FULL TIME: Manchester City 3 Blackburn Rovers 0 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

FULL TIME: Manchester City 3 Blackburn Rovers 0

7:22pm Saturday 25th February 2012 in News By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

BLACKBURN Rovers have dropped back into the Premier League relegation zone after being comprehensively beaten 3-0 at league leaders Manchester City.

Mario Balotelli's first half strike was added to after the break by Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko as City out played a defensive Rovers from the start.

Home goalkeeper Joe Hart was virtually untested throughout as Rovers were limited to two deflected shots from Grant Hanley and Morten Gamst Pedersen and a weak Yakubu strike in the dying seconds.

Rovers almost found themselves behind within the first two minutes as a slick passing move down Manchester City's right cut the visitors apart.

Adam Johnson's one-two with David Silva sent the winger to the bye line and his pull back was fired low towards goal by Mario Balotelli, only for Paul Robinson to brilliantly save.

Grant Hanley did saw a goal bound shot deflected over by Joleon Lescott but the early exchanges were, as expected, dominated by the high flying hosts.

Rovers though were frustrating City as they struggled to create many clear cut chances, with Robinson keeping out Johnson's dipping shot on 24 and then saving Balotelli's free kick a minute later.

The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark as City broke at pace after Junior Hoilett was caught in possession by Yaya Toure.

The ball was worked to the flying Aleksander Kolarov down the left and his low cross was swept home by Balotelli.

Toure then volleyed wide with an empty net gaping after Robinson had kept out Vincent Kompany's back flick.

City continued to dominate possession after the break and doubled their lead on 53 minutes as Rovers continued to look content sitting back.

David Silva's right wing corner was flapped at by Robinson, who was under no pressure, and Aguero was on hand to rifle home the loose ball.

An already one-sided game began to look even more like a practice match for the hosts as they stroked the ball around under little challenge from a very defensive Rovers.

Both sides seemed content with the 2-0 scoreline as City kept the ball for long periods without looking to hurt the visitors.

Morten Gamst Pedersen did see a volley deflected wide with 10 minutes left as goalkeeper Joe Hart remained a complete spectator.

City got the third their domination deserved on 80 minutes as substitute Edin Dzeko headed home Kolarov's brilliant left wing cross.

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