Blackburn Preview

With the Carling Cup semi-final postponed, Roberto Mancini has had a full week with his squad ahead of tonights game against Blackburn at Eastlands, although the weather will have no doubt limited the training the squad has been able to do. The game, which at the time of writing is still expected to go ahead, despite cold and icy conditions up and down the country, is the first since Patrick Vieira joined from Inter Milan, although he is not expected to feature due to injury. Shaun Wright-Phillips is also expected to be fit, and RSC is an outside chance to feature, as he battles to overcome his own injuries.

With our injuries, and players off in the African Cup of Nations, or on indefinite leave, Mancini is again limited in the choices he has to field in this game. Despite that, I would not expect Benjani or Weiss to hold onto their positions in the starting eleven. Whilst possible that Boyata will be handed a home debut, I would expect him to drop back to the bench, with Richards and Kompany the central defensive partnership. Zabaleta and either Sylvinho or Garrido should play in the full back positions.

In midfield, the sound partnership of Barry and De Jong will remain as holding midfield players. Ahead of them, I expect Petrov to keep his place after some solid performances, likely playing on the right wing. Bellamy should play on the opposite flank, with Tevez ahead of them. It would not surprise me if Robinho plays, and I believe he should start. He has had alot of time sidelined through injury, and needs game time, and a home game against Blackburn is a good chance for him to get some minutes on the clock and build up some confidence. He has shown signs in his last few appearances of improvement, particularly in this new more tactically solid side under Roberto Mancini. Playing in the hole behind Tevez will hopefully bring out some of his creativity, as too often he was marginalized on the wing. I would expect him to come off for Wright-Phillips in the second half.

So, all things considered, here is my team prediction:

--------------Given--------------
Zab---Richards--Kompany---Sylvinho
-------De Jong----Barry----------
Petrov--------Robinho------Bellamy
---------------Tevez--------------

I think this will be a tight game, but I think City will win 2-0.