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Manchester City 3-1 Blackburn Rovers
Match Reports, 17:28, May 2, 2009 ,
City continued their push for European football next season with a comfortable win over Blackburn at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Rovers started the game brightly but soon paid the price for some poor defending. Felipe Caicedo put the home side ahead in the 27th minute, stabbing the ball home from close range after Rovers failed to clear a corner.
The lead was doubled in the 34th minute, Robinho curling his shot round Paul Robinson from Vincent Kompany's short pass.
Rovers were frustrated and conceded a penalty in first-half stoppage time when Gael Givet handled in the area.
Elano stepped up and sent Robinson the wrong way to give the home side a 3-0 interval lead, while Andre Ooijer, Ryan Nelsen and Vince Grella were all booked for their protests.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 66th minute after referee Mike Dean awarded a penalty when Morten Gamst Pederson was fouled by Nedum Onuoha.
Shay Given saved El Hadji Diouf's spot-kick and follow-up but was uable to prevent substitute Keith Andrews slotting home from the resultant rebound.
Rovers were unable to carve out any further clear-cut chances, while City were content to hold onto possession and run out comfortable winners.