Roberto Mancini brings in Mario Balotelli and James Milner with Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri dropping to the bench. There is obviously no Carlos Tevez in sight of the City squad.....

Teams: Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe, Samba, Dann, Givet, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Goodwillie, Yakubu, Hoilett..subs: Bunn, Formica, Slew, Rochina, Vukcevic, Roberts, Hanley////Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, Milner, Toure Yaya, Silva, Johnson, Aguero, Balotelli..subs..Subs: Pantilimon, Dzeko, Savic, Barry, Nasri, Clichy, De Jong////Referee: Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)