City stun Rovers with quick-fire double

Manchester City move up to 13th while Blackburn are rock-bottom of the league

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Sunday, 28, Dec 2008 09:08

Manchester City scored twice in the last two minutes to draw 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Benni McCarthy scored his seventh goal of the season while Jason Roberts netted on 86 minutes to put Rovers 2-0 up.

But substitute Daniel Sturridge scored on 88 minutes while Robinho struck in stoppage time to snatch a point for City.

The game began brightly with City, buoyed by their 5-1 win over Hull City on Boxing Day, carving out some good openings. Felipe Caicedo volleyed over from a few yards out while Robinho should have found the target with a header at the far post.

Robinho felt he should have been awarded a penalty minutes later when he appeared to be tripped by Andre Ooijer but referee Howard Webb waved play on.

Rovers slowly came into the game with Roberts going close with his shot from the edge of the box being blocked.

And it was Roberts' strike partner McCarthy who broke the deadlock in stoppage time with a low shot after Brett Emerton's cross.

The home side grew in confident in the second half and went close to doubling their lead with Emerton blazing over while Andre Ooijer's strike was saved by Joe Hart.

At the other end, Mark Hughes' men came close to leveling with Elano's cross diverted by Shaun Wright-Phillips onto the post while Stephen Ireland flashed a shot wide.

City introduced Darius Vassell and Sturridge in the closing stages in a bid to halt their woeful away form.

The Lancashire club looked to have clinched victory on 84 minutes when Roberts beat Hart with a looping header from Christopher Samba's long clearance.

Sturridge set-up a grandstand finish when he volleyed in Robinho's cross. And in the four minutes of stoppage time, the same duo combined with Robinho slotting the ball under Paul Robinson to complete the comeback.